If you are an Android user, you may have noticed a message that says “Sent as SMS via server” when you send a text message to someone. What does this mean and why does it happen? In this article, we will explain what this message means, what causes it, and how you can turn it off if you don’t want to see it.
What Is RCS and How Does It Work?
- RCS stands for Rich Communication Services, and it is a new standard for texting that aims to improve the features and functionality of traditional SMS and MMS. RCS allows you to send and receive text messages that include multimedia content, such as images, videos, stickers, emojis, and more. RCS also supports group chats, read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption. RCS messages are free as they operate over a data connection, such as Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- RCS works by using a server that acts as a bridge between different mobile networks and SMS gateways. The server ensures that your messages are delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible, regardless of the carrier or device of the recipient. RCS is supported by most Android devices and carriers, but not by iPhones or other non-Android devices.
What Causes the “Sent as SMS via Server” Message?
When you send an RCS message to someone who also has RCS enabled, you will see the usual status notifications, such as “Sent”, “Delivered”, or “Read”. However, when you send an RCS message to someone who does not have RCS enabled, or who has a poor or no internet connection, your message will be sent as a regular SMS instead. This is called SMS fallback, and it ensures that your message reaches the recipient even if they cannot receive RCS messages.
When SMS fallback happens, you will see the message “Sent as SMS via server” next to your text message. This means that your message was sent using RCS through an intermediary server, rather than being sent directly as a standard SMS message. As a result, you will not see the usual read receipts, and any multimedia content will be converted to MMS, which may incur additional charges depending on your carrier plan.
How to Turn Off the “Sent as SMS via Server” Message
If you don’t want to see the “Sent as SMS via server” message, you have a few options to turn it off. However, keep in mind that turning off this message does not mean that your messages will always be sent as RCS. It only means that you will not see the status notification when SMS fallback occurs. Here are some ways to turn off the “Sent as SMS via server” message:
- Turn on SMS delivery reports. This will replace the “Sent as SMS via server” message with the standard SMS delivery reports, such as “Sent” or “Failed”. To do this, open the Messages app, tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner, then go to Settings > Advanced > Get SMS delivery reports and turn it on.
- Clear the Messages app cache. Sometimes, the “Sent as SMS via server” message may be caused by a temporary bug or glitch in the Messages app. Clearing the app cache can resolve this issue and restore the normal RCS functionality. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Storage and cache and tap Clear cache.
- Turn off RCS chats. This will disable the RCS features altogether and make your messages always be sent as SMS or MMS. This is not recommended, as you will lose the benefits of RCS, such as multimedia content, group chats, and encryption. To do this, open the Messages app, go to Settings > RCS chats > Turn on RCS chats and turn it off. If you don’t see RCS chats in Settings, first tap Chat Features.
Conclusion
The “Sent as SMS via server” message is not an error message, but a status notification that tells you that your message was sent using RCS through a server, rather than as a standard SMS message. This happens when the recipient does not have RCS enabled, or has a poor or no internet connection. You can turn off this message by enabling SMS delivery reports, clearing the Messages app cache, or turning off RCS chats. However, turning off this message does not mean that your messages will always be sent as RCS. It only means that you will not see the status notification when SMS fallback occurs.
