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SMS Tech

Private SMS / MMS app with voice messages, encrypted vault, biometric unlock.
New in version 1.28.14
Maintenance release: nothing changes in how the app works.

The app no longer requests BROADCAST_WAP_PUSH. Android grants it only to the system, so the request did nothing; receiving MMS is unaffected.

New store screenshots, in all five languages.
SMS Tech is an ad-free, tracker-free SMS / MMS app for Android. It replaces the stock messaging app while keeping every message on your device — no cloud, no analytics, no third-party SDK shipping your data anywhere.

Features


  • SMS and MMS — full default-SMS-app support on Android 8 (API 26) through 15+

  • Voice messages — push-to-talk recording sent as a real MMS, capped at 60 s / 300 KB so every carrier accepts it

  • Encrypted vault — hide sensitive conversations behind SQLCipher, with the key wrapped in the Android Keystore. Toggle "Lock vault on leave" to re-lock it every time the app goes to background

  • Decoy PIN — a second PIN that opens the app in a decoy view where the vault stays invisible and inaccessible

  • Emergency mode — hold the button for 3 s to send an alert SMS to your Safety Call contacts, with a single GPS fix if you granted location; without that permission the SMS still goes out, only without coordinates. Quick access to the emergency numbers of the country your phone is connected to, and shortcuts on the lockscreen notification. Placing the call directly is opt-in: by default the dialer simply opens pre-filled

  • Biometric unlock — fingerprint or face, with a PIN fallback you set yourself

  • Contextual reply — long-press a message, pick "Reply" and your composer shows a mini-quote so the recipient sees what you are answering

  • Delegated translation — long-press a message and pick "Translate" to hand the text to whichever translation app you have installed (Google Translate, DeepL, Aves Translate …) through a system Intent. No translation model is bundled, and SMS Tech itself sends nothing anywhere

  • Scheduled messages — write an SMS, pick a date and time, and it is sent at that moment even if the app is closed

  • OS-wide blocked numbers — at first launch, SMS Tech mirrors the system blocklist (Phone app, Samsung Messages) and retroactively deletes the conversations that match

  • Attachment picker — Photo, Video, File, Contact card. Photos are automatically re-encoded as JPEG to fit MMS carrier caps

  • Full-text search across every conversation, with FTS4 indexing

  • Export a conversation as a PDF for archival

  • Encrypted local backup using a passphrase distinct from your unlock PIN

  • Themes — Light / Dark / AMOLED / "Dark Tech" slate-blue accent

  • English, French, German, Italian and Spanish UI

  • Confirmation toggle in Settings → Send → "Confirm before send" requires a confirmation dialog before any SMS, MMS or attachment is dispatched



Privacy


  • No analytics, no crash reporters, no third-party tracking SDK

  • No network access: SMS Tech does not hold the Internet permission; Android's own MMS service carries MMS. Nothing but your messages leaves the phone

  • Location and phone-call permissions serve Emergency mode only. Both are opt-in, neither is ever used in the background, and the app works without granting either

  • Apache License 2.0 — source code at https://github.com/gitubpatrice/SMS-TECH

  • Security model documented at https://github.com/gitubpatrice/SMS-TECH/blob/main/SECURITY.md



Project home: https://files-tech.com/sms-tech.php
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Versions

Although APK downloads are available below to give you the choice, you should be aware that by installing that way you will not receive update notifications and it's a less secure way to download. We recommend that you install the F-Droid client and use that.

Download F-Droid
  • Version 1.28.14 (303) suggested Added on Oct 27, 2026

    arm64-v8a armeabi-v7a x86 x86_64

    This version requires Android 8.0 or newer.

    It is built and signed by the original developer, and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.

    Permissions
    • access approximate location only in the foreground
      This app can get your approximate location from location services while the app is in use. Location services for your device must be turned on for the app to get location.
    • access precise location only in the foreground
      This app can get your precise location from location services while the app is in use. Location services for your device must be turned on for the app to get location. This may increase battery usage.
    • view network connections
      Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.
    • directly call phone numbers
      Allows the app to call phone numbers without your intervention. This may result in unexpected charges or calls. Note that this doesn't allow the app to call emergency numbers. Malicious apps may cost you money by making calls without your confirmation.
    • run foreground service
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
    • run foreground service with the type "dataSync"
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "dataSync"
    • run foreground service with the type "specialUse"
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse"
    • hide other apps overlays
      This app can request that the system hides overlays originating from apps from being shown on top of it.
    • show notifications
      Allows the app to show notifications
    • read your contacts
      Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone. Apps will also have access to the accounts on your phone that have created contacts. This may include accounts created by apps you have installed. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge.
    • read phone numbers
      Allows the app to access the phone numbers of the device.
    • read phone status and identity
      Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active, and the remote number connected by a call.
    • read your text messages (SMS or MMS)
      This app can read all SMS (text) messages stored on your phone.
    • run at startup
      Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.
    • receive text messages (MMS)
      Allows the app to receive and process MMS messages. This means the app could monitor or delete messages sent to your device without showing them to you.
    • receive text messages (SMS)
      Allows the app to receive and process SMS messages. This means the app could monitor or delete messages sent to your device without showing them to you.
    • receive text messages (WAP)
      Allows the app to receive and process WAP messages. This permission includes the ability to monitor or delete messages sent to you without showing them to you.
    • record audio
      This app can record audio using the microphone while the app is in use.
    • send and view SMS messages
      Allows the app to send SMS messages. This may result in unexpected charges. Malicious apps may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.
    • use biometric hardware
      Allows the app to use biometric hardware for authentication
    • use fingerprint hardware
      Allows the app to use fingerprint hardware for authentication
    • control vibration
      Allows the app to control the vibrator.
    • prevent phone from sleeping
      Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
    • android.permission.WRITE_SMS
    • com.filestech.sms.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

    Download APK 11 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log

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