SMS Broadcast Receiver not working when application is not running

Question

I registered a broadcast receiver in my manifest like this :

<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:supportsRtl="true"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
    <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

    <receiver android:name=".SMSReceiver" android:permission="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS" android:exported="true">
        <intent-filter android:priority="9999">
            <action android:name="android.provider.telephony.SMS_RECEIVED" />
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>
</application>

And my SMSReceiver class like this :

public class SMSReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver
{
    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
    {
        if     (intent.getAction().equalsIgnoreCase("android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED")) {
...

But the code in the onReceive method is never called. I've tried without the android:exported and android:permission tags in the receiver, but nothing works.

Did you launch `MainActivity` at least once after installation to bring the app out of the stopped state? Also, remove `android:permission="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS"` from the `` element. — Mike M., Jan 25 '16 at 18:53
Yes I did. Then I kill the app with the android task manager — Eko, Jan 25 '16 at 18:56
Then that is most likely forcibly stopping your app, and putting it back into the stopped state. Your Receiver won't work again until the you launch the app again. — Mike M., Jan 25 '16 at 19:01
Actually, I just noticed, you want to change that permission to `BROADCAST_SMS` instead, since you don't have that one specified. — Mike M., Jan 25 '16 at 19:07
`telephony` needs to be capitalized in the ``'s ``. That is, `"android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED"`. Sorry, I would've noticed earlier, but I thought your title meant that it _did_ work when the app was running. — Mike M., Jan 25 '16 at 20:01
I have the same problem. When the app is running, SmsReceiver is triggered and working normal. But when the app is not running (the screen is off), SmsReceiver is not triggered. — Plugie, Feb 18 '18 at 04:13
I have the same problem as @Plugie When the app is running, SmsReceiver is triggered and working normal. But when the app is not running SmsReceiver is not triggered — Joshua Karanja, Feb 22 '22 at 23:22

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 03 '19 at 11:50

0

Add RECEIVE_SMS permission along with READ_SMS.

ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, 
            new String[]{Manifest.permission.RECEIVE_SMS},
            MY_PERMISSIONS_REQUEST_SMS_RECEIVE);

This should work.

answered Jan 03 '19 at 11:50

nadafafif

561
6
10

score -1 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:27

-1

Since android 4.4 you have to implement some feature to change your sms app to the default sms app and getSms/MMS. And only the default app get sms's/mms's notification.

This answer can help you to do that : link

edited May 23 '17 at 10:27

Community

1
1

answered Jan 25 '16 at 19:17

Benoît Verhaeghe

612
1
6
21

This is not correct. Since 4.4, the `SMS_RECEIVED` action is still broadcast, and it cannot be aborted. Any app registered for that broadcast can receive it. – Mike M. Jan 25 '16 at 19:28

SMS Broadcast Receiver not working when application is not running

2 Answers2