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Android SMS Tutorial with Examples

  1. Sending SMS in Android
  2. Send an SMS text message by SmsManager
  3. Send an SMS text message by Intent.ACTION_SEND

1. Sending SMS in Android

Basically, there are two ways for you to send an SMS text message in Android, which are SmsManager and Intent.ACTION_SEND.
SmsManager
SmsManager allows you to send an SMS text message directly from your application to any other phone number.
Intent.ACTION_SEND
In your application, you can create an implicit Intent and sent it to the Android system in order to have the system send your messages. The system will launch the best SMS sending app available in the system to do this, and it is most likely to use the Messenger application.
The Messenger application is an SMS messagesending application available in Android which is familiar to almost all users.
If you test some SMS sending apps on Android Emulator, you need to know its phone number, then you can test the apps by sending SMS text messages to that phone number.

2. Send an SMS text message by SmsManager

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SmsManager is a class available in Android, which allows you to send an SMS text message directly to any phone number.
In this example, I sent an SMS text message to the phone number of the tested device. As soon as I press the send button, the notification will show up to inform me of an SMS text message. Let's see the example below:
Note: If the user has allowed the application to send SMS text messages, the application will not ask the user again in the next SMS text message sending. Thus, oftentimes you need to remove the permissions given to the application in order to test the application more thoroughly.
Alright, now on Android Studio create a project:
  • Name: SmsManagerExample
  • Package name: org.o7planning.smsmanagerexample
Next, add the following XML code to the AndroidManifest.xml file to allow the application to send SMS text messages. Note: In Android 6.0+ (API Level 23+), the application needs to ask its user for permission to send SMS text messages(See also in the example code).
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS"/>
AndroidManifest.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="org.o7planning.smsmanagerexample">

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS"/>

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
        <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>
Finally, the interface of the application looks like this:
activity_main.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:text="Phone Number"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editText_phoneNumber"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:ems="10"
        android:hint="Phone Number"
        android:inputType="phone"
        android:text="+15555215554"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/textView" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView2"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:text="Message:"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/editText_phoneNumber" />

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editText_message"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:ems="10"
        android:inputType="text"
        android:text="Hello, How are you?"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/textView2" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/button_send"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:text="Send By SmsManager"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/editText_message" />

</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>
MainActivity.xml
package org.o7planning.smsmanagerexample;

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat;

import android.Manifest;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.telephony.SmsManager;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private static final int MY_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE_SEND_SMS = 1;

    private static final String LOG_TAG = "AndroidExample";

    private EditText editTextPhoneNumber;
    private EditText editTextMessage;

    private Button buttonSend;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        this.editTextPhoneNumber = (EditText) this.findViewById(R.id.editText_phoneNumber);
        this.editTextMessage = (EditText) this.findViewById(R.id.editText_message);

        this.buttonSend = (Button) this.findViewById(R.id.button_send);

        this.buttonSend.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                askPermissionAndSendSMS();
            }
        });
    }

    private void askPermissionAndSendSMS() {

        // With Android Level >= 23, you have to ask the user
        // for permission to send SMS.
        if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >=  android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.M) { // 23

            // Check if we have send SMS permission
            int sendSmsPermisson = ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(this,
                    Manifest.permission.SEND_SMS);

            if (sendSmsPermisson != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                // If don't have permission so prompt the user.
                this.requestPermissions(
                        new String[]{Manifest.permission.SEND_SMS},
                        MY_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE_SEND_SMS
                );
                return;
            }
        }
        this.sendSMS_by_smsManager();
    }

    private void sendSMS_by_smsManager()  {

        String phoneNumber = this.editTextPhoneNumber.getText().toString();
        String message = this.editTextMessage.getText().toString();

        try {
            // Get the default instance of the SmsManager
            SmsManager smsManager = SmsManager.getDefault();
            // Send Message
            smsManager.sendTextMessage(phoneNumber,
                    null,
                    message,
                    null,
                    null);

            Log.i( LOG_TAG,"Your sms has successfully sent!");
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),"Your sms has successfully sent!",
                    Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            Log.e( LOG_TAG,"Your sms has failed...", ex);
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),"Your sms has failed... " + ex.getMessage(),
                    Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            ex.printStackTrace();
        }
    }


    // When you have the request results
    @Override
    public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode,
                                           String permissions[], int[] grantResults) {

        super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);
        //
        switch (requestCode) {
            case MY_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE_SEND_SMS: {

                // Note: If request is cancelled, the result arrays are empty.
                // Permissions granted (SEND_SMS).
                if (grantResults.length > 0
                        && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {

                    Log.i( LOG_TAG,"Permission granted!");
                    Toast.makeText(this, "Permission granted!", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

                    this.sendSMS_by_smsManager();
                }
                // Cancelled or denied.
                else {
                    Log.i( LOG_TAG,"Permission denied!");
                    Toast.makeText(this, "Permission denied!", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
                }
                break;
            }
        }
    }

    // When results returned
    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);

        if (requestCode == MY_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE_SEND_SMS) {
            if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
                // Do something with data (Result returned).
                Toast.makeText(this, "Action OK", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            } else if (resultCode == RESULT_CANCELED) {
                Toast.makeText(this, "Action canceled", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            } else {
                Toast.makeText(this, "Action Failed", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Send an SMS text message by Intent.ACTION_SEND

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In your application, you can create an implicit Intent and sent it to the Android system in order to have the system send your messages. The system will launch the best SMS sending app available in the system to do this, and it is most likely to be the Messenger application.
The Messenger is an SMS message sending application available in Android that is familiar to almost all users.
Example preview:
On Android Studio, create a project:
  • Name: SMSIntentExample
  • Package name: org.o7planning.smsintentexample
Then add the following XML code to the AndroidManifest.xml file to allow the application to send SMS text messages.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS"/>
AndroidManifest.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="org.o7planning.smsintentexample">

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS"/>
    
    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
        <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>
The interface of the example application:
activity_main.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:text="Phone Number"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editText_phoneNumber"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:ems="10"
        android:hint="Phone Number"
        android:inputType="phone"
        android:text="+15555215554"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/textView" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView2"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:text="Message:"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/editText_phoneNumber" />

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editText_message"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:ems="10"
        android:inputType="text"
        android:text="Hello, How are you?"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/textView2" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/button_send"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:text="Send By Intent.ACTION_SEND"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/editText_message" />

</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>
MainActivity.java
package org.o7planning.smsintentexample;

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private static final String LOG_TAG = "AndroidExample";

    private EditText editTextPhoneNumber;
    private EditText editTextMessage;

    private Button buttonSend;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        this.editTextPhoneNumber = (EditText) this.findViewById(R.id.editText_phoneNumber);
        this.editTextMessage = (EditText) this.findViewById(R.id.editText_message);

        this.buttonSend = (Button) this.findViewById(R.id.button_send);

        this.buttonSend.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                sendSMS_by_Intent_ACTION_SEND();
            }
        });
    }

    private void sendSMS_by_Intent_ACTION_SEND()  {
        String phoneNumber = this.editTextPhoneNumber.getText().toString();
        String message =  this.editTextMessage.getText().toString();

        // Add the phone number in the data
        Uri uri = Uri.parse("smsto:" + phoneNumber);

        Intent smsIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SENDTO, uri);
        // Add the message at the sms_body extra field
        smsIntent.putExtra("sms_body", message);
        try {
            startActivity(smsIntent);
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            Log.e(LOG_TAG, "Your sms has failed... " + ex.getMessage(), ex);
            Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Your sms has failed... " + ex.getMessage(),
                    Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            ex.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}
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