GmsCore: Android 11 android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS not working

In self check, the permission to receive text messages (SMS) is always unchecked / denied. In app info the SMS permission is denied. Changing it to allowed then reverts immediately back to denied.

Permissions xml file shows denied too. Changing to granted then reverts back to denied. <permission name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS" granted="false" flags="4000" />

Android Version: 11 Custom ROM: LineageOS 18.0

This looks to be a problem with many apps requiring SMS access. Google advises the SMS Retriever API.

There is an article that discusses the issue.

Is this needed and does microG have a workaround?

About this issue

Original URL
State: closed
Created 4 years ago
Comments: 19 (2 by maintainers)

Most upvoted comments

Hey, I’m running into the same issue. I installed MicroG using the MicroG Installer (Revived) magisk module. It won’t let me grant background location nor SMS permissions; does anyone have a clear solution that doesn’t involve fiddling with files in various system folders?

ghost on Dec 21, 2020

This seems to be a known issue since MinMicroG references it:

If you are not able to grant some permissions to microG (background location or recieving SMS), refer to the the troubleshooting section of install.md

Permission troubles with microG and gang

In a terminal app (like Termux) write these 2 commands, accept root request and reboot:

su;
npem;

Some new permissions are protected by Android now, and cannot simply be granted. You can try several things that may or may not work, depending on your ROM:

    Extracting the MicroG APK from the zip and installing it as an user app update
    Installing MinMicroG as system instead of as a Magisk module
    Clean flashing, if all else fails

The npem file is downloaded from https://gitlab.com/nanolx/nanodroid/raw/master/Full/system/bin/nanodroid-perm and is attached here: nanodroid-perm.txt

I shall investigate next week when I have more time, but maybe it helps others too, or the devs here can integrate it to microg.

JonnyTech on Nov 29, 2020

Installing through the MicroG Installer (Revived) Magisk module I had the same problems - couldn’t give SMS or background location permissions. I even unzipped the module to add chris42’s permissions files and download the newest GmsCore apk from microG’s github (version 0.2.18.204714). That didn’t work, neither did the nanodroid perm script.

So I installed GmsCore.apk on its own, disabled the magisk module and rebooted. Now I could allow SMS and background location. Enabled the magisk module again, rebooted and voila - microG has all the permissions and is a system app.

stainlesspot on Apr 9, 2021