If you’re getting “Sent as SMS via server” instead of the regular read receipts when you send a message, your phone probably uses RCS (more on that later).
This usually happens with Samsung devices and phones with more recent Android OS versions.
If you have the “Sent as SMS via server” message on your phone, this article is for you. We will explain what this message means, why you are getting it, and how to disable it.
First, let us discuss what an SMS is.
What Is an SMS?
SMS stands for Short Message Service. It is a common way of sending text messages to people over cellular networks through mobile phones. It only allows you to send text and has a 160-character message cap.
Most messaging apps on Android devices have been using the Short Message Service. This, however, makes it difficult for users to send or receive multimedia like pictures and videos through text.
What Does “Sent as SMS via Server” Mean?
Sent as SMS via Server means the sender uses the RCS messaging protocol on Android’s messaging application to send you the message.
RCS, which stands for Rich Communications Service, is a new messaging protocol from Google that will replace SMS text messaging and MMS.
With RCS, you can send media like pictures and videos in text messages and even have group chats. You also get typing indicators and better security.
These features make messaging on Android devices live up to the standards of iMessage on iPhones and social media messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger.
When you get the “sent as SMS via server” message, your phone won’t display the usual notifications like “Sent,” “Received,” and “Delivered” as if they blocked your number.
It’s like when someone blocks you on iMessage, and you don’t get the usual notifications under your texts.
How to Stop “Sent as SMS via Server” Message
If you’re getting “Sent as SMS vias server,” you need to ensure that your recipient has enabled the RCS protocol messaging on their phone. This will stop you from getting this message under your texts.
To get rid of the message, follow the steps below. We have compiled a list of fixes to get your text receipts back on.
1. Enable the “Show When Delivered” Option
A very popular fix for stopping the “sent as SMS via server” message is to enable the “show when delivered” option.
To enable it, follow these simple steps:
- Open the Messages app on your Android device.
- Click on the three-dot menu to load the settings.
- Go to More or Advanced Settings.
- Turn on the button next to Get SMS Delivery Reports.
- If you do not have that, check for the Show When Delivered option and turn it on.
Send a text message and check if you still have the “sent as SMS via server” receipt. You should have a “Delivered” or “Seen” receipt instead.
If this fix doesn’t work, please try the others below.
2. Check for Third-Party Apps Interference (Safe Mode)
Third-party apps can sometimes cause the “sent as SMS via server” message to appear on your phone.
To check for third-party interference, run your Android device in Safe Mode. Safe Mode disables all third-party applications.
When your phone is in Safe Mode, you will only be able to access apps created by your manufacturer. All other apps will be greyed out.
To run your device in Safe Mode, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the ON/OFF button on the side of your Android device.
- When the menu pops up, long-press the Power Off button.
- Click on Safe Mode and wait for your device to restart.
When your phone comes up, it will only have the manufacturer’s apps. All third-party apps will be greyed out.
Additionally, a gray box with the words “Safe Mode” will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Send a text message and see if it still gives the “sent as SMS via server” receipt. If it doesn’t, the problem is from your third-party apps.
Now that you have found the issue, you have to uninstall the third-party apps manually, one after the other.
Restart your device after uninstalling each app and check if you fixed the problem by removing that app.
Uninstalling an app is pretty simple.
Follow these steps to uninstall your third-party apps:
- Go to your apps list and long-press the app of your choice. In the options there, click on Uninstall.
- Confirm that you want to uninstall the app by clicking OK.
If the problem persists, uninstall another app, restart, and check again. Soon, you will be able to send text messages without getting the “sent as SMS via server” message.
3. Clear the Cache of the Messages App
Clearing the app cache can help to free up space on your Android phone and solve glitches and bugs.
If your phone displays the “sent as SMS via server” message, try clearing its cache and data.
Follow these steps to clear the cache of the Messages app:
- Go to Settings and then click on Apps
- In the apps list, look for the Messages app.
- Go to its Storage.
- Click on Clear Cache.
You should not receive the “sent as SMS via server” message anymore when you try to send a text.
See also: How to stop someone from reading your text messages on Android
4. Ensure Both Devices Have RCS Enabled
You can stop the “sent as SMS via server” message from appearing by making sure both your device and the recipient have RCS enabled.
This can be quite a tedious fix because it needs you to contact the person you are sending the message to also go through the process.
To enable RCS, follow these steps:
- Open the Messages app.
- Click on the three-dot menu and then select Settings.
- Go to General Settings.
- Click on Chat Features.
- Toggle the Enable Chat Features button. It may take a few moments to connect.
- When you see “Connected” in green, it means RCS has been enabled.
Remember to do this on both devices (sending and receiving). Depending on the Android version you are using and the brand of your phone, these steps might differ.
5. Wipe Your Device Cache Partition
The Device Cache Partition allows you to store temporary system files. These are usually old documents and data you will not use or need.
Wiping your device cache partition can help you get rid of the “Sent as SMS via server” message under your texts.
Follow these steps to do so:
- Switch off your phone.
- Press down the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time until you get into Recovery Mode.
- Use the Volume buttons to move through the Recovery Mode menus.
- Select the Wipe Cache Partition option with the Power button.
- Wait for the Cache partition to clear.
- Reboot your device.
You should now have your regular text receipts when you send a text message.
Final Thoughts on “Sent as SMS via Server”
As you can see, your phone displays “Sent as SMS via server” next to your texts because of the RCS messaging protocol.
The message “Sent as SMS via server” only indicates that your Rich SMS has been sent, so you don’t need to worry about it.
If you want to stop getting this message and see your text receipts instead, you can try one of our fixes.
- Enable The “Show When Delivered” Option
- Check for Third-Party Apps Interference
- Clear Cache of the Messages App
- Ensure Both Devices have RSC Enabled
- Wipe Your Device Cache Partition
If you have any other ideas or suggestions, we encourage you to suggest them in the comments below.
