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Email To SMS User Guide

Last updated: May 8th 2026

Email2Sms Configuration Guide

What is Email2Sms?

Email2Sms automatically converts your emails into text messages (SMS) and sends them to your phone. This is perfect if you want to get important emails as SMS alerts instead of checking your email app.

Requirements

Email2Sms requires two apps to work:

  1. Email2Sms — Handles email filtering and SMS routing
  2. SMS Plugin — Handles the actual text message sending

You must install both apps for Email2Sms to work.

Installation

Step 1: Install Email2Sms App

Download and install the Email2Sms app from our website.

Step 2: Install SMS Plugin App

Download and install the SMS Plugin app from our website.

Step 3: Grant SMS Permission

When you first use Email2Sms, the SMS Plugin will ask for permission to send text messages. You must grant this permission.

Note: Email2Sms itself does NOT request SMS permission. Only the SMS Plugin needs it.

Quick Start

Step 1: Create an Alert

  1. Open the Email2Sms app
  2. Go to Settings → Alerts
  3. Create a new alert for the email you want to forward as SMS

Step 2: Set SMS Recipients

In your alert, use the Subject Line to specify who should receive the SMS:

Format: ets: [recipient]

You can add SMS recipients in three ways:

Option A: Phone Number

ets: +1-800-555-1234
ets: 5551234567

Option B: Alias (Nickname you create)

Create an alias in Settings → SMS Settings → Aliases, then use:

ets: Mom
ets: Work

Option C: Contact Name

Use a name from your phone’s Contacts:

ets: John Smith
ets: Jane Doe

Send to Multiple People

Separate recipients with commas:

ets: Mom, Work, +1-800-555-1234

Step 3: Done!

Once both apps are installed and you’ve set up an alert, Email2Sms automatically sends SMS when matching emails arrive. The SMS Plugin handles all the sending.

SMS Settings Configuration

Accessing SMS Settings

  1. Open Email2Sms
  2. Go to Settings → SMS Settings

Main Settings

1. Special Character Handling (Important!)

This setting controls how special characters (like accents) are handled in your SMS.

Option A: Convert Special Characters (Default)

Option B: Keep Special Characters

What to Choose:

Understanding Android & SMS Plugin

Why Two Apps Are Needed

Android restricts which apps can send SMS messages. To work around this limitation and keep things simple for you:

This way, Email2Sms only needs basic permissions, and the SMS Plugin takes care of the rest.

What if SMS Plugin Isn’t Installed?

If you haven’t installed the SMS Plugin yet:

What if SMS Plugin Permission is Denied?

If you tap Deny when SMS Plugin asks for permission, SMS won’t send. To fix this:

  1. Go to Settings on your phone
  2. Find Apps → SMS Plugin
  3. Tap Permissions
  4. Enable SMS

Configuration Examples

Example 1: Mom’s Phone Number

Create Alert in Email2Sms:

When an email from Mom arrives, Email2Sms sends it to the SMS Plugin, which texts 555-1234.

Example 2: Multiple Contacts

Create Alert in Email2Sms:

When an email arrives, SMS Plugin sends it to all three contacts.

Example 3: Using Aliases

Set up Alias in Email2Sms:

  1. Settings → SMS Settings → Aliases
  2. Create “Family” → Phone number: 555-1111
  3. Create another “WorkTeam” → Phone number: 555-2222

Create Alert:

When manager emails arrive, SMS Plugin texts the WorkTeam numbers.

Troubleshooting

”SMS Not Sending”

Check these in order:

  1. Is SMS Plugin installed?

    • Download and install SMS Plugin from our website
    • This is required for Email2Sms to work

  2. Did you grant SMS permission to SMS Plugin?

    • Settings → Apps → SMS Plugin → Permissions → SMS must be ON

  3. Alert Configured Correctly?

    • Subject must start with: ets: [name or number]
    • Example: ets: Mom or ets: +1-800-555-1234

  4. Both apps installed and updated?

    • Check both Email2Sms and SMS Plugin are up to date

”Characters Look Garbled”

”Messages Are Cut Off”

This might happen if:

”Messages Cost Too Much”

SMS charges are based on:

To reduce costs:

Tips & Best Practices

1. Make Sure Both Apps Are Installed

Email2Sms needs the SMS Plugin to work. If you only have one, download the other.

2. Keep Emails Short

SMS has character limits. Shorter emails = fewer text messages = lower cost.

3. Test Before Deploying

Create a test alert and send yourself an SMS to make sure it works before relying on it.

4. Use Aliases for Groups

Instead of typing multiple phone numbers, create aliases for common groups:

5. Watch Your SMS Costs

Each SMS counts toward your cell phone plan. Long emails might send as multiple texts.

6. Check Permissions Regularly

If SMS stops working, check whether the SMS Plugin permission is still granted in your phone’s Settings.

FAQ

Q: Do I need both Email2Sms and SMS Plugin? A: Yes. Email2Sms handles emails, SMS Plugin handles text messaging. Both are required.

Q: Where do I download SMS Plugin? A: Download it from our website, just like Email2Sms.

Q: Does this work without WiFi? A: Yes, SMS uses your cell network, not WiFi.

Q: Will my phone number be shared? A: No, recipients only see the message, not where it came from through this app.

Q: Can I send SMS to international numbers? A: Yes, but you may be charged international SMS rates by your carrier.

Q: What’s the difference between this and email forwarding? A: SMS is faster and works when email is too slow or inconvenient. You get alerts as text messages instantly.

Q: Can I edit the message before it sends? A: Not with automatic SMS. The email body is sent as-is. If you want to edit, you can turn on “Save as Draft” to review before sending.

Still Need Help?

For additional support:

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