"Change SMS app?" question appears in Android 4.4

[tubiman]

Hi,

I own a Sony Xperia Z1 Compact and recently upgraded it to Android 4.4.2 (KitKat). I've read that KitKat uses a setting for "Default SMS app" (Setting -> Wireless & Networks -> Default SMS app). MyPhoneExplorer is one of my favourite software applications (been running it for many years on SonyEricsson mobile phones) and got it working with my Android phone some weeks ago. With the upgrade(?) to KitKat I am experiencing some strange behaviour (see description below) and I wonder if anyone have the same issues? I really need some help to get it working again.


# Running Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
# Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
# MyPhoneExplorer Client version 1.0.30

Additional app:s:
# Handcent SMS 5.4.0
# 8SMS 1.2.8


I connect my phone to my computer (running MS Windows 7 and MPE 1.8.5) by Bluetooth. When I send an SMS using MPE (on my computer) my phone show a pop-up saying:
"Change SMS app?
Use MyPhoneExplorer Client instead of Handcent SMS as your SMS app?"

I click 'YES' and the message is sent. When I receive an SMS it shows up in MPE (on my computer) but the phone shows a pop-up saying:
"Change SMS app?
Use Handcent SMS instead of MyPhoneExplorer Client as your SMS app?"

If I click 'NO' the same thing happens next time I receive an SMS.

If I click 'YES' then the next time I send an SMS using MPE (on my computer) I will get a pop-up saying:
"Change SMS app?
Use MyPhoneExplorer Client instead of Handcent SMS as your SMS app?"

I have tried using the 'stock' SMS app, the 8SMS app, Handcent SMS app and the above scenarios always happen.

If I have e.g. 'Messaging' set as my 'Default SMS app' and I try to Delete some messages using MPE (on my computer) I will get a pop-up (in my phone) saying:
"Change SMS app?
Use MyPhoneExplorer Client instead of Handcent SMS as your SMS app?"

This is really frustrating. I can no longer use MPE as my SMS/organizer tool since the Android phone keeps asking "Change SMS app?" all the time and MPE (on my computer) freezes if the "Change SMS app?" question (on my phone) is not answered. It also seems that it is difficult to get a Bluetooth connection to the phone after the KitKat upgrade, MPE (on my computer) often says 'Connection to phone could not be established. Could not open COM6.". I have seen this before but it is much more frequent since the KitKat upgrade.

Please help me out! If you need further information please let me know.

Thank you!

BR,
tubiman

[ANILE8]

Yes, I am getting this too.

Just happened the last week or so.

HTC ONE M7

Android 4.4.2

MPE 1.8.5

[Dr freedom]

Same here.
Ive been using MPE for over a year now & found it to be the best PC > Phone manager.. now this is annoying me to no end.
Im sick of it asking me if I want to use Messaging instead of MPE.. hope you can fix it.

Sony Xperia Z1
KitKat
MPE 1.8.5

[ANILE8]

Just had the MPE Client update last night to 1.0.31 but the bug is still not fixed.

Anyone found a solution yet?

[c-nati@outlook.com]

Just had the MPE Client update last night to 1.0.31 but the bug is still not fixed.

Anyone found a solution yet?

This also happens on the NEXUS 5
withe the Textra SMS

[ricky_31]

Hello,

same situation for me, after the android upgrade on HTC One

With MPE Client, but also Textra SMS ...

[Bluscream]

Please be patient. The developer is trying to fix this issue.

[ricky_31]

hello,

isn't it about "Google's hidden App Ops", the issue we have there ?
included now in the new kitkat version ?

have a great evening

[Dr freedom]

Please be patient. The developer is trying to fix this issue.

Awesome, thanks

[FJ]

Sorry guys. It is no bug and its a calculated behaviour by Google. Since Android KitKat only the Default SMS App has write access to the SMS database, i cannot fix it because its a "security feature" of KitKat.

If you send messages then MPE should NOT ask you to be the default sms app. If you delete or upload messages then this step is needed. But MyPhoneExplorer will be never a full SMS replacement like Handcent or GoSMS so he asks 20 second after the last request to restore the old Default SMS Application.

I am really not happy with the situation and i have got some new gray hairs because of this but it seems there is no better way to handle it. If you need more technical information about this "security feature": http://android-developers.blogspot.co.a ... itkat.html

I am open for ideas

[vodkasolution]

I understand the behaviour comes from Google and I'd be ok if, when I connect my phone to MPE on my pc, I'd be asked something like

"use MPE as SMS app instead of xxxxx, your messages will not be deleted or modified in the change? Closing the app will move your previous sms-app as default"

That, obviously, if you can make MPE set back the old app when quitting.

[iclick]

At the risk of exposing my abject lack of expertise on this issue, what if MPE developed a way to switch the default messaging app whenever MPE connects to a computer? IOW, when not connected it uses the default messaging app ("Messaging") and when connected automatically switches it to MPE. When MPE is not connected there is no need for it to be the default.

[FJ]

I understand the behaviour comes from Google and I'd be ok if, when I connect my phone to MPE on my pc, I'd be asked something like

"use MPE as SMS app instead of xxxxx, your messages will not be deleted or modified in the change? Closing the app will move your previous sms-app as default"

Not possible, its even not possible to define the text in the confirmation window. OK, i could show a message and then the confirmation dialog but thats really user unfriendly.

As i said its not possible to do it automatically. You can show the dialog on the phone but the user has to confirm the dialog. Also when you restore to the old Default-SMS-App its only possible throught this dialog.

[iclick]

FJ, is it possible to create a rudimentary SMS app in MPE Client that will allow us to deal with messages on the phone when not connected to MPE on the computer? That way we could keep MPE Client as the default messaging app. I mentioned this already in a thread I started a couple of weeks ago.

[TheLandYacht]

Actually, it'd probably be more appropriate to say...

"the developer is trying to find a work-around to the problem CREATED BY THE DEVELOPERS OF ANDROID 4.4".

Please be patient. The developer is trying to fix this issue.

[FJ]

@iclick: I already thought about this. But even the basics of messages are really alot of work. I would have to implement MMS too in this app. I don't think this will be the solution.

[janjan]

@iclick: I already thought about this. But even the basics of messages are really alot of work. I would have to implement MMS too in this app. I don't think this will be the solution.

just thinking - couldn't this problem be solved using the "root" in the phone? for people who have rooted their phones the myphoneexplorer should ask for root privilegies...

and another one question - what about android 5 L(ollipop)? still same sms handling policy?

[Koelner]

just thinking - couldn't this problem be solved using the "root" in the phone? for people who have rooted their phones the myphoneexplorer should ask for root privilegies...

The MPE (on Android devices) never used any functions that require root and FJ is not intending to differ in that matter.

[TheLandYacht]

I think he may have meant "would rooting the phone enable you to bypass the (choose an SMS App) message"?

I'm kind of curious myself.

[janjan]

The MPE (on Android devices) never used any functions that require root and FJ is not intending to differ in that matter.

i do not want to make MPE _only_ for rooted phones. but, if someone has rooted phone, he can enable the better sms functionality... but i understand the policy "do nothing for rooted phones".

so my second question was: will it be in lollipop (android 5) better or is there the same problem?

// sorry for my english, i am not native speaker