Messaging apps

You can use any one of many messaging apps on an Android phone. Sometimes these alternative apps store messages in a way that is not compatible with the ordinary messaging app, so Text Collector is unable to retrieve messages.

Stock Android messaging

The stock Android text messaging app is usually called Messaging or Messages. It comes preinstalled on all Android phones and should not be confused with Android Messages, a proprietary app from Google.

If you’re using WhatsApp, Facebook Messages, or similar, you probably realize it. WhatsApp messages and the like will not appear in Text Collector collections.

Less obvious is that cell carriers like to provide their own messaging systems with different features. These are usually branded “Advanced,” “Chat,” “Messages+,” or “RCS.” Typically, the phone manufacturers build the support for carrier-specific messaging into the stock messaging app. You usally can tell these are carrier-specific messages because they are decorated with indicators that tell you they’ve been delivered and similar.

Summary of known problems

If you notice messages missing, or any other problem with your collection, please write to help@legaltextcollector.com.

• Samsung

  • Some messages might appear twice

  • Some pictures might not appear

• LG

  • Location messages do not render as maps

  • Text Collector versions older than 1.2 did not collect LG “Advanced” messages

• Alcatel, Revvl, and other TCL brands

  • On newer phones, messages with people on the same carrier can be missing

• HTC

  • Messages with people on the same carrier can be missing

• Huawei

  • Messages may be missing

• Motorola

  • Messages when Advanced Messaging is turned on may be missing

• OnePlus

  • Messages may be missing

• Verizon Messages+

  Using Text Collector with Verizon Messages+ is not recommended.

  • Messages may be missing

  • Messages can show wrong recipients

On some phones, spam messages will not be collected.

Samsung

Text Collector does not find spam messages on Samsung phones.

On AT&T and T-Mobile (including Metro PCS), Samsung phones use the carrier’s “Advanced” messaging. Text Collector can usually collect these messages, but there are occasional problems that can affect messages with other customers on the same carrier:

• Some messages that appear once in the messaging app may appear twice in the collection

• Some pictures might not appear

Also, Text Collector might encounter some messages with status codes it doesn’t recognize: it will label them [Unknown message status]. If you see this, please write to help@legaltextcollector.com.

LG

On AT&T and T-Mobile (including Metro PCS), LG phones use the carrier’s “Advanced” messaging. Starting with version 1.2, Text Collector can usually collect these messages, but there are occasional problems that can affect messages with other customers on the same carrier:

LG phones can share location messages that appear as maps in the messaging app. Text Collector does not render the map of these location messages, but the underlying location data will be saved as an attachment.

If Text Collector finds messages with status codes it doesn’t recognize, it will abort the collection. If your collection fails, please write to help@legaltextcollector.com.

Motorola

On T-Mobile (including Metro PCS), Motorola phones use the carrier’s “Advanced” messaging. For a time, motorola phones stored these messages in the same way as ordinary text messages, so they caused no known problems, but this has not been tested recently.

Alcatel, Revvl, and other TCL brands

Starting from Android 11 or perhaps earlier, Text Collector is unable to read “RCS” messages from TCL phones, which includes the Alcatel and Revvl brands. This affects phones on T-Mobile (including Metro PCS) and perhaps other carriers. Text Collector was able to collect those messages for a time, but TCL changed the system in Android 11 or perhaps earlier, making Text Collector no longer able to find the messages. In the Messages app, the missed messages will usually be those decorated with indicators that show they’ve been read and the like.

Turning off the RCS setting in the Messages app makes future messages readable by Text Collector, but has no effect on past messages.

HTC

On T-Mobile (including Metro PCS), HTC phones use the carrier’s “Advanced” messaging. Text Collector cannot collect these messages, so messages with other T-Mobile customers can be missing from the collection. This might also affect other carriers.

Huawei

On AT&T, when using Huawei phones, Text Collector cannot collected “Advanced” messages. This might affect other carriers as well.

Motorola

Messages sent and received while Advanced Messaging is turned on may not be collected. Turning off Advanced Messaging in the Messages app settings allows messages sent and received while it is off to be collected.

OnePlus

Some messages on OnePlus phones cannot be collected. This might appear as one side of a conversation being missing.

Verizon Messages+

Verizon sets up its phones with its own Messages+ app as the default app for texting and Text Collector shows a warning when it detects that Verizon Messages+ was in use.

Verizon Messages+	Warning from Text Collector

Using Text Collector with Verizon Messages+ is not recommended: even though Text Collector can access most messages, there are some it cannot. Plus, Text Collector sometimes will find the wrong recipients for messages it can access.

Collections might still be fine, but should be carefully compared to the originals in the messaging app for accuracy. A better option is to use one of these alternatives instead:

• Print messages from the Verizon Web interface. When viewing a thread, the “print” button can be found in the toolbar.

• Use the built-in backup option and open the backup files with this online Verizon Messages+ Viewer.

Finally, screenshots are always an option.