SMS Trigger not working on Macro (using Messages app by Google)

Nemo

New member
Macro Sequence:
1. Trigger: SMS Received
2. Action: Email contents of SMS to a specific email address, using SMTP server

Issue:
- SMS trigger does not work, when SMS is received.
- There is nothing recorded in the System Log on Macrodroid app.
- However, if I "test macro", the macro works fine and I can receive an email. I can also see it in the System Log (attached).

Background Information:
1. I created a Macro (let's call it "Email SMS contents") to automatically email me the contents of the SMS received.
2. This "Email SMS contents" Macro works without problem on 2 other Android phones (Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Samsung Galaxy S10). In other words, I receive an email containing the SMS contents, whenever I receive a SMS text on the phone. The two Samsung phones use Messages (by Samsung) as the default SMS app. The problem I have is on a ZTE phone and this ZTE phone uses Messages (by Google) as the default SMS app.
3. The SMTP server settings is confirmed OK, as I could receive an email when I "test macro".

Macro Details:
* Please see attached screenshots

TRIGGER
- SMS from: ANY NUMBER
- SMS Content : ANY
- Enable regular expression matching: NOT TICKED
- Monitor Inbox: ANY
- Subscription ID: SIM CARD 1 (Note: I have 2 SIM cards on the phone)

ACTION
- Email via SMTP Server

- - - -

Apps:
Macrodroid

- Version: 5.34.10
- Permission allowed: (1) Call Logs, (2) Contacts, (3) Location, (4) Phone, (5) SMS
- Permission not allowed: (1) Calendar, (2) Camera, (3) Files and media, (4) Microphone, (5) Physical Activity
- SETTINGS:
- - - Ignore Battery Optimisations: ALLOW
- - - Keep Accessibility Services Running: NONE
- - - Enable Root Features: TICKED
- - - Experimental Features: NOT TICKED
- - - Trigger Options - SMS Received - Monitor Inbox: TICKED
- - - Email Settings: SMTP correctly configured (tested macro and I received email)

Messages (by Google)
- Version: 20230508-05-RC06
- Default SMS app
- RCS turned OFF
- Enable Spam Protection: ON

- - - -

Phone:
Brand and Model: ZTE 8045
Android OS Version: 11
SIM Cards: 2

- - - -

LIKELY CAUSE?

It seems to me that the likely cause is the Messages app (by Google). For some reason, Macrodroid is not detecting SMS on Messages app (by Google), even though RCS is turned OFF.

SOLUTION?

Any suggestion on how I could get the macro to work, when I have Messages app (by Google) as the default SMS app?

THANK YOU!!!
 

Attachments

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Jacob L

Moderator (Lawsonator)
I noticed RCS is off. Perhaps follow steps at dontkillmyapp.com

I don't have any other solution, what does the system log say?
 

Nemo

New member
I noticed RCS is off. Perhaps follow steps at dontkillmyapp.com

I don't have any other solution, what does the system log say?

SYSTEM LOG screenshot provided in my original post. The system log does not show anything on receiving a SMS text, because Macrodroid did not detect any SMS (I think).

.
 

Nemo

New member
I have just downloaded the free "Simple SMS Messenger" app (by Simple Mobile Tools) from Google Play Store, and made it the Default SMS App.


Will see if this solves my problem. Will report back.

.
 

Endercraft

Moderator (& bug finder :D)
Thank you for your suggestion. I searched for it on Google Play Store and its says "This app isn't available for your device because it was made for an older version of Android".

.
You can install it but Google play store won't let you, you have to use the given link to install (which will work). Ignore the old version warning if there is one.
 

Qarboz

Well-known member
I have just downloaded the free "Simple SMS Messenger" app (by Simple Mobile Tools) from Google Play Store, and made it the Default SMS App.


Will see if this solves my problem. Will report back.

.
Great choice. I have several Simple Mobile Tools apps too (I didn't know that he had written an SMS app, as soon as I have time I'll try it). Remember to thank the developer with Simple Thank You app ;)
 

Jacob L

Moderator (Lawsonator)
Thank you for your suggestion. I searched for it on Google Play Store and its says "This app isn't available for your device because it was made for an older version of Android".

.
I gave you the link so you don't have to bother with Google play spyware
 

Jacob L

Moderator (Lawsonator)
I am not comfortable downloading and installing any app that is not from Google Play Store.
That's on you. Apps from play store are full of ads and trackers. Apps from Github, F-droid are open source so they don't have ads and trackers
 

Nemo

New member
I have just downloaded the free "Simple SMS Messenger" app (by Simple Mobile Tools) from Google Play Store, and made it the Default SMS App.


Will see if this solves my problem. Will report back.

.

OK reporting back...

ATTEMPTED WORKAROUND 1
After installing "Simple SMS Messenger" and making it as the default app, the "Send SMS contents" macro on Macrodroid is still NOT WORKING (i.e. SMS is not emailed to me). Nothing recorded on MacroDroid's System Log, after SMS is received.

ATTEMPTED WORKAROUND 2
I took one additional step of disabling permissions (Phone & Call Logs) on Messages app (by Google) - even though it is no longer the default SMS app - just in case it is still interfering. By the way, I cannot delete Messages app (by Google) on ZTE phone. Still, macro does not send me email on receipt of SMS. Nothing recorded on MacroDroid's System Log, after SMS is received.

ATTEMPTED WORKAROUND 3
I also created a macro based on Notification trigger (on Simple SMS Messenger), instead of SMS Received trigger. That macro also did not work. Nothing recorded on MacroDroid's System Log, after SMS is received.

Interestingly, if I "Test Macro" on the SMS Received and Notification macros, I got email OK, and they were recorded on System Log.

It looks like MacroDroid is not detecting SMS Received and Notification, thus macro is not triggered.

What else can I do?

Thanks.

.
 
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Nemo

New member
OK reporting back...

ATTEMPTED WORKAROUND 1
After installing "Simple SMS Messenger" and making it as the default app, the "Send SMS contents" macro on Macrodroid is still NOT WORKING (i.e. SMS is not emailed to me). Nothing recorded on MacroDroid's System Log, after SMS is received.

ATTEMPTED WORKAROUND 2
I took one additional step of disabling permissions (Phone & Call Logs) on Messages app (by Google) - even though it is no longer the default SMS app - just in case it is still interfering. By the way, I cannot delete Messages app (by Google) on ZTE phone. Still, macro does not send me email on receipt of SMS. Nothing recorded on MacroDroid's System Log, after SMS is received.

ATTEMPTED WORKAROUND 3
I also created a macro based on Notification trigger (on Simple SMS Messenger), instead of SMS Received trigger. That macro also did not work. Nothing recorded on MacroDroid's System Log, after SMS is received.

Interestingly, if I "Test Macro" on the SMS Received and Notification macros, I got email OK, and they were recorded on System Log.

It looks like MacroDroid is not detecting SMS Received and Notification, thus macro is not triggered.

What else can I do?

Thanks.

.

Update:

1. If I turn off "Battery Optimisation" for Macrodroid app, the "Notification" (on Simple SMS Messenger) macro started working.

2. The "SMS Received" macro still does not work and does not have any entry in the System Log, after a SMS is received.

.
 
Last edited:
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