Backup Android SMS, MMS and call log to Gmail / Gcal / IMAP
Backup Android SMS, MMS and call log to Gmail / Gcal / IMAP
[][Google Play Store]
Please read the known issues before reporting any new issues; we already know about several significant issues, including Gmail login failures (for which there is a robust work-around), and problems with logging phone calls into calendars (which we are investigating).
This is a fork of the now-defunct SMS Backup + tool SMS Backup +. It uses Gmail/IMAP to perform SMS, MMS and call log backups over the network.
Main features/improvements:
Restore. SMS/Call logs stored on Gmail can be transferred back to the phone.
Security. SMS Backup+ does not need your Gmail password.
MMS backup support (added in version 1.1)
Call log backup (version 1.2), with Google Calendar integration (1.3) and restore (1.4).
Works with any IMAP server (but defaults to Gmail).
Tested with Android 4.x (Ice Cream Sandwich) - 10.x. (Q)
SMS Backup+ is available for free in the [Google Play Store] and on [F-Droid], there will never be a pro / paid version.
But if you find the app useful and want to support its development you can make a donation using the secure in-app Play Store payment mechanism.
To get updates more frequently join the beta programme or download the latest beta manually from [Github releases].
Also make sure to read the [Privacy Policy][].
You need to have an IMAP account or a Gmail account with IMAP enabled. See [Use IMAP to check Gmail on other email clients][] to learn how to enable IMAP for your Gmail account or look at this [screenshot][imapenableshot].
After starting SMS Backup+, tap on "Connect" to start the authorization process.
1.5.11: You will first have give SMS Backup+ the permission to access your account, displayed as "Allow SMS Backup+ to access your contacts?".
If you consent you have to confirm the Gmail account to be used for the backup.
If you don't have a Google account registered on your device a browser window will appear to perform a web-based authentication as fallback.
After completing the authorization process the "Connect" switch should be activated, indicating success. You are now ready to perform the first backup.
1.5.11: "Connected" changed from checkbox to switch.
It is important that you perform the first backup manually. SMS Backup+ needs to know whether you want to upload messages currently stored on your device or not.
After having connected your Gmail account, SMS Backup+ will ask you to perform a first backup. If you choose "Backup", SMS Backup+ will start backing up all your messages to Gmail.
If you choose "Skip", nothing is sent to Gmail and all messages currently stored on your device are simply marked "backed up". This option is handy if you previously uninstalled SMS Backup+ and do not want to send your messages again to Gmail. Please note that any messages arrived after you last uninstalled SMS Backup and this initial backup won't ever be backed up to Gmail.
1.5.11: Before the backup starts you will have to grant "send and view" permissions for SMS.
If you wish to restore messages back to your phone tap "Restore". By default all messages stored on Gmail will be restored (this can be changed in "Advanced Settings").
1.5.11: Default changed to 500 messages.
You can safely restore to a phone which has already messages stored on it, SMS Backup+ will skip the existing messages.
Before the restore can start you will need to confirm the change of the default SMS app. This step is required to get further permissions to write messages (see also the corresponding FAQ entry).
SMS Backup+ can also backup and restore your call logs. It stores all calls using a
separate label (defaults to Call log, but can be changed in "Advanced
settings"). If you wish you can set this to the same value as SMS, to make all
backups use the same label.
The body of the call log message contains the duration of the
call in seconds followed by the phone number and call type (incoming /
outgoing / missed).
An example:
267s (00:04:07)
+44123456789 (incoming call)You can also add call log entries to a Google calendar. Just select Calendar sync in Advanced settings, and make sure you have selected a calendar to sync
with.
If you only want to backup specific call types (incoming, outgoint etc.) you can do so as well.
1.5.11: Call log backup is disabled by default. Permissions need to be confirmed separately for phone and calendar access.
Rich Communication Services is currently not supported, nor are there any plans to support it. Rich Communication Services is also known as RCS, Advanced Messaging, Advanced Communications, joyn or Message+.
If you want to trigger backups from another app, enable 3rd party integration
in Advanced Settings and send the broadcast intent
sms.backup.plus.BACKUP. This will work even when Auto Backup is
disabled.
You don't have to use Gmail to backup your text messages - change Authentication to "Plain text" in "Advanced settings - Custom IMAP server", then change the server address / user name and password accordingly. Make sure to set security to "SSL (optional / trust all)" if your IMAP server has a self-signed certificate ("Unknown certificate" error during backup).
1.5.11: security settings have been simplified. Select TLS and check "Trust all certificates" if using a self-signed certificate.
Also note that Gmail labels simply correspond to IMAP folders that will automatically get created on the first backup.
If you don't find an answer here you can also visit the [Google+ community][] which might be able to help.
First search [Github issues][] to see if the bug has already been reported. If not, create a new issue and attach the following details:
If it is related to backing up / restoring you should also enable the sync log with
"Extra debug information" enabled (in "Advanced settings") and attach a relevant portion of it.
The sync log is stored as sms_backup_plus.log (in the directory Android/data/sms.backup.plus/files).
1.5.11: new log file path, was previously on external storage / sdcard.
Rather than including the log in the text of your issue description, please use the "attach image" feature to attach your logfile as text to your issue. Alternatively, create a gist and link to it from your issue description.
It might also be worth to install the current beta version of SMS Backup+ to see if the bug is also present in the development version.
Over the years a lot of features have been added, often as a result of requests by users. This has worked great initially but has made the product itself very unfocussed and generic. It started as a tool to back up text messages (as the name SMS Backup implies) but gradually more and more features were added (call logs, MMS, WhatsApp...). It's now at a point where it has become too heavy and difficult too maintain or use. The settings screen makes this obvious, there are just too many things to configure. If anything features should be removed at this point, not added. A more focussed product would be easier to maintain and use.
Right now, SMS Backup+ is in maintenance mode; no new features will be added. Existing bugs will of course be addressed.
1.5.11 introduces runtime permissions (Android 6.0+) which means that you only grant the permissions for the features you actually use, after installing the application.
Try uninstalling the app, then installing the new version. Make sure to select
No open issues yet, or sync has not completed.