Frequently asked questions

How does Forward SMS forward my texts?

Forward SMS sends your incoming texts to another phone, email, chat apps or your own API. It runs in the background and checks every new text against the rules you set up.

Does Forward SMS work on both Android and iPhone?

Yes. There is an app for Android on Google Play and an app for iPhone on the App Store. Both forward texts, battery alerts and notifications from other apps (on iPhone, notifications need iOS 27 or later). The Android app also forwards call alerts and can reply to texts for you.

What can I use SMS forwarding for?

Common uses are sharing verification codes with a team without sharing a phone, sending payment and delivery alerts to a work channel, keeping a copy of texts in email, and staying reachable on a second phone or while travelling.

How does Forward SMS keep my texts private?

Your rules and history stay on your phone. Texts only leave the phone to go to the destinations you choose, and nothing is sent anywhere else.

Are my texts saved on your servers?

No. Texts forwarded to another phone number, to your own Gmail or SMTP email, or to your own API go straight from your phone and never reach our server. When you use our email service or Telegram, the text passes through our server over a secure connection and is deleted as soon as it has been delivered.

Is it safe to forward bank codes and other private texts?

Only forward them to destinations you control and trust, because anyone who can read the destination can read the code. Use a sender or content filter so that only the texts you need are forwarded.

How do I delete my forwarding history?

History is kept only on your phone. Deleting the app removes it along with your rules.

Do I have to keep the app open all the time?

No. You can close the app after setup and it keeps forwarding in the background.

Will my texts still be forwarded while my phone is locked?

Yes. Forwarding runs in the background whether the phone is locked or not.

Can I use Forward SMS on an iPad?iOS only

Yes. Install it from the App Store and set up the same Shortcuts automation as on iPhone.

Do I have to turn the app on again after my phone restarts?

No. Forward SMS starts again automatically after the phone restarts.

Do I need a SIM card?

Yes. A SIM card is required to receive SMS.

Do I need the internet to forward SMS?

Only for some destinations. Forwarding to another phone number works without internet. Every other destination, such as email, Telegram or a URL, needs a connection.

What happens if my phone was offline for a while?Android only

Texts that arrive while the phone is offline are forwarded to email or Telegram as soon as it is back online. Forwarding to another phone number doesn’t need internet, so it isn’t affected.

Where can I forward my text messages?

On iOS

To another phone number, email, a REST API or webhook, Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack and Microsoft Teams.

On Android

To another phone number, email (through your Gmail account or your own SMTP server), a URL or REST API, Telegram, Slack and Microsoft Teams.

Can I forward a text to more than one place?

Yes. Add several destinations to one rule, for example an email address and a Slack channel, and each text is sent to all of them.

Can I forward only some of my texts?

Yes. You can filter by sender, such as a saved contact or a phone number, and by message content, such as texts that contain a word like “OTP”.

Can I forward texts only at certain times?

Yes. Add a schedule to a rule so it forwards only on the days and hours you choose.

What is the difference between a basic and an advanced rule?Android only

A basic rule needs only a few settings and takes about a minute to set up. An advanced rule adds sender filters, schedules by time and day, SIM selection and custom message content.

Can I customize the content of the message?Android only

Yes. Use an advanced rule to change what the forwarded message says.

Can I forward notifications from other apps?

On iOS

Yes, on iOS 27 or later. Create a Notification automation in the Shortcuts app for the apps you pick, then a Notification rule in Forward SMS. The forwarded message includes the notification and the name of the app that posted it.

On Android

Yes. A notification rule forwards notifications from the apps you pick.

Can I get an alert when my phone’s battery is low?

On iOS

Yes. Create a Battery Level automation in the Shortcuts app and a Battery rule in Forward SMS, and you’ll get a message with the battery level when it falls below the level you pick. A Charger automation can also tell you when the iPhone is plugged in or unplugged.

On Android

Yes. Turn on the Low Battery alert in phone alerts, and you’ll get a message with the remaining battery level, so you can charge the phone before forwarding stops.

What are phone alerts?Android only

Besides forwarding SMS, the app can send alerts for missed, incoming and outgoing calls, low battery, and when the phone starts up or shuts down.

Can I forward call alerts?Android only

Yes. Use phone alerts to forward missed, incoming and outgoing calls.

Can I get an alert when my phone shuts down or turns on?Android only

Yes. Turn on the Phone Shut Down and Phone Turned On alerts in phone alerts, and you’ll get a message with the time whenever the phone is switched off or back on. This is handy for a second phone you don’t carry with you.

Can I auto reply to text messages?Android only

Yes. Set up an auto reply rule to answer incoming texts automatically.

Can I reply to a text from another phone?Android only

Yes. With Remote Reply, send a text from an approved phone starting with @ and the contact name or number, and Forward SMS sends the rest from your main phone.

Can I forward the texts I send?Android only

Yes. An outgoing SMS rule forwards the texts you send, and you can filter it by who you sent them to.

Can I forward RCS messages?Android only

Yes. RCS is the newer chat format used by apps like Google Messages. Allow Forward SMS notification access and turn on RCS forwarding in the rule.

Why did my iPhone stop forwarding texts?iOS only

Usually the automation is off or was deleted. Open the Shortcuts app, go to Automation and check that the Forward SMS automation is there and turned on.

Why is the Notification rule type greyed out?iOS only

Notification rules need iOS 27 or later. Update your iPhone in Settings, General, Software Update, and the option becomes available.

Why does forwarding stop when the app is closed?Android only

Your phone’s battery saver may be stopping the app. Set Forward SMS to unrestricted battery use, and on phones such as Xiaomi and Redmi also allow autostart.

Why does the forwarded text say “sensitive notification content hidden”?Android only

Your phone is hiding notification content from other apps. Turn off Enhanced notifications for Forward SMS in your phone’s notification settings.

Will forwarding cost me anything with my carrier?

Forwarding to another phone number sends a normal text, so your plan’s SMS rates apply. Other destinations use mobile data or Wi-Fi.