Yes! Starting with version 10.26.003 of the app, you can restore a conversation from a backup made on another person’s phone — for example, if you want to get back a text conversation you had with your partner and they still have a backup of it on their end.

The app re-maps the conversation automatically so it looks right on your phone: messages they sent appear as received, messages you sent appear as sent, and everything threads into your normal chat with that person.

How to use it

Step 1 — Get the backup file

Ask the other person to open SMS Backup & Restore on their phone and create a backup (Menu > Backup). Once the backup is created, they can share the XML file with you — via Google Drive, WhatsApp, email, or any other method. Download it to your phone before continuing.

Note: If their backup is password protected, ask them to create a new one without a password. Password-protected backups cannot be used with this feature.

Step 2 — Open “Restore from another person”

In SMS Backup & Restore, go to Menu > Tools > Restore from another person.

Step 3 — Select the backup file

Tap Choose backup and pick the XML file you received from the other person using the file picker.

Step 4 — Choose the conversation

Once the file is loaded, tap Select a conversation. You’ll see a list of all conversations in that backup. Pick the one that contains your messages with each other.

Note: Only one-to-one conversations are supported. Group chats cannot be restored using this feature.

Step 5 — Enter their phone number

In the Their phone number field, type (or pick from your contacts) the phone number of the person whose backup you’re using. This is how the app knows which conversation on your phone to add the messages into.

Step 6 — Tap Restore

Tap the Restore button. The app will prompt you to temporarily set it as your default SMS app (this is required by Android to write messages), then restore the conversation. When done, open your messaging app and you’ll find the conversation sitting alongside your other chats.

Things to keep in mind

• Only 1:1 conversations are supported. Group conversations cannot be restored from another person’s backup.
• The backup must not be password protected. Ask the other person to create an unencrypted backup if needed.
• The backup file must be a messages backup. Call log-only backups cannot be used here.
• Duplicate messages are skipped. If you already have some of those messages on your phone, the app will not create duplicates.
• MMS messages (photos, videos) are included as long as the other person’s backup contains them.