Permissions for SMS are still present on the Signal Android app, though SMS has been deprecated in the app.

[rollsicecream]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

Bug description

In the Signal Android app, the old permissions for sending/receiving/modify SMS messages are still present in the app, but SMS has been deprecated on Signal some time ago.

Steps to reproduce

• Go to the Google Play Store page of Signal
• Click on 'about this app'
• Drag down to 'Permissions' and click on 'view details'
• And as you can see, the permissions for SMS are displayed.

Actual result: Signal gets the old SMS permissions automatically. Expected result: After the deprecation of SMS support on the app, the permissions should be removed.

Screenshots

Device info

Device: No need for it. Android version: No need for it. Signal version: 6.40.5

Link to debug log

No need for it.

[cody-signal]

The permissions are still there to allow SMS export to work. However, we're seeing reports of that not working that we're looking into. Believe us, we want these removed as soon as soon as possible and will do so when we can/plan.

[rollsicecream]

Okay, should we close the issue or wait until things get fixed + permissions removed?

[Goldmaster]

Will we at some point have sms import readded? Maybe enhanced with support for importing from WhatsApp and telegram.

[rollsicecream]

WhatsApp and telegram

Well, in the case of WhatsApp and Telegram, it could be possible with things like ZIP files, that's what Telegram does AFAIK : https://www.reddit.com/r/Telegram/comments/mx8upw/i_can_export_telegram_chats_but_can_i_import/

sms import

Do you mean SMS export? Because SMS imports are now useless with the disappearance of SMS support in Signal.

[codethief]

Because SMS imports are now useless with the disappearance of SMS support in Signal.

No, they're not. There is a difference between being able to correspond with someone through Signal and being able to read a past conversation with them in the Signal app, e.g. to keep all your conversations with that person in the same place (that's backed up, secure, has a nice UI, et cetera). If I understand @Goldmaster correctly, their request is about the latter.

[locuturus]

The permissions are still there to allow SMS export to work. However, we're seeing reports of that not working that we're looking into. Believe us, we want these removed as soon as soon as possible and will do so when we can/plan.

Yes, I found this while looking for reports on that. I stopped using Signal for a couple years after using it for many years. After going back to it recently I was excited to try the SMS export feature but it gets stuck on the step to set Signal as the default SMS app

[Goldmaster]

If I understand @Goldmaster correctly, their request is about the latter.

Yes, it's about being able to import sms, whatsapp and telegram messages into signal to chat with someone who now uses signal

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[cody-signal]

The permission should drop in the next release.

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[cyb3rko]

It was removed, current release does not include SMS permissions anymore