Handcent SMS

by Antonio Wells Dec 2, 2009 9:51 AM – 166 Comments

Install

Handcent SMS is a free SMS tools for android, it full unleash the power of your phone: Full support SMS & MMS, great customize options, different style and power function (search sms, sms popup, speak sms & T9). Full support MMS on Droid and add “Split 160″ function, visit http://news.handcent.com for other release notes.

Price: Free

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

Enhanced text messaging capabilities
SMS Popup
MMS
Text Signature
T9
Better than default Messaging app

Cons

Some slight quirks here and there… i.e. say you’ve deleted or read a text from one person, when using the “popup” feature and another person sends a text the previously read/deleted persons’ message pops back up.

Features:

Handcent SMS Android App offers enhanced text messaging capabilities. Send & receive texts from full app or popup interface (similar to SMS Popup), send & save MMS contents (Picture Messages), T9 style keyboard, add your text signature, search texts, change the theme, font packs or background, Android notifications, ringtones and vibration patterns, even cooler… speak your text or have them read back to you!

This app has come a long way and much better than my initial look at it… of course back then Android didn’t have an on-screen keyboard so you had to combine chompSMS and SMS Popup to get some of Handcent SMS features. We get a lot of emails asking “How to do text signatures?” on Android and this app solves that. Batch mode is very useful to scroll through and check a list or Group of contacts when sending bulk messages (like for a party invite). They put the icing on the cake by utilizing text-to-speech and speech-to-text (something I personally like when too busy to type out a long text message… just speak it)!

: Handcent SMS Popup

: Handcent SMS T9 Text Messaging

: Handcent SMS Speech-to-Text

: Handcent SMS Landscape Texting

: Handcent SMS iPhone Style

: Handcent SMS Android Style

: Handcent SMS Handcent Style

: Handcent SMS Handcent Classic Style

: Handcent SMS Batch Mode Main

: Handcent SMS Batch Mode Conversation

: Handcent SMS Threads

: Handcent SMS Search

: Handcent SMS Blacklist Main

: Handcent SMS Overview Conversation

: Handcent SMS Save MMS Conversation

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 1

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 2

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 3

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 4

: Handcent SMS Text Signature

: Handcent SMS Personalization Settings

: Handcent SMS Personalization Settings 2

: Handcent SMS Settings Menu

Usefulness:

Text messaging is one of the most used features of a cell phone besides making calls, this app can be used to replace the default Messaging app.

Android Advice™: How to Remove Duplicate Notifications when HandCent SMS is Installed

Go the Settings » Managing Applications » browse for Messaging » Uncheck Default settings.

When you send a new text message, check the “Use by default for this action” checkbox option then choose Handcent SMS.

Ease of Use:

Important! If used be sure to disable default Messaging apps’ notifications as to not receive duplicate notifications.

Frequently Used:

If used, every time you send/receive a text message.

Interface:

The user interface is slick especially the iPhone theme.

AndroidTapp.com Rating

AndroidTapp.com Rating! (4.6 out of 5)

Should you Download Handcent SMS? Yes! Awesome SMS Text Messaging App for Android… Must Have!

Developer: Handcent

Tags: Android Apps, AndroidTapp.com App Review, Handcent SMS, MMS, Picture Messages, SMS, SMS Popup, SMS Text Messages, Speech to Text, T9, Text Signature

Categorised in: Communication

166 Comments

By venice on August 23, 2010 at 1:03 pm:

how do u set handcent sms as the default text message for the xperia x10 mini pro?

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- By patty on February 12, 2011 at 5:43 pm:
  
  how do you set a ringtone for text messages when differnt contacts text you i tried and two ringtones play at once
  
  Reply
  - By natashia on January 29, 2012 at 8:40 pm:
    
    u have to turn off ur notifications for ur messanger that came on the phone. on my htc evo i just go to my messages and go to settings then notifications and there is a choice to recieve notifications or not. that should keep it from playing 2 ring tones. to set differnt ringtones for differnt ppl u just clikck on the person u are txting and at the top right corner is settings. then go to notifications and change the sound.
    
    Reply
- By Kyle on March 31, 2011 at 11:43 am:
  
  all you have to do is open the handcent app and goto the old msg system and disable the notifications.
  
  Reply
By Olle on September 9, 2010 at 8:21 am:

Great app, the only thing that bothers me is the margins around the SMS’ text.
Makes it much more uncomfortable to read..

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By Sara on September 24, 2010 at 12:46 am:

i have the samsung vibrant how do i get the sms handcent to only pop up when you get a message .. when i get a message the handcent app and the messaging box for my regular phone pops up

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- By Antonio Wells on September 24, 2010 at 2:06 pm:
  
  Go the Settings » Managing Applications » browse for Messaging » Uncheck Default settings.
  
  When you send a new text message, check the “Use by default for this action” checkbox option then choose Handcent SMS.
  
  Reply
  - By Gooch24 on November 4, 2010 at 12:35 pm:
    
    I have the LG Aly. The default messaging app doesn’t appear to give me the ability to remove it as ‘default’. I have installed handent and handcent font 5. I’ve seen questions posted about the duplicate notifications, however whenever I receive a text it is in the Aly messenger default. I have to exit and open handcent so that I can read it. Do you know if this can be resolved? The font on the Aly is so small, yet I love everything else about the phone….
    
    Reply
    - By Antonio Wells on November 4, 2010 at 1:06 pm:
      
      Have you followed all the steps from the review above?
      
      Reply
      - By Tory on January 19, 2011 at 12:46 pm:
        
        I also have the Ally and have the same problem. I have tried all of the suggestions and on the Ally the default messaging system cannot be turned off or unchecked. I don’t get two notifications but I do get the text messages on the default system and the Handcent. I would like to know how to stop it also.
  - By jdmflow on April 18, 2011 at 12:28 pm:
    
    I did that but I still get the notification bar and the new SMS..
    
    Reply
By Sara on September 24, 2010 at 12:47 am:

how do i set handcent sms as my default texting for samsung vibrant??

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- By Kyle on March 31, 2011 at 11:44 am:
  
  look up there. its not that hard. kinda hard if you just got the phone but it gets easy.
  
  Reply
- By carlie on April 15, 2011 at 8:20 pm:
  
  i got a htc desire and i updated my phone and i dont like the new message system. i downloaded the handcent app and when i get a txt message it shows i have an unread message on my regular messages thing. how do i get that off.
  
  Reply
  - By None on May 10, 2011 at 7:07 pm:
    
    Everyone STOP asking the same dang question. If you keep getting multiple notifications, then maybe you should read the post and then if your question is not answered post another one. It gets old seeing the same post 434839 times dang.
    
    Reply
By Jeff on September 29, 2010 at 11:46 pm:

I downloaded this app once before. I think it’s great & better than the stock sms messaging. Can someone please tell me how to disable the stock app completely, so I don’t have the sms messages going to both apps? Samsung Vibrant Galaxy S. Lastly does this application support Swype texting?

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- By Kyle on March 31, 2011 at 11:45 am:
  
  i dont think you can get default not to get the msgs but i know you can disable nodifactions. and i think there is a swype function/
  
  Reply
By morno on October 2, 2010 at 12:07 pm:

How can i save images i get from MMS on my Mini Pro?

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By scott on October 3, 2010 at 4:56 pm:

great, but the facebook linked pictures don’t show up for most contacts.

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By Jeff on October 9, 2010 at 1:50 am:

Go the Settings » Managing Applications » browse for Messaging » Uncheck Default settings.

Okay, Antonio Wells or anybody else? What do you do next if you don’t have the messaging in the managed applications section, to uncheck the default settings? Please Help!!!

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- By Antonio Wells on October 9, 2010 at 10:27 am:
  
  What phone do you have.?
  
  Reply
  - By ninke on October 24, 2010 at 1:16 pm:
    
    i have done what you said repeatedly, but i just cant remove the custom Messaging in my phone… i got SE X10… please help.
    
    Reply
  - By Nick on February 10, 2011 at 1:27 pm:
    
    I have an lg ally and in the manage apps section there is not default check box, and the issue iam having is that it will not play the notifications from handecent, it is only playing the alert from the factory messaging system. Any ideas on how this can be fixed?
    
    Reply
- By Gooch24 on November 4, 2010 at 12:38 pm:
  
  I don’t have it either. I have the Aly. I just posted this same question…. Didn’t read far enough down…
  
  Reply
By syren on October 13, 2010 at 10:40 pm:

I am loving this app so far but I have a question. It says to disable the default messaging notification so you don’t get dual messages, but because I am running the Missed Call app, the default notification is *already* disabled so I can run Missed Call. Does this mean that I have to have the dual messages if I run both apps?

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- By Kyle on March 31, 2011 at 11:57 am:
  
  i dont know what missed call app is but i think there is a way to get the nodifactions off of both so you can just have 1.
  
  Reply
By Chris on October 14, 2010 at 8:41 am:

I was very happy with the customization of the app but the significant daily issues with the messages not being sent was a deal breaker and i ended up removing it. If they could iron out or document somewhere what the fix is I would love to have this nice looking application back on my phone

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By zguy on November 2, 2010 at 5:18 pm:

The envelope icon always shows up, I can’t get rid of it, even after erasing messages. Unfortunately quirks like that are a big turnoff, so I’ll wait for an update that fixes that. Love your app, nevertheless.

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By Joe on November 9, 2010 at 1:45 pm:

I have a DROID X and just wondering after the download I went into Manage Apps, inside Messagings/Messages it says “No Defaults Set” … Any ideas on what to do ?

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By Bob on November 25, 2010 at 9:29 am:

I’m having trouble sending sms from samsung galaxy with handcent.nobody get the message. It receives ok but to send I need to use the samsung native sms application. I’ve installed the same on droidx and it works fine. Both verizon. Is there some setting on the galaxy that I need to change?

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By Tom on January 4, 2011 at 7:21 pm:

How do I out it on vibrate only? I go to the settings and turn off the sound notification but it still plays

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By vinoth on January 11, 2011 at 8:50 am:

good..how to download it ffffffffffffffffffff.,.,

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By rockypaul on January 20, 2011 at 2:13 am:

Hi, since my HTC Desire was updated to Android 2.2 The default messaging is also coming in so i get two apps for the same message, can you please explain how to turn it off, also the repeat notification is not working ..?
thanks
Paul

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By Kevin on January 25, 2011 at 5:02 pm:

On the Galaxy S.. i put the handcent sms as deafult settings but i still see the messages on my deafult messaging on the phone?? is there a way that i can take it off?

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- By Mike on January 26, 2011 at 8:33 am:
  
  There’s about 3 other comments in here that ask the same question. How do I turn off the default message notifications? Please read the entire article before posting questions that are answered in the article itself.
  
  Reply
  - By Jason Norment on January 26, 2011 at 10:08 am:
    
    Mike,
    
    You are absolutely right. We explain in the article how to remove the duplicate messages. For those who missed it in the article:
    
    Android Advice™: How to Remove Duplicate Notifications when HandCent SMS is Installed
    
    Go the Settings » Managing Applications » browse for Messaging » Uncheck Default settings.
    
    When you send a new text message, check the “Use by default for this action” checkbox option then choose Handcent SMS.
    
    Reply
    - By Kareem on January 28, 2011 at 9:17 am:
      
      I don’t think you are understanding the problem these people are having because I have read it all the way thru and I have the same problem. There is NO place to turn off default messaging under the message application.
      
      Reply
      - By ashley on February 1, 2011 at 2:18 pm:
        
        i am having the same issue. this is not the answer bc i cant click on that any where under manage applications.
      - By Adam on February 21, 2011 at 11:10 am:
        
        I agree. I have a htc G2 and there is not a place where i can “uncheck default settings” Can anyone answer this question? It has been asked several times and no one has answered it yet. Mine says “No defaults set”
      - By Grant on March 29, 2011 at 9:25 am:
        
        If you have both messaging apps getting text and nothing stops it, and the only option you have is to disable notifications and disable auto-retrieve in one, there is still a way to set your default app to the new one you just downloaded. Simply go to contacts, hold down on one until you get options for the contact, then select text contact or text message. It will then ask you which app to do it with, so check make default and select which one you want to be your default. Done.
        
        By the way idiots up there, obviously this is not covered in the directions above.
    - By Jason Norment on March 29, 2011 at 9:40 am:
      
      @Grant: That doesn’t work on every device. Some devices, because of UI limitations, may prevent the explanation we used in the article from working. For example, the instructions your provided don’t work on my Gingerbread device.
      
      Gotta love the differences in all the UI flavors available such as Touch Wiz, Motoblur and HTC Sense.
      
      Reply
    - By toots13 on April 11, 2011 at 12:11 pm:
      
      True, except for some, myself included, our phone is not giving us that option. So, our question is, what do we do if that doesnt work.
      
      Reply
By RUNDJDHP on February 16, 2011 at 9:54 am:

Handcent sucks. Its made my phone sloooow…. GO SMS is much better and does all the same stuff but better.

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By Elizabeth on February 16, 2011 at 3:15 pm:

I love handcent. I’ve had my EVO since June 2010 and installed it the second day I got it. I love the way you can personalize each contact’s texts!

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By allie on March 1, 2011 at 4:18 pm:

With the Handcent Themes, when you go to change it, it says that your messages will be deleted, does that mean LOCKED messages as well ?
I’d realllyy appreciate it if someone knew (:
Thank Youu.

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By Rein on March 9, 2011 at 3:33 am:

Good App, but No solution for disabling the default notification on Android Froyo = Uninstall

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- By Jason Norment on March 9, 2011 at 7:58 am:
  
  The way to disable notifications should be simple unless the ROM or UI has moved this feature. This even works on Gingerbread:
  
  1) Go to the Android messaging application
  2) While viewing all the threads (not viewing a single conversation with one contact), click the Menu key
  3) Select the “Settings” option
  4) You should find two options: “Auto-retrieve” and “Notifications”. I usually had both unchecked when I used Handcent previously. Worked flawlessly on several devices I tried this with.
  
  Reply
  - By Todd on March 11, 2011 at 3:05 pm:
    
    Thanks, that’s the answer I was looking for, does the trick!
    
    Reply
By mike on April 6, 2011 at 4:31 am:

i have a htc incredable and how do i take messages off of my phone so i can use the GOSMS

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By mike on April 6, 2011 at 4:49 am:

i got the noifications off but everytime i send a message it send another message so the person i text gets two messages how do i stop that? plz help!

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By laura on April 6, 2011 at 8:03 am:

I got handcent with my LG Ally, and when I go to it, it says at the very bottom right corner (in line with however many letters are left), and idk how to get that off. it also shows up when i go to my unlock screen, it says i have 30 messages or so, but its just the ones i’ve sent. how do i get that off?

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By Nena on April 8, 2011 at 12:47 pm:

ok has any one been having an issue where you repl to a txt && sumone else recieves it? and when u look back it clearl says you sent it to the rite person u wanted it for?

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By Jackie on April 9, 2011 at 7:47 am:

on the lg ally if you go into your stock messaging app and click the menu button change the notification option to off and it seems to filter all of them right through handcent with no problem

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By dhruvin on April 15, 2011 at 11:47 pm:

how 2 add group message on handset messanger on android??

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By steve on April 23, 2011 at 10:08 pm:

dose it use up your sms or is it free texting

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By julie on May 12, 2011 at 1:11 am:

when i downloaded the handcent for android (samsung ace s-5830) aside from i am getting 2 notifications one for handcent and one for my phone.. it also drains my battery fast…

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By Umesh on May 20, 2011 at 10:32 am:

I have an HTC Wildfire, not sure if it’s because of this, but since I downloaded this app, the screen used to turn on 5 seconds before a text/call was received. Eventually after a few months the phone’s screen blacked out.
Anyone else experienced this?

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By fraggercrue on June 27, 2011 at 8:40 am:

My problem is a little different. Here is a screenshot of my Samsung Vibrant homescreen.

http://www.androidtapp.com/handcent-sms/

See the “Messaging” icon down at the bottom? How can I re-direct that to Handcent??

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By truebenny on August 6, 2011 at 6:08 pm:

so if this is totally free, meaning it will not charge per text on my next phone bill, i can just text with this app as long as i have internet service ? also, how does this app text out as ? will it be my cell provider number or will it create a secondary number that my friends will receive ? thank you.

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- By Antonio Wells on August 7, 2011 at 8:14 am:
  
  @truebunny the app is free. It will count against your per text plan when you send/receive text messages with this app. Think of it as a replacement app for the “Message” app but with more features. If you’re looking for an app that completely uses the Internet to send/receive while giving free text messages try textPLUS.
  
  Reply
  - By truebenny on August 7, 2011 at 11:41 am:
    
    I have heard of TextPlus and read about it. some android users complained about missing several texts that are being sent and received. also, the app reacts slow. however, does TextPlus allows you to text with your own carrier number ? and is there another app you recommend ?
    
    thank you.
    
    Reply
    - By Antonio Wells on August 8, 2011 at 9:34 am:
      
      That is indeed true with the dropped texts being sent or received… so it is not 100% reliable. It does not allow you to text within your own carrier number, but using the app your friends see the number assigned to you, however, you receive text messages via the app. An alternative would be Textfree.
      
      Different to your needs, but Messenger apps work well… meaning both parties need the same app and they send the messages over the Internet and not text at all… if you want to have a look.
      
      Reply
By SONYEXPERIA on October 4, 2011 at 7:01 am:

hi. i have a sony experia x10 and my sound setting doesn’t have option to let me choose songs as ringtone using handcent. it goes right into soundpicker which sux. why is that happening? i used to be able to use it. my friend who is using mini pro have many options include handcent. question might not be so relavant but if u could help will be much appreciaed. thx a bunch!

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- By Antonio Wells on October 4, 2011 at 8:59 am:
  
  Download and install Rings Extended, this app will allow you to choose sounds other than the simple system tones.
  
  Reply
By marcus on May 2, 2012 at 11:03 am:

how can i use my own pictures as a background/theme on handcent SMS?

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By Andi S. on May 29, 2012 at 1:27 pm:

How do you send a pic message? It keeps telling me unsupported content. I’ve adjusted the MMS limit, and even changed the resolution on my camera (using Droid Razr, not MAXX). I usually use Chompsms, but am liking handcent better, aside from this one hiccup….HELP!

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By Laura on June 20, 2012 at 4:01 am:

I’ve been using this app on my samsung gs2 for a couple months now, and I am very pleased. You can customize the heck out of it, and it has lots of awesome features. I’ve had very few hiccups with it. I really wish I could rotate pictures before sending, though, because sometimes between my gallery and the message it somehow gets turned sideways and the only thing that fixes it is cropping the picture (yes, I tried rotating and re-saving the picture in my gallery app and then sending. This does not work).

FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO DISABLE STOCK MESSAGING: the settings menu that the directions up there are referring to are inside the handcent app. From your handcent inbox, tap menu key > Settings > Application settings > Default Messaging Application and go from there. To change the app shortcuts on your quick bar (at least for a samsung phone, but the person asking was using samsung), open your app drawer, tap menu key > Edit > longpress the Messaging icon in your quick bar > drag it out and replace it with Handcent > tap Home.

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By Suzanne on August 16, 2012 at 9:48 pm:

Can I turn off and/or block text messaging on my wireless telephone if I have Handscent installed. I had the basic text mail turned off becuase Verizon was still charging me for text when I used Handscent. Besides, the app of Handscent, how is this free?

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By jim on August 18, 2012 at 10:27 am:

I just Recently rset my phone to factory settings and my auto correct isnt working through regular messaging.so i downloaded this app and it wont even let me turn auto correct on anyone have any idea whats going on

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By mary maasch on November 18, 2012 at 9:48 am:

email sent from my phone now shows that it came from my cell number and not my name or email

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By john on January 3, 2013 at 11:57 am:

how does this show up on you bill? does it show up as regular text or data usage?

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- By Antonio Wells on January 3, 2013 at 11:58 am:
  
  It shows as a regular text message. Handcent is just another replacement for the default “Messaging” app.
  
  Reply
By magnaeyes on January 20, 2013 at 1:25 pm:

Hello, my question is, if handcent sms is a replacement for default messaging, is handcent talk a replacement for google talk? Are they the same? Sms icon has one speech bubble while talk icon has two, yet there is no actual talk icon shortcut. I ask this because default messaging has text charges, which I expect will be the same for handcent sms. However, with google talk there are no charges. I’ve gotten handcent sms and successfully replace default one, but can’t figure out how to use handcent talk, if they are separate. Please help. Thank you.

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