Defualt SMS App

[deleted]

I have been using Signal but with them removing SMS, I need something to get SMS messages. I figured I would just go back to using the default SMS messenger in GrapheneOS, but I guess I deleted it because I can't find it on the phone. And I have been looking on the internet for it, but still can't find it.

What is the default SMS app for Graphene, and where can I get it?

Max-Zorin

Go to Settings > Apps > See all ## apps > and scroll down to the Messaging app. that's the default one. You probably disabled it.

[deleted]

Max-Zorin Yeah, I didn't look there. Thank you.

To be clear, yes I disabled it.

unlaced-snarl-good

Hi, I hope someone sees this and can reply to my issue.

I had cloned the Messaging app with shelter to the work profile. I noticed I can text using both numbers in the normal Messaging app so I decided to uninstall following this: https://www.reddit.com/r/fossdroid/comments/p911qz/tip_remove_system_app_from_shelter_work_profile/

What ended up happening is in my normal profile the Messaging app also got uninstalled. So I installed it back using this: https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/

adb shell
pm install-existing NameOfPackage

And now every time I open the Messaging app I get this popup:

This app was built for an older version of Android. It might not work properly and doesn't include the latest security and privacy protections. Check for an update, or contact the app's developer.

How can I reinstall the Messaging app? I checked here (https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Messaging) but there is not an apk to download. I checked the default grapheneos App Store, but it's not there. How do I update this?

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good And now every time I open the Messaging app I get this popup

Your newly installed messaging app is now older version (SDK 24) instead of the newer variant that GrapheneOS devs recently published (SDK 35). See the difference in versions in our posts above.

Since the OTA file is >1Gb I'd imagine it has the new messaging app in it. Feels like sideloading may make sense.

BadCo_NZ

You didn't try reinstalling from the GrapheneOS App Store?

unlaced-snarl-good

BadCo_NZ
But it's not on the default grapheneos App Store..

Here are the apps that appear:
App store
Auditor
Camera
Info
Pdf viewer
Vanadium
Accressent
Android auto
Google play services
Markup

And that's it. The messaging app is not there.

DeletedUser202

unlaced-snarl-good That's because it's a system app that's part of the OS (it therefore gets updated with system updates). Maybe someone else knows a way to restore it to normal, but worst case you might have to factory reset since you messed with a system component.

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good But it's not on the default grapheneos App Store..

It is for me. Right in between Info and PDF Viewer apps. Maybe your App Store needs a refresh? Try to open it and to pull the apps list from top.

unlaced-snarl-good

thmf
That is so weird. I tried to refresh like you said, but it's still the same apps. I clicked on the 3 dots -> All packages, but it's still not there.

And since the other person mentioned it was a system app that's part of the OS, I even updated the whole OS to newest build: 2025021000

But nothing changed...

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good Weird indeed. What's on your Messaging App Info page at the bottom? Mine has:

version 1.0.001

com.android.messaging
versionCode 10001044

targetSdk 35
minSdk 35

Also, what device do you have?

unlaced-snarl-good

thmf

version 1.0.001

com.android.messaging
versionCode 10001040

targetSdk 24
minSdk 34

Installed: Feb 14, 2025; 8:46 PM
Updated: Dec 31, 2008; 4:00 PM

I am using pixel 5

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good Pixel 5 is an EOL device, so maybe that is partially the reason, though I'm not sure. I don't know if GrapheneOS extended support releases got the new messaging app update.
With that said, if you have a good backup of your data and feeling adventurous, you could try sideloading the latest update. Maybe this will restore the system app. Worst case scenario you'll be one step closer to factory reset :)

unlaced-snarl-good

thmf
By sideloading you mean to update to the newest OS, right? But I already did update to the newest version there is..
Build number: 2025021000

I did the OTA update yesterday I think

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good yes, you could try to install the same newest version on top of the same one you already have. From your previous post, your messaging app installation date is Feb 14, so was it installed before or after the OTA update? If you restored your messaging app after the OTA update and got the older app, then sideloading full OTA update makes sense (at least to me).
One more thing to consider. If you update every time and don't miss any updates in between, then your phone downloads only delta updates (just the differences between the previous and the laytest update), so this scenario is also possible:
Suppose you were on previous GrapheneOS release which already could have the newer messaging app version. Then you removed the app. Then restored it, but somehow the older version of the app got installed. Then you got the latest GrapheneOS delta update (which doesn't have the messaging app, since it maybe happened in one of the previous releases). Hence no updated messaging app after the latest OTA update.
Not sure when the extender support releases got the new messaging app, since there's no changelog available for them, so I'm guessing here.

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good There was a recent announcement in GrapheneOS Alpha/Beta Test chat room which may give you an additional path to solution. I'll quote it here:

an initial out-of-band Messaging app update has been added to the App Store Alpha channel, only has some trivial changes of dependency updates and under the hood modernization, mainly just testing an initial out-of-band update
overhauling the app further including redoing notifications almost entirely is being worked on

You could try this. The messaging app must show in the App Store first though.

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good OK, it seems you won't see the messaging app in the App Store. At least for now. Here's a quote from the GrapheneOS chat by the project account:

grapheneos: this is only for fully supported devices on a recent OS release

As of today, fully supported devices means Pixel 6 and up.

For those who will come here later, if you can't see an app in the App Store, check if it's enabled {Settings -> Apps -> See all -> 3 dots menu -> Show system -> App name -> Enable). Once you enable it back, it should appear in the App Store.
Do not disable system apps.

unlaced-snarl-good

thmf
The Messaging app is already enabled (was never disabled) in the settings when I follow your steps. But I know it was never disabled because the app icon was always in my home screen (except when I had uninstalled using adb)

But it is still not showing in the graphene app store..

thmf

unlaced-snarl-good You won't see the app in the App Store, because it shows only for fully supported devices, i.e. Pixel 6 and up. Please see the post you replied to.