Hello, I've got a new Pixel 8 running GrapheneOS and I am trying to restore a backup my SMS/MMS. I have inspected the XML created by SMS Backup & Restore and it includes all of the MMS data. However, when I restore that XML to the new phone, all MMS messages show up as blank and pictures are missing. I have not tried to use any other backup/restore utility. I have attempted to use the MMS delete function on SMS Backup & Restore, but it runs for a long time and throws an error. I have also done a full reset of the phone and reattempted, with the same results. Do you have any idea what else I might try to restore my MMS messages? I have a lot of RCS conversations (saved in the backup as MMS) that I don't want to lose. Thanks in advance.

    rePrivatizing I have used "SMS Import / Export" to good effect, albeit the older version before the format change. Be sure to use airplane mode as directed.

      What app are you using as your SMS app? If you're using the default one, it might not support this kind of backup format. I don't think it supports RCS in general. You could try installing another one (like Google Messages) and see if it displays the messages better.

      Is it possible that SMS Backup & Restore doesn't properly support RCS conversations? Have you tested the backup (tried to reimport it to the device that you backed up to see if it works) before switching devices?

      I haven't solved the problem, but I've figured some of it out. It is not actually all of my MMS messages, it is only those sent/received since October 14, 2023. Something happened at that point with RCS that coded the messages differently. SMS Backup & Restore claims to backup RCS as MMS, and thus can restore it, but something changed that is lost in translation now.
      I am trying to load Google Messages and enable RCS, but presently it is unable to verify my phone number. When that gets worked out, I wouldn't be surprised if Google was able to decode those particular missing MMS/RCS messages

      a month later

      rePrivatizing
      Were you able to get your MMS messages imported successfully? I'm also using SMS Import / Export and having a similar issue. I'm exporting from a 4a, importing on a 7a and all my MMS are showing as blank messages. I don't use RCS, so mine wouldn't be related to anything with those.
      Anyone have recommendations?