Signal-android: Can't verify - Hangouts steals the SMS message and Signal can't see it

[BustedSec]

I have:

• [ x] searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x ] read https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports

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Bug description

After signal installation, when attempting to verify the account it gets the SMS message, however hangouts is what grabs it and somehow despite signal being set as default SMS app it doesn't get it.

Steps to reproduce

• using hyphens as bullet points
• list the steps
• that reproduce the bug

Actual result: Describe here what happens after you run the steps above (i.e. the buggy behaviour)
Expected result: Describe here what should happen after you run the steps above (i.e. what would be the correct behaviour)

Screenshots

Device info

Device: Manufacturer Google Nexus 5x
Android version: 6.01
Signal version: latest

Link to debug log

[nrizzio]

There might not be anything that Signal can do about that. Can you provide a debug log, and are you about to verify with the phone call method?

[zoff99]

an option to manually enter the code from the SMS would be great. (now only other option is call)

[BustedSec]

was able to verify with the phone call. Where is the location of the debug log, I'll post itt

[zoff99]

still, how about an option to manually enter the code from the SMS ?

[FeuRenard]

@zoff99 #2410 & https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Android/issues/4354#issuecomment-153441706 (source: https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Android/issues/4956#issuecomment-167081739)

[nrizzio]

@thatrez Have you enabled SMS/MMS read/send permissions? Android 6.0 will prompt you for each permission, I believe.

[zoff99]

@FeuRenard yeah moxie has only one answer, to almost any inquery :-(
without explanation or reason.

"thanks but we're not going to do this"

[sidrmsh]

Yo same issue!!

[karshan]

Workaround: Go to hangouts.google.com More (...) -> Settings -> Uncheck "Receive SMS and voicemail in Hangouts"

[ucladev]

There are two annoyances here:

1. The user has to wait the full 2 minutes when they can clearly see that the verification SMS has landed (but is inaccessible to Signal due to third party SMS, e.g. Google Hangouts).
2. After the two minute wait the user isn't allowed to enter the code from the SMS and instead has to initiate the phone verification to get a second code.

It seems the UX can be improved by:

1. Add text warning the user that third party SMS apps may cause Signal to be unable to find the verification SMS automatically.
2. Add a button that allows the user to cancel the 2 minute wait and input the code manually.

[oxapentane]

This issue is over the year old and only progress is that you have added recommendation to turn off other SMS app on the phone after verification fails.

Is there's some deeper motivation beyond "We won't" that was stated in referenced comments that I don't see?

FYI: It fails while using Android Messages app by google on MIUI 8.5.3.0

[moxie0]

@oxapentane Please read the contributing guidelines before posting here again: https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Android/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md

Looks like this should be fixed in 4.13.0