How installing works
Since this isn't a Play Store install, Android walks you through a couple of extra
confirmation steps the first time. That's expected — here's what to do at each one.
- Tap Download Latest. The
.apk file saves to your phone's
Downloads. Most browsers show a notification when it's done.
- Open the downloaded file — either tap the download notification, or
find it in your Files app under Downloads.
- Allow installs from this source. Android will block the install the
first time with a prompt like "For your security, your phone is not allowed to install
unknown apps from this source." Tap Settings on that prompt, turn on
Allow from this source for your browser, then go back and open the file
again. (This is a one-time, per-browser toggle — you can find it later under
Settings → Apps → Special access → Install unknown apps.)
- Google Play Protect may show a warning since the app isn't distributed
through the Play Store yet and has no install history. If it appears, tap
Install anyway to proceed.
- Tap Install, then Open once it finishes.
- Grant the permissions lessms asks for on first launch — most
importantly, setting it as your default SMS app, which it needs to actually receive and
filter your messages.
- If you see "App was denied access to be default SMS app," that's
Android's restricted-settings protection for apps installed outside the Play Store — it's
expected, and a one-time fix: open Settings → Apps, find and tap
lessms, tap the ⋮ menu in the top-right corner, and
choose Allow restricted settings. Then go back into lessms and set it as
your default SMS app again — it'll go through this time.