Profiles, Signal and SMS

billbadger

I have successfully installed GrapheneOS on a Pixel 3 and set up a second user profile. This is my first venture into the world of Android (after a good deal of reading). I thank those responsible not only for providing the OS but for making it a practical proposition for those without great knowledge of the Android system.

To my problem: I have installed Signal on the second profile and successfully imported my messagebase from a previous phone. On that device I used it for both Signal and SMS, which I have attempted to reproduce. Signal appears to be working but I cannot get it to function for SMS.

Symptoms:
Android Settings > Apps > Signal > SMS app shows Yes.
Signal > Settings > Chats > SMS and MMS > Use as default SMS app shows 'Disabled'.
Attempts to send an SMS fail.

I have stated my lack of knowlege and will be happy to be corrected but I suspect that the problem might lie with the SMS utility in the first profile.

I will be pleased to receive any comments.

Hulk

SMS is insecure and outdated.
Using Signal as your SMS app does not make it neither secure nor private.
The recommendation is to not use Signal as your SMS app to keep a clear distinction between secure and insecure conversations.

MetropleX

The only way to use SMS across profiles is to use the default AOSP Messaging App it's an upstream AOSP bug and not related to GOS. Hulk is indeed correct relating to the SMS and Signal advice. I use it for both but remain acutely aware of the lock icon on the send button.

[deleted]

MetropleX In this case, install molly instead if you don't want to use SMS with signal

MetropleX

MetropleX The only way to use SMS across profiles is to use the default AOSP Messaging App it's an upstream AOSP bug and not related to GOS. Hulk is indeed correct relating to the SMS and Signal advice. I use it for both but remain acutely aware of the lock icon on the send button.

You must use stock messaging as your default SMS app if you want SMS across profiles.

billbadger

Thank you for the comments. I understand that "Using Signal as your SMS app does not make it either secure or private", but I am compelled to communicate with a number of contacts via SMS whether this be through Signal or the native SMS app. This is a fact of my social and familial life. I had wanted to avoid the nuisance of having to consider which app to use for each message I send.

Given that "The only way to use SMS across profiles is to use the default AOSP Messaging App'' it seems that I have no choice. In addition, I am unable to pass the SMS function back to the app, it appears that copying over my previous messagebase has forced Signal into the shared mode. But that's a question for Signal, not for here.

Galt007

I too wanted to use signal as my default messaging app. I just decided to only have 1 profile (Owner) with sandboxed play services running. This works well for me. I started out with three profiles, then 2, now 1.

lcalamar

Galt007 I'm having the same challenges... I keep getting sms from messenger in my profile 2 but I'm getting signal in my owner profile where I have signal as my default sms.

I will also likely just get rid of profile 2 and stick with my owner profile - though I may want to use my work profile(shelter) for certain apps (e.g.: banking)

billbadger

That's very interesting. I had gained the impression from my reading that the sandboxing of G play services could only be done on a profile other than the base. Am I completely wrong in this? I can see yet another start from the beginning coming up, after the phone has been in use for only two days. But that's the way to learn..

matchboxbananasynergy

billbadger Sandboxed Google Play can be installed in any user profile, including the Owner profile.

In fact, features like eSIM activation require you to have Sandboxed Google Play on the Owner profile.

MetropleX

matchboxbananasynergy Sandboxed Google Play can be installed in any user profile, including the Owner profile.

In fact, features like eSIM activation require you to have Sandboxed Google Play on the Owner profile.

billbadger As Senor Matchboxbananasynergy said the Play Services can be installed ANYWHERE, many users decide such as myself to keep it in an isolated dedicated profile because I require to log in with my OG Google Account for Family purposes, such as to maintain the shared Family Library, Family Link etc, I also keep my banking app in there as well as some other things which allows me to keep it at rest before and after use fully encrypted and out of the way preventing unnecessary use or information flow succumbing to the sin of convenience.

Different strokes for different folks,

Options and freedom like that are reasons to love GrapheneOS and what sets it apart.

billbadger

Just to thank the contributors to my original post and to report back that my Pixel3 with GOS is now fully working the way I want it to, including Signal and my banking app - which is a great bonus.

lcalamar

MetropleX Yes thanks - I saw that.

It has been a good 'learning' experience - setting up profiles and determining what I wanted where.

For now - it seems that multiple user profiles aren't going to work great for me. So I am using my Owner profile for messaging (signal), camera, phone, Google FI and any 'google sign-ins', and I am using my work profile for all other apps (for the most part).

This seems to work pretty well (for me) - but one thing GREAT about GOS is the ease of creating/removing profiles and testing things out.

reto

MetropleX I've unfortunately uninstalled the default messaging app. How do I get it back?
Update: it was only disabled and now it's enabled again.

Fhggyy5767

What is Molly? I haven't been on the internet in a while.

kopolee11

Fhggyy5767 A hardened fork of Signal. https://molly.im/

lcalamar

kopolee11 Is it a like-like replacement for signal? (meaning - I can install molly and remove signal - with the same end result?)

lcalamar

kopolee11 I've installed and setup Molly.

However - am I not able to set it as my default SMS app?

lberrymage

lcalamar Molly doesn't support SMS.

Fhggyy5767

Is it a standalone messenger or a dialer as well?