A modern smartphone has long ceased to be just a device for voice calls, having turned into a universal communication tool. Despite the ubiquity of instant messengers operating over the Internet, short text message technology remains critical for receiving confirmation codes from banks, notifications from service providers, and communication in areas with unstable network coverage. In the operating system Android 9 Piewhich is still installed on millions of devices around the world, the process of sending messages has undergone a number of visual and functional changes compared to earlier versions.
Users often encounter situations where the standard procedure seems unclear to them due to the updated interface or specific security settings. Sending SMS may blocked by spam filters, confused due to errors in the address book, or require manual selection of a SIM card in dual-SIM devices. Understanding the intricacies of the standard Messages application from Google or proprietary shells from manufacturers will allow you to avoid losing important data and save time.
In this article we will examine in detail all aspects of working with text messages based on Android 9. We will not just go through the steps of creating a new letter, but will also touch on the issues of setting up notifications, working with multimedia content and eliminating common technical glitches. The key feature of Android 9 is enhanced integration with RCS protocols, which requires careful attention to connection settings. The readiness of the device for operation depends on the correctness of the entered parameters of the telecom operator.
Basic procedure for sending a text message
Process creating and sending simple text to Android 9 is standardized, but has its own nuances depending on the installed version of the client application. Most often, the default application is Google Messages, which is the system standard for a clean version of the OS. To get started, you need to find the corresponding icon on the desktop or in the application menu and launch it.
After opening the application, you will see a list of your previous conversations. To write to a new contact, you should click on the floating create button, which is usually located in the lower right corner of the screen and is indicated by a plus or pencil symbol. An input field will open where the system will prompt you to select a recipient from the contact book or enter the number manually. It is important to correctly indicate the addressee so that the message does not go to a random person.
☑️ Check before sending
Text is entered using the on-screen keyboard. After typing the required content, be it a short notification or a long congratulation, you need to click the send button, presented in the form of a paper airplane or an arrow. The delivery status is usually displayed below the message text: one check mark means sending, two check marks mean delivery to the recipient’s device. If the message is stuck at the sending stage, check the network signal.
Working with multimedia and group chats
The functionality of modern smartphones allows you to turn ordinary dialogues into full-fledged multimedia correspondence. In Android 9, working with MMS messages is integrated directly into the text chat interface, which makes the process of adding photos, videos or audio files as intuitive as possible. You don't have to switch between different applications to transfer files.
To add media content in the message input field, look for the paperclip, camera, or gallery icon. Clicking on this element will open access to the device's file system. You can choose ready-made photos or take a photo directly at the time of correspondence. The system will automatically detect the file type and switch the message mode from regular SMS to MMS, which may affect the tariff of your operator.
- 📸 Camera: allows you to instantly take a photo and send it to your interlocutor without saving it in the gallery.
- 🖼️ Gallery: select existing images or short videos from the phone memory.
- 🎤 Voice recorder: recording and sending voice messages, which is often more convenient than lengthy typing.
- 📍 Geolocation: ability to send your current location or select a point on the map for a meeting.
Group chats in the standard application work on the principle of broadcasting or general flow, depending on the operator’s settings and the type of message. When you create a group, you can add multiple contacts and give the conversation a name. However, it is worth remembering that classic group SMS/MMS are inferior in functionality to Internet instant messengers and may not support reading statuses or responding to messages.
MMS size limits
The standard size limit for one MMS message is usually about 300-600 KB. If you try to send a photo in its original high resolution, Android 9 will automatically compress it, which may reduce image quality. To transfer large files, it is better to use Internet channels.
Application settings and SIM card management
Owners of devices with two or more SIM cards are well aware of the need to constantly monitor which card the message is coming from. In Android 9, SIM card management is placed in a separate, convenient settings block, but is also available in the quick menu. This allows you to flexibly set priorities for different contacts or situations.
To change the default settings, go to the application menu (three dots in the corner) and select Settings. Here you are interested in the section related to SIM cards or additional parameters. You can set one card as the primary card for all outgoing messages, or you can choose to prompt each time you send. The latter option increases control, but requires unnecessary action.
| Settings parameter | Function description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Main SIM | Default card used for SMS | Select a card with a large package of minutes |
| Notifications | Sound and vibration when a message arrives | Enable for important contacts |
| RCS chats | Improved messages via the Internet | Enable to save traffic |
| Blocking | Filter unwanted numbers | Activate protection from spam |
The function RCS chats (Rich Communication Services) deserves special attention. This is a modern replacement for regular SMS, working via the Internet. If you and your interlocutor have this function enabled and are connected to the network, messages will be sent as in instant messengers: with read confirmation, a typing indicator and high quality photos. Switching between modes occurs automatically.
Solving problems with sending and delivery
The situation when a message is not sent or hangs for a long time with the “Sending” status is one of the most annoying. In Android 9, the reasons may lie both in software failures of the application itself and in network settings. The first thing you should always do is check the signal indicator: if there is no network, the message will be saved in the outbox until a connection appears.
A frequent problem is application memory overflow. The standard client stores the history of correspondence, and if the limit is reached, new messages may not be created. You need to go to Settings devices, find the section Applications, select your “Messages” and press Storage. Clearing the cache often solves the problem of freezing without deleting the chat history.
⚠️ Attention: If you reset an application to factory settings, your SMS history may be deleted. Before performing this procedure, it is recommended to make a backup copy of important correspondence through your Google account settings or specialized apps.
It is also worth checking whether the recipient's number or your own number is blocked by the operator for sending spam. Sometimes telecom operators block the ability to send short numbers or messages to international destinations without first activating the service. In such cases, a call to the operator's support service is required.
If the message does not go away, try turning on airplane mode for 10 seconds and then turning it off. This will force a restart of the communication module and re-register the device on the network, which often solves the problem of stuck sending.
Blocking unwanted contacts and spam filters
The fight against intrusive advertising and fraudulent emails has become a priority for Google, and Android 9 has introduced powerful protection tools. The Messages app has a built-in filter that automatically identifies and hides suspicious messages, placing them in a separate Spam and Blocked folder.
You can manually add numbers to the blacklist. To do this, open a dialogue with an unwanted interlocutor, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Block number or Report spam. After blocking, you will no longer receive notifications from this subscriber, and the messages themselves will not appear in the main list.
- 🛡️ Automatic protection: Google analyzes the database of known spam numbers and warns about the danger.
- 🚫 Manual blocking: the ability to block any specific number from the history of calls or messages.
- 🔍 Unknown filtering: setting up to hide messages from numbers that are not in your address book.
- 📩 Spam report: sending a copy of the message to the operator to improve security algorithms.
It is important to periodically check your spam folder, as useful notifications may also end up there, for example, confirmation codes from delivery services or banks if their numbers were mistakenly marked as suspicious. Regular audit of blocked contacts will help you not miss important information.
The built-in filters of Android 9 effectively cut out up to 90% of advertising spam, but for complete safety it is recommended not to click on links in messages from unknown senders.
Backup and restoration of correspondence
Loss of a smartphone or its breakdown should not mean the loss of important information. Android 9 provides a native ability to backup SMS to Google Drive cloud storage. This allows you to automatically restore your entire correspondence history when switching to a new phone or after resetting the settings.
To activate this function, you must go to Settings phone, select section Google, then Backup. Make sure the Messages switch is turned on. Copying occurs automatically when connected to Wi-Fi and a charger, or you can force it by pressing the button Start copying.
⚠️ Attention: Backups in Google Drive take up space in your cloud storage. If you have a very large chat history with a lot of photos, they can quickly exhaust the free 15 GB of account space.
Recovery occurs at the time of initial device setup. The system will ask if you want to restore data from the cloud and prompt you to select the latest available copy. The process may take from a few minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet connection. It is not recommended to interrupt the recovery.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why do you receive messages from the Internet instead of SMS text?
This is how the RCS chat feature (Chat features) works in the Google Messages application. It allows you to send messages via the Internet, like in instant messengers. You can disable or configure this in the “Settings” -> “Chat Functions” section inside the application.
How to send SMS to an email address?
In the recipient field, instead of the phone number, enter the full email address. The message will be delivered as a letter. Please note that outgoing messages may be charged at the operator's rate as for a regular SMS or MMS.
What to do if messages arrive with a delay?
Delays are often associated with overload of the operator's networks or an unstable signal. Try rebooting your phone. If the problem is persistent, contact the operator's communication center to replace the SIM card with a more modern one that supports new communication standards.
Can I send SMS if there is no balance?
You can send regular SMS for free only to short service numbers (for example, 0999 to check your balance). Messages to regular mobile numbers require funds in your account or an activated package tariff. The exception is emergency calls and messages, but they only work if there is a signal from any available network.