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[Q] Android 4.4 Hangouts SMS issue

Hi there,
My first post here, although I've hung out, anonymously, looking at the resources within the forum.
Today I received my Nexus 5. It's a lovely bit of hardware, but I've come from an HTC phone (4.1.1 Desire X) and I love the Sense UI; just so you know, I hate stock 4.4 thus my post below is in utter exasperation
I'm having an issue with trying to send an SMS. Unfortunately, I have to use Hangouts (I refused to update from Google Talk on the Desire X) and I'm finding that I can't sending a frigging SMS to a colleague at work because I have his Gmail email address as part of his contact details!!!
This is absolutely the most retarded thing in a Phone OS that I have come across, ever. Unfortunately, as an early adopter of this phone, I'm stuck without an alternative. So far as I can see, in Hangouts, I would have to type in the phone number manually whilst being logged out of my Gmail accounts in Hangouts to send an SMS, or maybe deleting the user's email address would suffice.
Am I missing some way of sending an SMS that's not completely obvious here?

My N5 arrives tomorrow, so I can't be much help with the app itself, but if it's really confusing/awful you can download an alternative SMS app from the play store and set it as your default.
Edit: I hear you on hating hangouts. I cant stand the version they have on 4.0/4.1/4.2/4.3, been sticking with talk also.

I don't have it in my hands yet to test, but I'm fairly sure once you've opened the "new hangout" window, you can tap on their name on the upper left and switch to SMS from Hangout message.

two00lbwaster said:
Hi there,
My first post here, although I've hung out, anonymously, looking at the resources within the forum.
Today I received my Nexus 5. It's a lovely bit of hardware, but I've come from an HTC phone (4.1.1 Desire X) and I love the Sense UI; just so you know, I hate stock 4.4 thus my post below is in utter exasperation
I'm having an issue with trying to send an SMS. Unfortunately, I have to use Hangouts (I refused to update from Google Talk on the Desire X) and I'm finding that I can't sending a frigging SMS to a colleague at work because I have his Gmail email address as part of his contact details!!!
This is absolutely the most retarded thing in a Phone OS that I have come across, ever. Unfortunately, as an early adopter of this phone, I'm stuck without an alternative. So far as I can see, in Hangouts, I would have to type in the phone number manually whilst being logged out of my Gmail accounts in Hangouts to send an SMS, or maybe deleting the user's email address would suffice.
Am I missing some way of sending an SMS that's not completely obvious here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This app simply uses the word "Hangouts" over "SMS" so basically new hangout means new text message unless you specify a hangout chat. If the actual hangouts for either is unavailable then a text message will be automatically sent to the number. New "SMS" is the plus button and you can immediately type the number or scroll to find your contact. Everything after seems to work just like iMessage.

koriflame said:
My N5 arrives tomorrow, so I can't be much help with the app itself, but if it's really confusing/awful you can download an alternative SMS app from the play store and set it as your default.
Edit: I hear you on hating hangouts. I cant stand the version they have on 4.0/4.1/4.2/4.3, been sticking with talk also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to be the downside of having the device nice and early, noone else has one to confirm the issue.
Unfortunately, the other apps don't seem to work as they have to be rebuilt due to the changes that 4.4 has introduced

two00lbwaster said:
Seems to be the downside of having the device nice and early, noone else has one to confirm the issue.
Unfortunately, the other apps don't seem to work as they have to be rebuilt due to the changes that 4.4 has introduced
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what problem you are having. I just got my N5 today and when I create a new message in Hangouts and choose a contact (one that has a gmail.com email address as well as a cell number) I have the choice between starting a chat or sending an SMS to the phone number. Do you not see this?

Vincent Law said:
I don't have it in my hands yet to test, but I'm fairly sure once you've opened the "new hangout" window, you can tap on their name on the upper left and switch to SMS from Hangout message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have a look to see if that works.
KinghtMare. said:
This app simply uses the word "Hangouts" over "SMS" so basically new hangout means new text message unless you specify a hangout chat. If the actual hangouts for either is unavailable then a text message will be automatically sent to the number. New "SMS" is the plus button and you can immediately type the number or scroll to find your contact. Everything after seems to work just like iMessage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had an iPhone, which I'm guessing from the name is where that messaging application comes from. I tried to send a message to a collegue, and it sent it as a hangout, not an SMS. There is no option not to send it as an hangout, any more so than there is an option to send the message as a hangout, so I can't send him text messages.

davekr said:
I'm not sure what problem you are having. I just got my N5 today and when I create a new message in Hangouts and choose a contact (one that has a gmail.com email address as well as a cell number) I have the choice between starting a chat or sending an SMS to the phone number. Do you not see this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, yes, if I type in the person's name I now see several entries for the person, one is the Hangouts account which is top and the other is for SMS.
However, if I scroll down and select the person as I was doing originally, even though it says his phone number, it defaults to hangouts and you can't change it.
I don't have particularly many people in my contacts list so I prefer to scroll and select, as it's probably quicker for me, rather than type into the search box.

you need to verify your phone number before being able to use it for sms
hit the plus button and add a contact...then select the contact's name from the top of the screen (next to the green handouts icon), and choose their phone number instead of their email address
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

n7of9 said:
you need to verify your phone number before being able to use it for sms
hit the plus button and add a contact...then select the contact's name from the top of the screen (next to the green handouts icon), and choose their phone number instead of their email address
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite aside from not wishing to verify my number with Google, I shouldn't have to. SMS should be completely devoid of this kind of requirement as it is very basic mobile phone functionality.
I have spent quite some considerable time today turning off location services and and any data sent back to Google. I've also been disabling certain Google Apps and would disable more if it would let me. I've also found that App Ops seems to have been disabled too, so I can't even control what third party apps do; which was part of the reason for getting a 4.3+ phone.
At the moment, it seems that I can send messages, and hopefully something like Contacts+ will be updated to work with 4.4 and I can then disable Hangouts.

you can disable hangouts now, you just need to install an alternative sms app if you don't like the default...try Handcent
and don't be angry when someone is trying to help you
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

It's not hangout it's u
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 12:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 AM ----------
digweed4me said:
It's not hangout it's u
If u don't know how to use hangout tell google to put out I message crap on your nexus 5
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

two00lbwaster said:
Quite aside from not wishing to verify my number with Google, I shouldn't have to. SMS should be completely devoid of this kind of requirement as it is very basic mobile phone functionality.
I have spent quite some considerable time today turning off location services and and any data sent back to Google. I've also been disabling certain Google Apps and would disable more if it would let me. I've also found that App Ops seems to have been disabled too, so I can't even control what third party apps do; which was part of the reason for getting a 4.3+ phone.
At the moment, it seems that I can send messages, and hopefully something like Contacts+ will be updated to work with 4.4 and I can then disable Hangouts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So install your own SMS app...4.4 allows you to use any SMS app as the default App, and then you can even uninstall Hangouts if you want to.
That's the beauty of a Nexus device.

n7of9 said:
you can disable hangouts now, you just need to install an alternative sms app if you don't like the default...try Handcent
and don't be angry when someone is trying to help you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I'm just angry that Google have just foisted the Hangouts app onto 4.4 users when it clearly isn't user friendly enough and makes one of my most common uses of the phone difficult.
I'll try Handcent. Contacts+/Messages+ doesn't currently seem to support 4.4 as you can't set it as the default messaging application and you can't send outgoing messages (It looks like you can send messages but they just disappear and aren't sent.)
hotleadsingerguy said:
So install your own SMS app...4.4 allows you to use any SMS app as the default App, and then you can even uninstall Hangouts if you want to.
That's the beauty of a Nexus device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue that I'm having is that not a lot of messaging applications support 4.4 yet. And as I've found with Messages+ if it doesn't support it you can have issues with messages that don't send/disappear.
You can uninstall Hangouts updates, you can't uninstall it. And if you uninstall the updates, you can't disable it.

Sliding messaging was updated to be compatible with 4.4, you can try it out
Sent from my AOSP on Flo using Tapatalk

I'm with the OP on this, I received my N5 today and it's almost impossible to start a new SMS conversation from within the app.
The app itelf is quite nice, but the SMS experience is sub-standard to say the least. I know I can go install another SMS app - but that's not the point, it's like shipping the phone/software with no dialer in it.

Scottland said:
I'm with the OP on this, I received my N5 today and it's almost impossible to start a new SMS conversation from within the app.
The app itelf is quite nice, but the SMS experience is sub-standard to say the least. I know I can go install another SMS app - but that's not the point, it's like shipping the phone/software with no dialer in it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must be a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon or something... all I had to do to create to new SMS was click the "+" then start typing my contact's name or number. If my contact has a phone number associated with it I can select that for an SMS or their email for a hangout message......

Im confused and whether i understand your question properly. Anyways in the actual recipients message you can click their name and switch from a SMS conversation to a google talk/hangouts message. Not sure if that helped or not. You can more clearly see what i am talking about in this video. http://youtu.be/0ZFc3NFqfFk

BmoreTHOR said:
I must be a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon or something... all I had to do to create to new SMS was click the "+" then start typing my contact's name or number. If my contact has a phone number associated with it I can select that for an SMS or their email for a hangout message......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must be
I've just tried to send an SMS to my mum, on her contact card she has a mobile number and email address. When I try to send a message, at the top I only have "Hangouts" as an option.
If I try another contact (who does have a G+ account), I have the option of SMS or Hangouts.

I also discovered Now SMS recently... Very nice looking simple UI that fits with recent Android conventions. Using it on my Nexus 7 3G since it didn't come with any SMS client.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[Q} KitKat, Google Voice, Hangouts, and number porting

I recently ported the phone number I’ve had for years to Google Voice so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing my number when switching carriers. I read all the pros and cons about porting to Google and thought I could put up with the drawbacks of using the Google Voice app for texting.
After about two weeks of using Gvoice for texting, I miss the “standard way” of texting with the Android messaging app. Not being able to send or receive MMS is a bigger limitation than I thought it would be. Also, I can’t tell when I’m part of a group text, which several of my friends insist on sending quite often.
On a side note, I am selling my Gnex and so I’m temporarily using an iPhone 4S until my Nexus 5 arrives early next week. Here are my questions:
Is functionality of the Google Voice app for Android any different than the iOS version? That is, will any of my issues be resolved when I switch back to Android on the N5?
I have read Android 4.4 features better integration between Google Voice, Hangouts, and messaging. Will that integration affect texting with Google Voice at all? Do I have the option, for example, of using my Gvoice number with Hangouts or the stock messaging app?
If the answer to 1 and 2 above is “no,” what are my options? Port my number to T-mobile and go back to the “old way” of texting?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

SurlyGnex said:
I recently ported the phone number I’ve had for years to Google Voice so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing my number when switching carriers. I read all the pros and cons about porting to Google and thought I could put up with the drawbacks of using the Google Voice app for texting.
After about two weeks of using Gvoice for texting, I miss the “standard way” of texting with the Android messaging app. Not being able to send or receive MMS is a bigger limitation than I thought it would be. Also, I can’t tell when I’m part of a group text, which several of my friends insist on sending quite often.
On a side note, I am selling my Gnex and so I’m temporarily using an iPhone 4S until my Nexus 5 arrives early next week. Here are my questions:
Is functionality of the Google Voice app for Android any different than the iOS version? That is, will any of my issues be resolved when I switch back to Android on the N5?
I have read Android 4.4 features better integration between Google Voice, Hangouts, and messaging. Will that integration affect texting with Google Voice at all? Do I have the option, for example, of using my Gvoice number with Hangouts or the stock messaging app?
If the answer to 1 and 2 above is “no,” what are my options? Port my number to T-mobile and go back to the “old way” of texting?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat. Everyone has my Google Voice number. Unfortunately , it STILL isn't integrated with the Stock SMS app aka Hangouts. My Nexus 4 was running Cyanogenmod which did the integration for me automatically and it was perfect. But if you're going to stay on stock, this wont happen until google decides.

I've been looking at porting my number to gvoice as well, but I have a lot of friends that still insist on using MMS when there are tons of better ways these days. That and having to be stuck with the google voice app for texting are the 2 main reasons I'm reluctant on switching to google voice right now. I really hope they integrate all of that really soon.

bilago said:
I'm in the same boat. Everyone has my Google Voice number. Unfortunately , it STILL isn't integrated with the Stock SMS app aka Hangouts. My Nexus 4 was running Cyanogenmod which did the integration for me automatically and it was perfect. But if you're going to stay on stock, this wont happen until google decides.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was planning to root, but didn't realize this integration is standard in CM. Based on your description, it sounds like installing a custom ROM will do the trick. If not, I think I'll be porting my Gvoice number to Tmobile.
Thanks for the replies.

SurlyGnex said:
I was planning to root, but didn't realize this integration is standard in CM. Based on your description, it sounds like installing a custom ROM will do the trick. If not, I think I'll be porting my Gvoice number to Tmobile.
Thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently its only supported with full integration on Cyanogenmod, thanks to a nifty app called Voice+ (apk cannot be loaded on another rom, there are dependencies baked in the framework)
This was SMS integration to the Native SMS app on 4.3. Hopefully it still will work with Hangouts.

bilago said:
Currently its only supported with full integration on Cyanogenmod, thanks to a nifty app called Voice+ (apk cannot be loaded on another rom, there are dependencies baked in the framework)
This was SMS integration to the Native SMS app on 4.3. Hopefully it still will work with Hangouts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tried Voice+ and Hangouts on 4.4 in CM (or any other custom ROM for that matter)? If so, please post up here and confirm. I would love to keep my number with Google.

SurlyGnex said:
Has anyone tried Voice+ and Hangouts on 4.4 in CM (or any other custom ROM for that matter)? If so, please post up here and confirm. I would love to keep my number with Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Voice+ does not work on any other custom rom. CM11 is currently unofficial so there wont be many users. You may get results by asking on the CM11 thread in the development section of the forums.

I have been using Google Voice as my main line for 1.5 years. The app on the iphone is horrible. Its better on android but still flawed. I wouldn't expect MMS anytime soon. The web interface isn't too bad either.
One thing I do when I want to picture message somebody is upload the image somewhere and then send a link to the image. I do not recommended this for private images though.
Google Voice is pretty much for plain texting and is reliable for plain texting for the most part. Google doesn't seem to care too much about the service being half assed though.
If you could go back to reg texting through T-Mobile I would. I only use GV because it saves me money on not having a text messaging plan through att. Regular texting is much better than Google Voice.
Sent from my Nexus 5

stelv said:
I have been using Google Voice as my main line for 1.5 years. The app on the iphone is horrible. Its better on android but still flawed. I wouldn't expect MMS anytime soon. The web interface isn't too bad either.
One thing I do when I want to picture message somebody is upload the image somewhere and then send a link to the image. I do not recommended this for private images though.
Google Voice is pretty much for plain texting and is reliable for plain texting for the most part. Google doesn't seem to care too much about the service being half assed though.
If you could go back to reg texting through T-Mobile I would. I only use GV because it saves me money on not having a text messaging plan through att. Regular texting is much better than Google Voice.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read in an article (no link handy) that Google Voice is expected to be integrated with Hangouts, much like SMS/messaging was recently integrated with Hangouts, and that MMS support will be added. No date given by Google, but the article said no later than early 2014.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I use my Google Voice number with hangouts. I just link the weird number that Google gives me when I text via Google Voice to that person and use that to text. It's been working fine for almost 2 years now.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I tried on an CM11 kang for d2vzw and it isn't working. I'm looking for fixes right now but no luck so far. I may have to go back to 4.3.1...

Ulver said:
I use my Google Voice number with hangouts. I just link the weird number that Google gives me when I text via Google Voice to that person and use that to text. It's been working fine for almost 2 years now.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I do too. Been using it for about 4 years this way. I've finally converted most of my friends and family to hangouts though. So for me this isn't a huge deal any more.

I've been wondering how much longer text will last? A lot of people I know have dropped it since smartphones are getting so ubiquitous now. Was thinking of doing the same myself. I guess where I'm going is that I was wondering if the seeming lack of concern for voice is based on the fact that it's going to be folded into hangouts and gutted along the way. Rumour has it all the carriers are starting to plan for how to make up for the lost revinues from the death of texting. A lot of free money they were taking in that they're going to miss.

One of the CyanogenMod developers recently fixed voice+, most builds will probably see the changes.
https://plus.google.com/110558071969009568835/posts/9Mg1NYRHL1f
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Hangouts SMS on desktop?

So I'm sure this is a stupid question, but I'm asking anyway.
Now that Hangouts is the default app on our phones for SMS and MMS, I'm wondering about future potential for it. Specifically, I'd love to be able to use the hangouts app/extension on my desktop to send SMS messages from my phone. It's annoying to have to grab my phone to respond when I'm already at a PC. I'm working around that currently by using Mightytext, but it's annoying and buggy. If Hangouts is going to be the solution for messaging, I'd like to see that feature set integrated. Anyone know if this is possible or planned?
Additionally, is it possible (or planned) to have hangouts archive messages the same way it archives chats? This seems like the most useful purpose/benefit when it comes to using hangouts for text messaging.
Any thoughts or feedback?

I was chatting with a guy last night in the chat window in Gmail and it was syncing to hangouts on my phone?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

0dBu said:
I was chatting with a guy last night in the chat window in Gmail and it was syncing to hangouts on my phone?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, chats on google sync to your phone perfectly. I was thinking about SMS messages syncing to my computer the other direction. If you've ever used mightytext, you know what I'm talking about. It seems to me like it should be integrated into hangouts on the PC/gmail/google+

Looking for a way to send audio recordings through Hangouts?

Prior to owning the Nexus 5, I remember always having an option to attach video, picture, or voice memos straight from the text message app.. is there a way to do this with Hangouts?

You can try textra it is free and allows you to do all of this.

Thanks for the reply.. I'm looking for more of a workaround for Hangouts rather than a replacement.. Looks like there's no way to do it..
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

klubhead said:
Thanks for the reply.. I'm looking for more of a workaround for Hangouts rather than a replacement.. Looks like there's no way to do it..
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. I was really bummed when I found out Hangouts couldn't send anything other than pictures. iMessage on the stupid iPhone can do it. I don't see why Hangouts can't send videos since you're using a data connection and not the phone signal like SMS or MMS.

This is an old thread but I really want this feature! It would be super handy for people who work together but don't want to call and text all the time. Walkie talkie style, I suppose.

Can't understand why they don't have this feature either. I have a group with my children's grandparents and want to send them voice recordings and videos of the kiddies.

This is because google want you to send videos through Google plus so won't let you do it through hangouts. It's not good tbh as a lot of my friends won't use hangouts because of it. I hate messenger but if facebook does it then google should

Agree with all of you. I really want the ability to send a short video or audio clip in Hangouts. Too bad some genius at Google can't figure it out how to that yet.
I have a feeling those from Google don't use Hangouts for messaging. They created a product with crippled features.

Bump it up!
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app

I have voice message on my phone how can I send it to someone on hangout

[Q] Can I remove Google+ contacts from the hangouts sms app?

In 99.9999% of cases I do not want to message someone on google+. Is there anyway I can remove all the google+ integration from the hangouts messaging app and use it only for sms? Or do I need to get a different sms app?
Sorry, just got the Nexus 5 last weekend so I'm still learning everything about it.

get a different sms app. There are many on the play store you can use, you aren't limited to using Hangouts if you do not want to, for SMS.

d4ngerz said:
In 99.9999% of cases I do not want to message someone on google+. Is there anyway I can remove all the google+ integration from the hangouts messaging app and use it only for sms? Or do I need to get a different sms app?
Sorry, just got the Nexus 5 last weekend so I'm still learning everything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hold down the contact you want to remove then select "remove" or "delete", I forget which it is but that's how it's accomplished.

d4ngerz said:
In 99.9999% of cases I do not want to message someone on google+. Is there anyway I can remove all the google+ integration from the hangouts messaging app and use it only for sms? Or do I need to get a different sms app?
Sorry, just got the Nexus 5 last weekend so I'm still learning everything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the settings in the app just sign out. It'll be SMS only at that point.

drdagreenphd said:
hold down the contact you want to remove then select "remove" or "delete", I forget which it is but that's how it's accomplished.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, you hold the contact name and select "Hide contact".
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

d4ngerz said:
In 99.9999% of cases I do not want to message someone on google+. Is there anyway I can remove all the google+ integration from the hangouts messaging app and use it only for sms? Or do I need to get a different sms app?
Sorry, just got the Nexus 5 last weekend so I'm still learning everything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you. I use the textra app precisely because it doesn't go through hangouts or Google.

venelar said:
In the settings in the app just sign out. It'll be SMS only at that point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what I wanted, thank you!

d4ngerz said:
In 99.9999% of cases I do not want to message someone on google+. Is there anyway I can remove all the google+ integration from the hangouts messaging app and use it only for sms? Or do I need to get a different sms app?
Sorry, just got the Nexus 5 last weekend so I'm still learning everything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you're saying there is still a chance you will?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Just in case other people find this thread, trying to avoid all the google+ stuff, when using Hangouts for SMS, Google has since released Messenger. Seems to have a few kinks to iron out, still, but it has to be better than Hangouts. Plus, I hate having to say, "hangouts," all the time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging

The problem with signing out of hangouts is that I don't get hangouts messages from the web app. I want to receive both, just without the suggestions for messaging random google+ people as suggested by google.