Writing and sending text messages is one of the basic functions of any modern smartphone. Despite the abundance of instant messengers, the technology SMS remains indispensable for banking notifications, two-factor authentication and emergency communications when the Internet is unavailable.
The interface of messaging applications can vary significantly depending on the device manufacturer and operating system version. Users Samsung, Xiaomi or Pixel can see different icons and button layouts, but the operating logic remains the same for the entire Android ecosystem.
In this article we will analyze in detail the process of creating a message, setting up group chats, sending multimedia, and also solving typical problems that gadget owners face when trying to send text.
Find and launch a messaging application
The first step to send a message is to find the appropriate application on the desktop or in the app menu. It is usually indicated by a speech bubble icon, often white or blue, and is called "Messages" or "Messages".
If you don't see the shortcut on the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the center of the display to open the full list of installed apps. In the search bar at the top of the screen, enter the word “messages” or “sms” so that the system can quickly filter out the software you need.
Owners of devices with pure Android most often use the application Google Messages, which is preinstalled by default. At the same time, brands like Samsung or Huawei can use their own shells with a unique interface design.
If you accidentally deleted the standard SMS application, you can always restore it for free through the Google Play Store by searching for "Google Messages".
After launching the application, you will see a list of previous ones dialogues. To create a new message, you need to click on a special button, which is usually located in the lower right corner of the screen and looks like a plus + or a pencil.
Creating a new message and selecting a recipient
After clicking the create a new dialog button, an input field will open. Here the system will prompt you to select a contact from the phone book or enter a phone number manually. This is a critical step, as a mistake in one number will result in the text being sent to a stranger.
When you enter the first letters of your name, the system will automatically suggest options from your address book. You can simply tap on the desired name to add it to the recipient field. If there are several contacts, they will be displayed as colored circles with initials or photographs.
- 📞 Manually entering a number requires checking the country code, especially for international calls
- 👤 Using contacts reduces the risk of typos when dialing long numbers
- 🔄 recent Contacts appear at the top of the list when frequently use
Some users prefer to copy a number from another source and paste it into the recipient field. To do this, press and hold your finger in the input field, then select "Insert" from the pop-up menu.
☑️ Check before sending
In this case, all chat participants will see each other's answers unless you change the privacy settings.
Writing text and using emoji
Main input field text is activated automatically after selecting a recipient. A keyboard will appear at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to type a message. Modern keyboards, such as Gboard or SwiftKeyoffer a predictive input feature that speeds up typing.
To add emotions or graphic symbols, click on the smiley icon, usually located in the lower left or right corner of the keyboard. A panel will open with thousands of different emoji, divided into categories: faces, animals, food, travel and others.
The length of one standard SMS message is limited to 160 Latin characters or 70 Cyrillic characters. If your text exceeds this limit, it will be split into several parts and billed as several separate messages, although for the recipient they are often combined into one long one.
⚠️ Attention: When using special characters or emoji in Cyrillic text, the character limit may be reduced to 70 characters even for short messages due to the nature of the Unicode encoding.
You can also use voice input function by clicking on the microphone icon on the keyboard. This allows you to dictate long text without having to manually type, which is especially convenient on the road or when your hands are full.
Secret keyboard gestures
On many keyboards, you can quickly move the cursor by swiping the space bar left or right without lifting it from the screen.
Sending multimedia and MMS files
Modern messaging applications allow you to send not only text, but also photos, videos, audio recordings and documents. This function is technically called MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and requires mobile data.
Next to the text input field there is usually a paper clip 📎 or plus +icon. Clicking on it opens a menu where you can select the type of attachment: camera, gallery, audio or contact. Select the desired element and it will be attached to the message.
| File type | Size limit | Internet required | Tariffing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text (SMS) | 160 characters | No | According to the operator's tariff |
| Photo (MMS) | up to 300-600 KB | Yes (mobile) | At MMS tariff |
| Video (RCS) | up to 100 MB | Yes (Wi-Fi/Mobile) | Internet traffic |
| Audio (MMS) | up to 300 KB | Yes (mobile) | At the MMS rate |
It is worth noting that sending MMS may be paid according to the tariffs of your cellular operator, even if you have unlimited Internet. Check the conditions in your personal account or with the support service.
If you have the chat function enabled RCS (Rich Communication Services), sending media files will occur via the Internet for free, similar to instant messengers, but in the standard messaging application. The "Chat" status instead of "SMS/MMS" indicates the activation of this function.
Message settings and dialog management
For comfortable work with messages, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the application settings. you can get to them by clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and selecting Settings.
In this section, you can enable or disable delivery reports, which will allow you to see when the message was read by the interlocutor. You can also configure blocking of spam and unwanted numbers.
- 🔔 Notifications: setting up sound, vibration and pop-up windows for new messages
- 🗑️ Deleting: setting up automatic deletion of old messages to save memory
- 🛡️ Protection: enabling filtering spam and identification of unknown numbers
Long press on a specific conversation in the list allows you to access additional actions: pin the chat to the top, delete the conversation completely, or mark it as read/unread.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may change after major updates to the Android operating system. If you do not find the item you need, use the search inside the phone settings menu.
The "Pin Chat" function is useful for important conversations, for example, with work or family, so that they always remain at the top of the list and are not lost among advertising mailings.
Regularly clearing the cache of the Messages application in the phone settings helps avoid freezes and speed up startup apps.
Solving problems with sending SMS
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the message is not sent and hangs with the status “Sending..” or an exclamation mark icon appears. This can be caused by a number of technical reasons.
The first thing you need to check is the presence of a balance in the account and the network signal. If the connection indicator shows no network or the R (roaming) icon without the appropriate tariff, sending will not be possible.
The second common reason is the phone memory is full. If the internal storage is full, the system cannot create a temporary file for sending a message. Free up some space by deleting unnecessary photos or apps.
Another problem may be a malfunction of the application itself. Try clearing the app cache by going to Settings → Applications → Messages → Memory → Clear cache. This will not delete your correspondence, but will clear temporary errors.
Sequence of actions in case of an error:1. Restart your smartphone.
2. Check the Airplane mode (must be turned off).
3. Remove and insert the SIM card back.
4. Clear the Messages app cache.
If all else fails, there may be a problem with your carrier or your Message Center (SMSC) settings. In this case, it is recommended to contact the technical support of your mobile operator.
If you have frequent problems with SMS, try changing the default application to Google Messages if you are using third-party software, as it has the best compatibility with the system.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to send SMS, if your phone does not have Internet?
Yes, classic text messages (SMS) are transmitted over a cellular network and do not require an Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data). However, to send MMS with pictures, the Internet is required.
Why was my long message divided into several parts?
The standard SMS protocol has a limit of 160 characters (for Latin) or 70 characters (for Cyrillic). When the limit is exceeded, the phone automatically breaks the text into segments, but modern devices collect them back into a single whole for the recipient.
How to block annoying SMS from advertising services?
Open the unwanted message, click on the three dots in the corner and select “Block number” or “Spam”. You can also enable an automatic spam filter in the application settings.
Is it possible to recover deleted SMS on Android?
Without a preliminary backup, it is extremely difficult to recover deleted messages. Some data recovery apps may help, but success is not guaranteed. It is recommended to regularly make backups via Google Drive.
What is the difference between SMS and RCS chat?
SMS is an outdated text protocol with a length limit and no media. RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a modern standard that works over the Internet, supporting sending high-quality photos, typing text in real time and reading statuses.