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signalapp / Signal-Android

A private messenger for Android.
https://signal.org
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Signal not importing the SMS database #8887

Closed ghost closed 2 years ago

ghost commented 5 years ago

Bug description

I installed signal for the first time ever on my phone. Everything went ok but for some reason Signal doesnt import sync my sms database, even though it says that it did. I have a 7000+messages database so this makes the app unusable. I have used the apk from the website since i dont use Google Play on my phone.(removed it) I still have Google play services with all the permissions enabled. (except location) My default SMS app is QKSMS, however i dont think that is the issue since i have tried to use the default Google messages and Signal didnt work as well.

Steps to reproduce

Device info

Device: Huawei P20 Pro Android version: 9.0.0 Signal version: 4.41.6

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/5d4cde10eca963baf9d84137a938344e86143e3ef2810d795fbf2ba12d33c0f7

ghost commented 5 years ago

Any update on this?

RedDonkey commented 5 years ago

I'm having the same problem on my P20 Pro using Signal version 4.43.5.

The importing issue seems to be limited to Signal as other SMS apps (QKSMS and Textra SMS) that I've downloaded have been able to import my database without issue.

It looks like there have been issues with Huawei devices since 2017 https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/6198.

MairusuPawa commented 4 years ago

Same exact issue here as of today, Xiaomi Note Pro 8.

perttulaurila commented 4 years ago

Also happens with Signal 4.52.4 on Huawei Mate 20 Pro EMUI 10.0.0.180

dkoprowski commented 4 years ago

I have the same issue. Signal 4.55.8 HUAWEI MATE 10 PRO Cannot import SMS history from device after app install. Notification said it was successfully imported but no messages in app

farfalleflickan commented 4 years ago

Bug still present on my P10, here is my log: https://debuglogs.org/6e32e97ffec3a2d2daecfc0455799f37a195ae2f97f8a4f84b0da2019e4e3e4d

Mat3oo commented 4 years ago

Have the same issue on Device: Huawei Honor 8 (FRD-L09) Android version: 8.0.0 (with Huawei's EMUI 8.0.0) Signal version: 4.58.5

tuksi commented 4 years ago

Same issue. Signal 4.57.1 Huawei P30 Pro, EMUI 10.0.0.186 Debug log: https://debuglogs.org/a521cd26e123003911beafc7462d3169562c893fe624d12855c7455e3cfd4cdd

NewlinkMoravia commented 4 years ago

Same issue. Signal 4.58.5 Honor 20 Pro, 10.0.0.194

jookk commented 4 years ago

same here on Moto G6 plus, android 9, v4.59.6 and moto g5s plus, android 8.1.0

farfalleflickan commented 4 years ago

Sorry for the direct mention @alan-signal , but this issue seems to be persistent. Would be nice to know if a fix is possible or if we should abandon all hope

InjustFr commented 4 years ago

I'm having the same issue on a Honor View 20 with Android 10

pacorreia commented 3 years ago

@alex-signal Sorry to address you directly, but can you provide some feedback or ask someone from the team, about this issue?

pacorreia commented 3 years ago

One thing I noticed, after installing signal, although we say we want to give permissions, then the android OS is not poping up the typical confirmation.

If I go to Signal permissions, there plenty refused, including access to Messages.

Definitely something wrong on requesting permissions. Still after total reset on Signal, giving all perms immediately and then redoing setup, the SMS import does not work

spookymyo commented 3 years ago

Pixel 4 Android 11 Verizon US Rooted

Similar issue here. The sync is only importing some of my texts and none of my mms. On every text it doesn't import the last months worth of texts. Ie: if I import texts on Jan 1 the last text date is from about Dec 1.

alex-signal commented 3 years ago

Hi! Somehow I'm just seeing these notifications now... If you can please submit debug logs that'd be super helpful.

As far as I'm aware, we don't import MMS messages. The SMS / MMS apis are a complete mess on Android :roll_eyes:

Also, please note that if you've received RCS messages, I'm pretty sure those will not be imported as well. (Signal has no support for RCS)

pacorreia commented 3 years ago

Well, for a first install in Android we're offered the option to import existing sms messages!

It does not complaint about errors, permissions. Difficult to reproduce again, unless we uninstall the app. The option to import is part of first welcome, after that, it's gone.

alex-signal commented 3 years ago

@pacorreia Importing SMS is always available via Settings -> SMS and MMS

However, I don't want to make anyone uninstall / reinstall Signal just for the sake of an SMS import. I'll make sure this is tracked.

pacorreia commented 3 years ago

@pacorreia Importing SMS is always available via Settings -> SMS and MMS

However, I don't want to make anyone uninstall / reinstall Signal just for the sake of an SMS import. I'll make sure this is tracked.

Thanks, just checked on settings and I don't have the option: Screenshot_20210113_123812_org thoughtcrime securesms

alex-signal commented 3 years ago

@pacorreia You are correct! My bad. I can't promise you a timeline but it'll get looked at!

pacorreia commented 3 years ago

@pacorreia Importing SMS is always available via Settings -> SMS and MMS

However, I don't want to make anyone uninstall / reinstall Signal just for the sake of an SMS import. I'll make sure this is tracked.

No big urgency from my point of view, was just to make the team aware, and with an increase of many users using Signal, this is a feature that will soon be highlighted

Gabor-hu commented 3 years ago

Same on Huawei P30 pro. I would like to use the Signal for my SMS but it is not able to get the messages / import from the Google Messages app. Can we expect a solution soon or should we turn to other apps? Or, can it be a solution to use another message / third party app what imports the messages at first then we import them from that app to the Signal?

Sn0wmonkey commented 3 years ago

Same issue Huawei Mate 20 pro, Screenshot_20210114_082934

numero41 commented 3 years ago

Well, for a first install in Android we're offered the option to import existing sms messages!

It's not working for me either, I tried several times to reinstall the app, but the previous conversations are NOT imported. I do think it's an urgent bug to solve, personnally I won't use Signal if I can't bring all my SMS conversations :)

All permissions are set correctly, and I receive/send correctly the SMS, it's just the old ones that are not showing.

Huawei P30 Android 9

JoelMon commented 3 years ago

It worked for me, when I installed Signal it asked if I wanted to import my SMS. Device: OnePlus 8 OS: Android 11 Build: Oxygen OS 11.02.2.IN21AA Not rooted Signal 5.1.9

It did not work for my wife's phone. It did not ask her if she wanted to import her SMS history. I tried uninstalling and installing again. Still did not work. Device: Pixel 2 OS: Android 11 Build: RP1A.201005.004.A1 Not rooted Signal 5.1.9

hipduf commented 3 years ago

The SMS import function is not working on my wife's Galaxy S20 FE (trying to transfer from Samsung Messenger). We have tried uninstalling/reinstalling with no change. Has worked fine on my Note 9, but we can't switch over on hers until we can maintain all the old messages.

Android version 10 One UI version 2.5 Build QP1A. 190711.020.G781WVLU1ATL1 Not rooted Signal 5.1.9

ctomayer commented 3 years ago

Was not even asked if I wanted to import sms database. Was using Google Messages. Device: Armor 3W OS: Android 9 Build: Armor_3W_RF2_V02 Not rooted Signal 5.1.9

axeloz commented 3 years ago

Was not even asked if I wanted to import sms database. Was using Google Messages. Device: Armor 3W OS: Android 9 Build: Armor_3W_RF2_V02 Not rooted Signal 5.1.9

Same as you. Pixel 3 XL. Using Google messages. I did set signal as default app. No import request popup or anything equivalent. Very annoying.

breversa commented 3 years ago

I don't have the issue, but several people around me do (usually with Xiaomi/Huawei/Honor phones).

I've thought of the following workaround procedure to import your SMSs. It'll temporarily require a second phone which does not exhibit the issue, nor has any SMS or Signal conversations on it.

So let's say your main, problematic phone is A, and the second phone is B :

  1. Install an SMS backup application on A (such as https://f-droid.org/packages/com.zegoggles.smssync/ or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore)
  2. Export your SMSs with this app
  3. Copy the exported SMSs to B
  4. Install the backup app on B
  5. Restore the SMSs on B using the backup app
  6. Backup your Signal conversations on A (hint : put A in airplane mode beforehand so that you won't miss any message)
  7. Export your save to B
  8. Install Signal on B
  9. Start Signal on B
  10. Restore your save on B
  11. Set Signal as the default SMS app on B
  12. Import the SMSs on B
  13. Save your Signal conversations on B
  14. Export your save to A
  15. Clear Signal data on A
  16. Start Signal on A
  17. Restore your save on A
  18. Set Signal as default SMS app on A

Hint : To move the SMS/Signal saves from one device to another, use adb [push|pull] instead of MTP. From my experience, it's MUCH faster.

There ! You should now have both your Signal AND SMS conversations on A ! Don't forget to switch airplane mode off again. :)

axeloz commented 3 years ago

That may work indeed. But one should make sure the Signal import does work on the other phone prior to doing this long and painful process.

breversa commented 3 years ago

Yeah, it's really less than ideal. You're right, I'll edit my previous post.

axeloz commented 3 years ago

There is actually an easier solution: https://community.signalusers.org/t/import-standard-sms-database-into-signal/6362

It worked like a charm for me. You have to downgrade signal, import SMS and upgrade back again from the playstore.

breversa commented 3 years ago

So basically use v4.78.5, right ? What's special about this version ?

axeloz commented 3 years ago

Yep that's it. I can't tell why precisely but I got the SMS import working straight away.

Sn0wmonkey commented 3 years ago

There is actually an easier solution: https://community.signalusers.org/t/import-standard-sms-database-into-signal/6362

It worked like a charm for me. You have to downgrade signal, import SMS and upgrade back again from the playstore.

Tried this and didn't work for me

Deleted account deleted app downloaded old version installed old version Followed prompts Notification says import complete Still no messages from the messages app

Mate 20 pro

axeloz commented 3 years ago

sorry @Sn0wmonkey 😓 The problem solved by the link I posted is : signal app doesn't offer me to import the system SMS.

idanoo commented 3 years ago

+1 issue on Pixel 3

Using an older version let me import SMS but can't restore encrypted Signal backup from a newer version and doesn't prompt to restore signal backup after upgrade either.

Had to to the following to import SMS:

  1. Backup chat
  2. Uninstall
  3. Installed old APK (4.78.5 - link above)
  4. Imported SMS
  5. Upgraded
nkm8 commented 3 years ago

To extend the steps from @idanoo I was able to merge a backup of the newly created database containing SMS (MMS/group chats aren't imported) with my original Signal-only backup using this tool: https://github.com/bepaald/signalbackup-tools

It looks like merging is an experimental feature, but it worked fine for me with both databases on version 87. YMMV

Akuukis commented 3 years ago

It did not work for me - my phone says that installation is corrupted for both versions. newest Signal has removed the SMS import (see here)

What worked for me:

breversa commented 3 years ago

A big THANK YOU for providing the link to the last version of Signal that allows SMS import. :-D

fommio commented 3 years ago

I solved the problem by changing Signal's app permissions. In fact, "SMS" was there under "Access denied". I don't remember having set this on purpose.

signal-2021-02-01-162705

hamishmb commented 3 years ago

Still have this problem, had to backup, install old version, import SMS messages, upgrade, restore backup as suggested.

vrosu commented 3 years ago

Same boat as everyone here, with a Huawei P30Pro, with the latest updates. I want to use Signal, but having to switch every day between this and the old SMS app, is really a pain. I simply don't have time to try out a lot of other ways, simply because I deal with way too many things at work (solution architect&developer), but I'd be willing to shell out some money if a sort of bounty sort of thing would be created, where we'd be able to pool a bigger amount of cash to make this happen.

FerdinandoPucci commented 3 years ago

There is actually an easier solution: https://community.signalusers.org/t/import-standard-sms-database-into-signal/6362

It worked like a charm for me. You have to downgrade signal, import SMS and upgrade back again from the playstore.

Nope,not working

FerdinandoPucci commented 3 years ago

Same issue, just uninstalled this crap. If you need more privacy stop using FB.

Huawei Honor 6x, android 7.0

Scrat80 commented 3 years ago

With a current version of Signal, I could not import my SMS on my Note 9 to Signal. As someone stated above, installing Signal v4.78.5 and then setting Signal as the default SMS app, worked to import SMS.. only.

That's it, that's all.

What does Signal not import? MMS (MultiMedia SMS) messages

Device info: Samsung Note 9, latest OS and security updates installed. SM-N960W

mabuckman commented 3 years ago

Would love support for MMS/SMS import. I want to recommend Signal to all my friends, but it's difficult when you can't import your old conversations.

FallonBlue commented 3 years ago

Thanks to Akuukis for the workaround. Unfortunately as others have noted, I was unable to import MMS or any group chats. Could me user error on my part, but at this point, I'm done with trying to get Signal to work. I have enough stress in my life.

benlperkins commented 3 years ago

I ran into the same issue on my Samsung S21. I can switch back and forth between Samsung Messages and Google Messages with no loss of data, but Signal neither offers to import anything or sees any old messages when I install it and make it default for SMS. I was seriously considering using it as my primary messaging app and recommending it to others, but leaving all old conversations behind is more than most people are willing to do. For now, will be using the app exclusively for signal messages.

VaticanUK commented 3 years ago

I wonder if this is the problem:

Also, please note that if you've received RCS messages, I'm pretty sure those will not be imported as well. (Signal has no support for RCS)

On my Pixel 5, Google Messages is the default app for SMS and it has RCS enabled (I think by default, though can't be totally sure).

I know in the past Signal developers have expressed a lack of desire to support RCS in the past, but if it can't import RCS messages this could become a bigger problem going forwards as RCS becomes more and more common?