Legacy version!

I have removed the legacy version since Google has stopped support for the old push system called GCM. Please look at the Sms Handler app if you wish to control your phone by SMS

Google is constantly making sure that apps in the Play Store are compliant with their policies. This ensures that all apps you download from the play store does what it says it does and nothing more.

In order to make sure the apps are compliant they have built some AI that scans the apps and make sure that they do not use any permissions that they should not use - i.e. a flash light app should not need access to all of your contacts.

Unfortunately the AI Google has built is not very intelligent and has hence forbidden you to control your phone by SMS. This is a feature I have had for many years and if you want to use these features you must download the app directly from this site instead of the Google Play store.

Some advantages of this legacy app are:

  • Very small size (172kb)
  • You can use the SMS features like location, alarm, status, etc.
  • Simple permission acceptance

    Please note that this app does not support android 9 and will not automatically be updated when a new version is released.

    If you trust this app you can install it by following these steps:

  • Find the lost android app in the Play Store and disable auto update
  • Start the app and click: menu->advanced->uninstall
  • Download it here: androidlost_legacy.apk and click to install

    q:o)   Theis









    P.S.

    I complained about no longer being able to control your phone by SMS and here is the reply I got from the Google Policy team: 

    Thank you for contacting the Google Play team. We have received the following information in the Permissions Declaration Form you submitted:

#1: In one sentence, please describe the core functionality of your app.
Remote control and backup

#2: What is the core functionality in your app requiring the Call Log and / or SMS permissions?
Default SMS [READ_SMS, SEND_SMS, WRITE_SMS, RECEIVE_SMS, RECEIVE_WAP_PUSH, RECEIVE_MMS], Backup and restore for users [READ_SMS, RECEIVE_SMS, RECEIVE_MMS, WRITE_SMS, READ_CALL_LOG, WRITE_CALL_LOG]

#3: Do any of the following disallowed use cases apply to your app’s core functionality request for Call Log or SMS permissions?
N/A

#4: Do any of the following other use cases apply to your app’s core functionality request for Call Log or SMS permissions?
N/A

#5: Is your app’s use of Call Log or SMS permissions to provide functionality required by law or regulation?
No

We reviewed your request and found that your app, Lost Android, com.androidlost, does not qualify for use of the requested permissions for the following reasons: 

    The declared feature {Default SMS, Backup and restore for users} is allowed; however we determined it to be unnecessary for the core functionality of your app.

Please follow the steps below to submit an updated app.

Next steps

    Read through the Permissions policy and review the Use of SMS or Call Log permission groups help article, which describes exceptions, invalid uses, and alternative implementation options.
    Make appropriate changes to your app. Namely, remove the specified permissions from your app’s manifest or migrate to an available alternative. If you believe your use case should be allowed, please review the rejection reasons carefully, make the necessary changes to your app, and submit a new request via the Permissions Declaration Form.
    Make sure that your app is compliant with all other Developer Program Policies. Additional enforcement could occur if there are further policy violations.
    Sign in to your Play Console and submit the update to your app.

Alternatively, you can choose to unpublish the app.

If you've reviewed the policy and have further questions, please reach out to our policy support team.

The Google Play Team