Will I regain access to my text messages history if I switch to GOS?

DCCXVIII

Basically title. I'm not sure where GOS would pull the data from. The SIM card? The carrier? IDK. I know when switching from vanilla android to vanilla android (e.g. pixel 8 to pixel 9) it does. But I'm not sure about GOS. Anyone know?

Thanks

SLS

Installing GOS usually requires unlocking the bootloader which wipes all data (https://grapheneos.org/install/web#unlocking-the-bootloader). So, unless you back up and restore manually or via cloud sync, your messages will most likely not be retained.

DCCXVIII

SLS Thanks for the reply. Judging by the fact that vanilla android text app has my google account connected to it in the top right corner, I'm assuming google has a record of all my text messages and that relinking it will re-download all those text messages?

Designed1668

SMS backup & restore app on the play store has been around for ages and does a really good job. It supports SMS, MMS, RCS, group chats, and media. RCS messages will come through as MMS messages.

Create a backup, save it somewhere safe (like move it to your computer, separate storage, or encrypted cloud storage) and then restore it on GrapheneOS using the same app. Depending on how large your message history is, restoring could take multiple hours and its best to leave your phone alone while it does its thing.

BeepBeep

You can bring all of that history and you MMS files over.

Install SMS Import / Export from Github.
https://github.com/tmo1/sms-ie

A preferred way to install apps from Github is to use Obtanium to do your installs
https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium

A lot of people have justifiable concerns about using the FDroid app store, but it does have an easier learning curve than Obtanium when you're just starting out and everything you're trying to do is new and unfamiliar. Instructions to install the FDroid app store are on their home page.

https://f-droid.org/en/

Then use the FDroid app store as you would the Google app store to install the SMS Import / Export app:
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.github.tmo1.sms_ie/

Whether you use Obtanium or FDroid, the SMS Import / Export app will create a backup file of all your SMS messages, MMS images, your call log, and block lists. Then use the same program on your new phone installation to import that data from the backup file you created.

DCCXVIII

Figured it out. I realised that the default messaging app on vanilla android is google messages. Which means if I install that app on GOS, it should port all my text messages back over.

SLS

Yes, that should work.