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[GH-ISSUE #1031] Not backing up incoming SMS messages #824

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opened 2026-02-26 01:32:00 +03:00 by kerem · 4 comments

kerem commented

2026-02-26 01:32:00 +03:00

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Originally created by @dto-r on GitHub (Sep 1, 2020).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/jberkel/sms-backup-plus/issues/1031

Apologies if this isn't the right location to post this q, recently downloaded and used the work around. Its working as should to some degree, but only incoming messages containing an attachment are logged. All outgoing messages are there, but many text threads only have one half of the conversation. Both SMS and MMS backup are checked.

Android version
9 (9.0.11)
Phone model / brand
OnePlus 5
SMS Backup+ version installed
1.5.11
Messaging app
built in

Originally created by @dto-r on GitHub (Sep 1, 2020). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/jberkel/sms-backup-plus/issues/1031 Apologies if this isn't the right location to post this q, recently downloaded and used the work around. Its working as should to some degree, but only incoming messages containing an attachment are logged. All outgoing messages are there, but many text threads only have one half of the conversation. Both SMS and MMS backup are checked. * Android version 9 (9.0.11) * Phone model / brand OnePlus 5 * SMS Backup+ version installed 1.5.11 * Messaging app built in

kerem added the

half-missing

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2026-02-26 01:32:00 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-02-26 01:32:01 +03:00

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@kurahaupo commented on GitHub (Sep 28, 2020):

Hi @dto-r

Yes this is the right place, though responses may be a bit slow.

There are a few possible causes that come to mind:

failure to file the SMS messages with the correct thread.
failure to run regular background backups;
you're receiving RCS or AM messages but replying with plain SMS messages;

I suspect case (1) as the most likely case, as it appears that MMS are backing up correctly (anything with an attachment must be a MMS rather than an SMS).
Can you do a Gmail search for the missing messages, and see if they're being filed somewhere else?
If you don't find them, then can you please enable the debug log, and (after running for a day or two) upload it as an attachment to this issue?

If it was case (2) then messages would eventually turn up.

We've never seen case (3), as every client I've seen replies using the same mechanism as was used to receive the message, but it's possible in theory, and Android does not yet offer an API for third-party apps to access RCS or AM messages.

@kurahaupo commented on GitHub (Sep 28, 2020): Hi @dto-r Yes this is the right place, though responses may be a bit slow. There are a few possible causes that come to mind: 1. failure to file the SMS messages with the correct thread. 1. failure to run regular background backups; 1. you're receiving RCS or AM messages but replying with plain SMS messages; I suspect case (1) as the most likely case, as it appears that MMS are backing up correctly (anything with an attachment must be a MMS rather than an SMS). Can you do a Gmail search for the missing messages, and see if they're being filed somewhere else? If you don't find them, then can you please enable the debug log, and (after running for a day or two) upload it as an attachment to this issue? If it was case (2) then messages would eventually turn up. We've never seen case (3), as every client I've seen replies using the same mechanism as was used to receive the message, but it's possible in theory, and Android does not yet offer an API for third-party apps to access RCS or AM messages.

kerem commented

2026-02-26 01:32:01 +03:00

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@damien-pous commented on GitHub (Nov 6, 2020):

Hi, same problem for me, many incoming messages are not backed up.
(outgoing messages are, incoming MMS are, but for incoming SMS, it looks like random: messages from the same contact and only a few minutes away are or are not backed up -- most are not).
I looked for the missing messages using gmail search tools without success.

I tried to enable the debug log but the setting is disabled (greyed) on my phone.
(willing to provide more feedback if instructions are provided...)

Android 7.0, SMS Backup+ 1.5.11

@damien-pous commented on GitHub (Nov 6, 2020): Hi, same problem for me, many incoming messages are not backed up. (outgoing messages are, incoming MMS are, but for incoming SMS, it looks like random: messages from the same contact and only a few minutes away are or are not backed up -- most are not). I looked for the missing messages using gmail search tools without success. I tried to enable the debug log but the setting is disabled (greyed) on my phone. (willing to provide more feedback if instructions are provided...) Android 7.0, SMS Backup+ 1.5.11

kerem commented

2026-02-26 01:32:01 +03:00

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@justjoe2276 commented on GitHub (Jan 7, 2021):

I installed on an S8 edge, used the gmail workaround, sent a 'test' msg and viola! It worked. Checked again a couple days later and the only msg backed up was the first 'test' msg I had sent.
I only have incoming msg set to backup, I never did the initial full backup(didn't need those) so why would it only have worked for the first 'test' and then not again?

@justjoe2276 commented on GitHub (Jan 7, 2021): I installed on an S8 edge, used the gmail workaround, sent a 'test' msg and viola! It worked. Checked again a couple days later and the only msg backed up was the first 'test' msg I had sent. I only have incoming msg set to backup, I never did the initial full backup(didn't need those) so why would it only have worked for the first 'test' and then not again?

kerem commented

2026-02-26 01:32:01 +03:00

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@kurahaupo commented on GitHub (Feb 8, 2021):

@justjoe2276 was the clock on your device correct when you did the initial test, and is it correct now?

If the recorded "timestamp of last backup" winds up being ahead of the current time on the device, that will block automatic backups from occurring. Does a manual backup work?

Some other tests that might prove informative (even if they don't fix the problem):

connect to the same Google calendar from a different device
try a different Google account on the same device:
1. connect SMS Backup+ to a different Google account
2. try choosing any calendar in SMS Backup+
3. in calendar.google.com, share the original calendar with this new account
4. try choosing the desired calendar in SMS Backup+
This might show a reproducible caching issue. If so, try reversing these steps:
1. in calendar.google.com, share the calendar with a third account
2. connect SMS Backup+ to that account
3. try choosing the desired calendar in SMS Backup+.
Write your own Apps Script program that shows the available calendars, as per https://developers.google.com/apps-script/advanced/calendar#listing_calendars

@kurahaupo commented on GitHub (Feb 8, 2021): @justjoe2276 was the clock on your device correct when you did the initial test, and is it correct now? If the recorded "timestamp of last backup" winds up being ahead of the current time on the device, that will block automatic backups from occurring. Does a manual backup work? Some other tests that might prove informative (even if they don't fix the problem): * connect to the same Google calendar from a different device * try a different Google account on the same device: 1. connect `SMS Backup+` to a different Google account 1. try choosing any calendar in `SMS Backup+` 1. in [calendar.google.com](https://calendar.google.com), share the original calendar with this new account 1. try choosing the desired calendar in `SMS Backup+` * This might show a reproducible caching issue. If so, try reversing these steps: 1. in calendar.google.com, share the calendar with a third account 1. connect `SMS Backup+` to that account 1. try choosing the desired calendar in `SMS Backup+`. * Write your own Apps Script program that shows the available calendars, as per https://developers.google.com/apps-script/advanced/calendar#listing_calendars