If you live in an area with excellent data reception, most of your day-to-day communications probably happen online. However, we still get an SMS now and then.
Most of these are either security keys, delivery messages, or texts from loved ones who aren’t online. Unfortunately, if you’re busy and focused on your work, there’s a chance you can miss these important messages.
To solve this, you can automatically forward SMS on your Android smartphone to your email. Here’s how.
Apps You Can Choose From
Many apps can forward messages from your phone to your email. For example, a simple “Forward SMS to Email” search returns hundreds, if not thousands, of results. You can also use smart apps, like IFTTT and its alternatives, to set up an automatic forward command.
Arguably, the best app specifically designed for SMS forwarding is SMS Forwarder – Auto forward SMS to PC or Phone. It’s simple to use, allows for multiple filters, and can forward messages to another number. Best of all, it’s free to use!
Download: SMS Forwarder (Free, in-app purchases available)
Setting It Up for the First Time
After installing the app and opening it the first time, you’ll get a screen explaining how it works and what it can and cannot do. The next screen also gives out a warning: if someone asked you to install the app, you’re being scammed. The warning helps protect its user-base and prevent fraud.
Step 1: Give Permission
You have to give Permission approval for the app to read your messages, access your phone status, and read contact details. After tapping on the AGREEMENT button, you have to choose ALLOW on the next three screens for the app to work.
Step 2: Set Up Your Email Address
After setting the permissions, you’ll see the Update notes, then the Key Guides, which show the general instructions. You’ll also see the SET UP EMAIL button. This is where you add the address you’ll use to forward the SMS.
After tapping the button, you have the option to use None, Via Gmail API, or Via SMTP. If you don’t have a Gmail account, you can use SMTP to forward your emails.
If you choose the Gmail option, you’ll go through a couple of screens asking for permission to Send email on your behalf. By allowing it, the app will use your email to forward your SMS to your nominated email address.
To confirm that email binding is successful, tap on SEND TEST EMAIL and check if you receive the test email.
Step 3: Turn Off Battery Optimization
After setting up your email, you need to deactivate battery optimization for the app. This ensures the app will continue running in the background to forward all messages you receive. You can do this under the Ignore Optimize battery usage screen.
Tap on GO TO SETTING, select All apps from the dropdown menu, then search for SMS Forwarder. Tap on it, then choose Don’t allow. Don’t forget to press OK!
Now go back to the app and press DONE. The initial setup is now complete.
Creating Your First Filter
You probably don’t want every text message you receive to be forwarded to your email. Filters ensure that only messages that meet specific criteria are forwarded.
When you’re at the app’s home screen, tap on the Filters view. Next, tap on + to start creating your first SMS forwarding command.
Set Up Recipients
From the top, you have to choose who will receive the text messages you need to forward. You can set this to anyone, or even to any number.
For example, if this is a work phone and you want to forward the SMS your receive to your email, type in your email address.
Another use is if you have a team and they need a security code sent to your number to login into their account. Simply list their email addresses or phone numbers as the recipients, and you’re good to go!
You can add as many recipients as you want, so you can include your entire company if you want to. We wouldn’t recommend that, though.
Forwarding Conditions
This is the section where you set the keywords metrics that will trigger forwarding the SMS. Each section has a question mark you can tap for further instructions, but here’s what you need to know.
- What to transfer? refers to the kind of messages the app will forward. Choose SMS if you want to forward text messages only. But if you want to forward other app notifications, like from your bank’s app, you can choose Notification instead.
- From who lets you choose which numbers the app will forward messages from and which numbers it will ignore. If you keep this section blank, the app will scan all messages for the next set of rules.
- Rule for text is where you can set messages to be forwarded only if they contain certain words or phrases. If the words you set are inside one box, the app must satisfy both rules. But if it’s under the OR option, only one rule must be realized for the message forwarding to execute.
Change the Content
This section allows you to change the content of the SMS. Under Message Template, you can customize the email by adding your own message. You also have five other options to add details.
Replace words allow you to change or remove words and phrases from the text message. This is especially useful if you want to hide specific details from the message.
More Settings
You can change the Filter Name and Email Subject in this section. If you have a dual-SIM phone, you can choose which SIM the filter will track under SIM Number. You can also set which SIM it will use to forward a text message to another number.
Under Options, tick Notification if you want to be alerted every time the filter activates. It will also store every instance of command execution if you choose Save Results.
Finally, you can delay the email forwarding by up to 24 hours and 59 minutes under the Delay delivery option.
If you don’t want to disturb your recipients during the weekends, tap on SET WORKING TIME. This ensures that the filter will only work between the times and days you choose.
Once you’re happy with the results, tap SAVE. It will ask if you want to receive a test message. Once done, you will now see the filter under the Filters list.
You can add as many codes as you like. Deactivating a filter is also as simple as tapping on the slider.
If the app is running properly, you should see a Foreground service under your notifications. This confirms it’s currently monitoring your messages and will work as you programmed.
Support the Developer
The SMS Forwarder is an excellent app if you need to stay away from your phone but still need to receive texts. It’s quick to set up and easy to use while still retaining powerful features.
So, if you find this app useful, don’t hesitate to support the developer. You can do by removing the ads via an in-app purchase. But whether you pay or keep it free, you get this nice, light app that makes your life convenient.