# SmsForwarder: A Rule-Based Android App for Forwarding SMS, Calls, and Notifications > SmsForwarder is a free, open-source Android app that monitors incoming SMS, calls, and app notifications on a secondary device and routes them to services including Telegram, DingTalk, WeChat Work, email, bark, and custom webhooks based on rules you configure. **pppscn/SmsForwarder** — Android APP bark webhook Telegram Server PushPlus V3.0 PS. APK BUG ISSUE PR . - Repository: https://github.com/pppscn/SmsForwarder - Stars: 28,117 · Forks: 3,431 - Language: Kotlin - License: BSD-2-Clause - Published: 2026-08-04 · Updated: 2026-08-18 · Language: en - Canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/pppscn-smsforwarder ## The Backup Phone Problem SmsForwarder Addresses Many engineers and power users maintain a secondary Android phone on a separate carrier. Verification codes for banking apps, two-factor authentication SMS from services locked to a specific phone number, and call notifications from a work SIM arrive on a device that sits on a desk at home. SmsForwarder turns that secondary device into a notification bridge. The app monitors incoming SMS messages, calls, and app notifications on the device it runs on. It applies rule-based forwarding: you define which senders or patterns trigger which destinations. A two-factor code from a bank can go to Telegram, while an unmatched SMS is silently ignored. The README describes the tagline as a must-have tool for backup phones. The app supports Android 4.4 through Android 13.0 under the v3.x series, covering a wide range of devices including older hardware that may no longer receive Android updates but still functions as a SIM host. The v2.x Java branch was archived as of 2022-06-06 and receives no further updates. All active development is in the v3.x Kotlin codebase. ## Forwarding Destinations and How the Rule Engine Works The README lists the current set of supported destinations for forwarding: DingTalk group custom bots, DingTalk enterprise internal bots, WeChat Work group bots, WeChat Work application messages, Feishu (Lark) group bots, Feishu enterprise applications, email, bark, webhook, Telegram bots, Server酱 (ServerChan), PushPlus, and direct SMS to another phone number. The webhook destination is the most flexible entry in that list. Any service with an HTTP endpoint can receive forwarded messages by configuring a webhook rule. This means the effective range of integrations is not limited to the explicitly named services. SmsForwarder's approach is categorically different from Android's built-in carrier-level call forwarding. The built-in mechanism routes voice calls at the network level and does not touch SMS or app notifications. SmsForwarder operates at the application layer, reading messages the Android OS delivers to the app and dispatching them over the internet to the configured destination. This also means it requires the secondary device to have a working data connection for forwarding to function. ## Installing SmsForwarder: APK Download and Preview Builds SmsForwarder is distributed as a pre-built APK file. The README names three download sources in order of priority. The primary and first-release address is the GitHub Releases page at https://github.com/pppscn/SmsForwarder/releases. For users in China who have connectivity issues reaching GitHub, a Gitee mirror at https://gitee.com/pp/SmsForwarder/releases hosts the same releases. A third option is a network disk download at https://wws.lanzoui.com/b025yl86h, protected by the access password pppscn. Installing the APK requires enabling installation from unknown sources in Android settings, as SmsForwarder is not distributed through the Google Play Store. A preview program (described in the README as SmsF预览体验计划, or SmsF Preview Experience Plan) is available for users who want access to weekly builds with early bug fixes and new features. This is enabled from the About page inside the app once it is installed, and weekly builds are available at https://github.com/pppscn/SmsForwarder/actions/workflows/Weekly_Build.yml. Manual APK updates can also be applied by downloading the file and installing it over the existing app. The wiki documentation at https://github.com/pppscn/SmsForwarder/wiki is designated as required reading for new users according to the README. ## Remote Control Features Added in Version 3.0 Version 3.0 transformed SmsForwarder from a passive forwarding tool into one that accepts remote commands. From a connected client (typically via the configured messaging service), you can remotely send SMS from the secondary device, query its SMS inbox, check the call log, look up entries in the contacts book, and check the device battery level. The README introduces these capabilities as the V3.0 additions. Version 3.3 extended this further with automated tasks and shortcut instructions, described as tools that automate workflows and reduce repetitive actions on the secondary device. The project acknowledges a dependency on mainfunx/frpc_android for internal network penetration, which indicates that remote control can reach devices behind NAT using FRP (Fast Reverse Proxy). The yanzhenjie/AndServer dependency handles the HTTP server component on the device. These are listed in the project's acknowledgments section, not as configuration options, so the implementation details are not fully described in the README. ## Privacy Architecture and Legal Scope Disclaimer The README includes an explicit privacy declaration in bold: SmsForwarder does not collect any user privacy data. Two specific data transmissions are documented. Version information is sent to Umeng Analytics when the app starts. The version number is sent to a remote endpoint when the user manually checks for updates. The README states these are the only two transmissions. The project also includes a formal legal disclaimer that restricts use to testing and learning research and prohibits commercial use. The disclaimer further states that the project contributors disclaim all liability for any consequences of use, including privacy breaches, and that users are responsible for determining the legality of their use under their jurisdiction's laws. The README adds a fraud warning: SmsForwarder is completely free, and users should not pay anyone claiming to charge for it. The project explicitly states it has no involvement in any commission-based or guaranteed-return schemes. For teams considering deploying SmsForwarder in any context beyond personal backup-phone use, the combination of the commercial use prohibition and the jurisdiction-based legal disclaimer represents a meaningful constraint to evaluate before proceeding. ## BSD-2-Clause License, Version History, and Maintenance The project uses the BSD-2-Clause license. This permits use and redistribution with attribution, and it does not impose the copyleft obligations of the GPL. The restriction specific to BSD-2 is that the project name may not be used to endorse or promote derived products without permission. The v3.x series has had a consistent annual release pattern tied to the project's anniversary. Version v3.5.0 was released on 2026-02-14 as the fifth-anniversary edition. Version v3.3.3 was the fourth-anniversary release on 2025-02-14. The last push to the main branch was on 2026-09-25, which is within three days of today. The project's acknowledgments section credits a substantial list of third-party libraries: XUI for the user interface framework, XUpdate for the in-app update mechanism, XXPermissions for the permissions request flow, frpc_android for network penetration, Cactus for keep-alive, AndServer for the HTTP server, and additional libraries for location and socket communication. The project also holds a JetBrains All Products Pack license for development tooling. ## Conclusion SmsForwarder is the right tool for Android users who need to bridge SMS and app notifications from a secondary device to services like Telegram, DingTalk, or a custom webhook endpoint, with rule-based filtering. It is not appropriate for users who need to meet enterprise data handling or compliance standards, or for any use case involving SMS messages you are not authorized to forward. Read the legal disclaimer in the README carefully before deployment, as the project explicitly restricts commercial use and disclaims liability for privacy consequences. ## FAQ ### How do I automatically forward SMS messages on my Android phone? SmsForwarder handles this on Android 4.4 through 13.0. After installing the APK and granting the necessary SMS and notification permissions, you create forwarding rules that define which senders trigger forwarding and which destination receives the message, such as a Telegram bot, email address, or webhook URL. ### What is SmsForwarder? SmsForwarder is a free, open-source Kotlin Android app that monitors incoming SMS, calls, and app notifications and forwards them to services like Telegram, DingTalk, WeChat Work, email, or a webhook endpoint based on configurable rules. Version 3.0 also added remote control features, allowing you to send SMS and query the device from a connected client. ### How do I use SmsForwarder? Download and install the APK from the GitHub Releases page, grant the required SMS and notification access permissions, and then configure at least one forwarding rule and one destination. The app runs in the background and forwards matching messages automatically. The README's wiki documentation is designated as required reading for first-time users. ### What are the alternatives to SmsForwarder? The README does not document alternatives. The distinguishing characteristic of SmsForwarder is its rule engine combined with the breadth of supported forwarding destinations, covering Telegram, multiple enterprise chat platforms, email, bark, and custom webhooks. Android's built-in carrier forwarding only routes voice calls at the network level and does not forward SMS or app notifications to third-party services. ## Sources - [Official README](https://github.com/pppscn/SmsForwarder#readme) - [Project repository](https://github.com/pppscn/SmsForwarder) - [Release notes](https://github.com/pppscn/SmsForwarder/releases) --- Hysen Labs editorial analysis, written from the project's own repository and release notes. Cite the canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/pppscn-smsforwarder