6 Ways to Receive Text Messages From Another Phone Number

There might be a time when you need access to text from another number. This can be to monitor your child’s activities, recover lost messages or check on your family’s safety.

If you have been pondering whether it is possible to get text messages from another number, the answer is yes.

This guide will show you how to get text messages from another phone number using six effective ways.

A lady is reading text messages from another phone number.

Part 1. Is It Possible to Receive Text Messages from Another Phone Number

Yes, you can receive text messages from another cell phone number and you don’t have to be a techie to figure it out. People do use it for good reason—for example, to check that kids are safe online, to monitor an elderly loved one, or to figure out a love life mystery.

Even still, it is very important to think about privacy and what can happen. Before you do anything, it is a good idea to have a chat with the person. Transparency can satisfy many concerns without violating any ethical boundaries.

If you decide to move forward, there are a few ways to do it, like using monitoring apps such as Msafely, setting up text message forwarding on iPhones, or leveraging backup tools like iCloud or Google services. Next, we’ll break down six easy methods to make this happen.

Part 2. 6 Ways to Receive Text Messages From Another Phone Number

Receiving text messages from a different phone number might sound difficult, but with the right tools and understanding, you can do it easily. We will show you six ways to do this.

Way 1. Try Msafely monitoring app

Msafely is one of the most advanced monitoring apps that currently exist. It allows you to secretly monitor text messages and other phone activities of a person you want to track. It operates totally in stealth mode, so the user of the target phone will never know he/ she is being spied on.

Msafely establishes a secure connection from the target device to your online Msafely Control Panel. Once connected, the app will record all incoming and outgoing messages and even deleted texts. The app sends updates directly to your dashboard in real time, giving you constant access to the target phone.

Msafely is ideal for concealed monitoring because it is cloud-based and requires no physical installation.

Steps to use Msafely to monitor and receive text messages from another phone number

Step 1. Create a free account using a valid email address.

Step 2. Choose the target phone (the type of the person’s phone you want to monitor or receive text messages from) , whether it is Android or iOS.

Step 3. Msafely offers several subscription plans, 1-month plan, 3-month plan or 12-month plan.

Step 4. Log into your Msafely Control Panel to view and receive text messages, call logs, social media activity of the target phone, and more in real time.

Key features of Msafely in detail

Msafely is a complete monitoring app that tracks the activity of a phone. It tracks text messages, calls, and more. Here are the detailed features of Msafely

Tracking text messages

Msafely gives you access to the contact, their number, and the time for every single conversation from all of the messages sent, received, or deleted on the target cell phone. This means that you are able to monitor SMS and all the other types of messaging like WhatsApp, Viber, and Telegram as well.

Call monitoring and recording

Msafely lets you check call logs for incoming, outgoing, and missed calls on the target device. The caller’s name, phone number, and call duration can be accessed.

GPS location tracking and geofencing

Real-time GPS coordinates for the target phone can easily be tracked with the help of Msafely. In addition, you can track the previous locations together with the time and addresses. You can even establish geofencing alerts so that you can get notifications whenever the phone goes above or below certain areas.

Social media tracking

Msafely can help you track the activity on apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram on the target phone.

Media file access

You will have access to photos, videos, and audio files stored on the target phone. You can view shared media files from messaging apps and social media platforms.

Real-time alerts and notifications

You can get instant alerts for specific keywords in messages or search queries using keyword tracking. You can also set up custom notifications for unauthorized activities like SIM card changes or access to restricted apps.

Monitoring apps and browsers

You can keep an eye on the application usage including the time spent in each application. And all of the installed applications. You can see browsing history, saved pages, and search queries even if you’re incognito.

Pros

Tracks texts, social media, calls, and more.

Works discreetly in stealth mode.

Compatible with both iOS and Android.

Provides real-time updates.

Cons

Requires a paid subscription.

Way 2. Apply auto-forwarding SMS applications

Another great way to receive SMS messages from other phone numbers is to use auto-forwarding SMS apps. Apps like these send all received text to a specified phone number or email id automatically.

Note these requirements for applying auto-forwarding SMS applications:

Access to the target phone to install the forwarding app.
Permissions for the app to access text messages and notifications.

Follow these steps to set up SMS forwarding to receive text messages from another phone number

Step 1. Download an SMS forwarding app such as SMS Forwarder or Auto Forward SMS from the Google Play Store or the App Store.

Step 2. Grant the app the necessary permissions, including access to messages.

Step 3. Configure the app by entering your phone number or email address where messages will be forwarded.

Step 4. Activate the forwarding service and test it to ensure it’s working.

Pros

Simple to set up with minimal effort.

Automatically forwards messages.

Cost-effective, often free.

Cons

Limited to Android devices.

May not work with encrypted apps like iMessage.

Requires physical access to the target phone.

Way 3. Via iCloud backup on iPhone

So, how to see texts on someone else's phone through iCloud? For iPhone users, iCloud provides a straightforward method to sync text messages across devices. By enabling message backup and sharing the same Apple ID, you can view messages from another iPhone.

You need to note this requirements for iCloud Backup;

Access to the Apple ID credentials of the target phone.
iCloud enabled on both devices.
A stable internet connection for syncing data.

Follow these steps to receive text messages from another phone number via iCloud

Step 1. Log into iCloud using the same Apple ID on both the target phone and your device.

Step 2. On the target phone, go to Settings, tap the user’s name, and select iCloud, then turn on iCloud Backup.

Step 3. Turn on the toggle for Messages under iCloud settings.

Step 4. Open iMessages on your device to access all synced conversations.

Pros

Syncs messages seamlessly across devices.

No additional software or apps needed.

Easy to set up on shared devices.

Cons

Requires access to Apple ID credentials.

Limited to iPhone users.

May raise privacy concerns.

Way 4. Try text message forwarding on iPhone

This feature is a simple, quick, and easy method for iPhone users to get text messages from another iPhone, Mac, iPad, or iPod without using any apps. When you have the same Apple ID on your devices, messages can be sent from your Apple devices.

Here are the requirements for using this method:

All devices must share the same Apple ID.
Two-factor authentication or verification code must be completed.
The target iPhone must remain powered on and connected to a network.

Steps to enable text message forwarding on iPhone to receive text messages from another phone number

Step 1. Ensure that all devices you wish to use for message forwarding are signed into the same Apple ID on iMessage.

Step 2. On the target iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding. A list of devices connected to your Apple ID will appear.

Step 3. If two-factor authentication is disabled, you’ll see a verification code on the receiving device. Enter this code on the target iPhone to complete the setup.

Once enabled, as long as the target iPhone is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network, you’ll receive all text messages on the other devices.

Pros

Requires no additional apps or software.

Syncs SMS/MMS messages seamlessly across devices.

Easy to set up and use.

Works on multiple Apple devices simultaneously.

Cons

Limited to Apple devices only.

Requires access to the target Apple ID.

Target iPhone must remain powered on and connected.

May raise privacy concerns.

Way 5. With Google backup on Android

For Android users, Google Backup offers a reliable way to access text messages from another phone number. This method leverages Google Drive's automatic backup feature to store and restore SMS messages.

To you use this method, note the following;

The target device must have Google Backup enabled.
Access to the Google account credentials of the target phone.
A stable internet connection for syncing and downloading backups.

Here are the steps to use Google Backup to receive text messages from another phone number

Step 1. Open Settings > Google > Backup on the target phone. Toggle on Back up Now and ensure SMS messages are included in the backup options.

Step 2. Log into your device using the target phone’s Google account credentials. Navigate to Google Drive and locate the backup files.

Step 3. Download and restore the backup to your device to access all SMS messages stored in the backup.

Pros

No additional apps are required.

Easily restores a complete backup of messages.

Works automatically if backup is enabled.

Free and easy to access.

Cons

Requires Google account credentials of the target.

Target device must have backup enabled beforehand.

Limited to Android devices with Google Backup.

May include unnecessary data with the backup.

Way 6. Through Google messaging app on Android

The Google Messages app provides a simple way to sync and view text messages from another Android device using its Messages for Web feature.

Note these requirements for Google Messages:

Physical access to the target phone for pairing.
Both devices must have the Google Messages app installed.
Internet connectivity on both devices for syncing messages.

Follow these steps to use Google messages to receive text messages from another phone number

Step 1. On a browser, open the Google Messages Web page.

Step 2. Select Pair with QR Code on the browser. On the target phone, open the Google Messages app.

Step 3. Tap the three-line menu and choose Device Pairing. Use the QR code scanner to scan the code displayed on the browser.

Step 4. Once paired, you’ll receive and view all text messages from the target phone on the browser.

Pros

Simple and quick to set up.

No additional software installation is required.

Allows real-time access to SMS messages.

Works seamlessly on browsers.

Cons

Requires physical access to the target phone.

Works only with Google Messages app.

Internet connectivity is necessary for syncing.

Pairing needs to be repeated if the session ends.

Part 3. What is the Best Way to Receive Text Messages From Another Phone Number

After discussing all the six methods, it is clear that Msafely is the best. This is because Msafely stands out for its comprehensive text monitoring features. You can also use Msafely to monitor social media apps, live locations, photos, calls and much more.

Msafely also stands out for its ease of use and great customer service. Msafely also works seamlessly across Android and iPhone devices.

Here is a table comparing the six methods:

Method	Features	Ease of Use	Requirements	Best For
Msafely Monitoring App	Tracks text messages (sent, received, and deleted), social media, calls, GPS location, media files, and more; operates in stealth mode	Very Easy	No requirement	Parents, employers, and concealed monitoring
Auto-Forwarding SMS Apps	Automatically forwards all incoming messages to another phone number or email address	Easy	Physical access to install Android device Permissions to access messages	Simple and cost-effective message forwarding
iCloud Backup on iPhone	Syncs all text messages across devices using the same Apple ID	Easy	Access to Apple ID credentials iCloud enabled Stable internet connection	Sharing messages across iPhone devices
Text Message Forwarding on iPhone	Syncs SMS/MMS messages across Apple devices linked to the same Apple ID	Easy	Same Apple ID across devices Target iPhone connected to a network Verification setup	Seamless message sharing for Apple users
Google Backup on Android	Backs up and restores text messages from Google Drive	Moderate	Access to Google account credentials Target device with Google Backup enabled Internet connection	Recovering and accessing message backups
Google Messages on Android	Syncs text messages via the Messages for Web feature; view all messages on a browser	Moderate	Physical access to the target phone Google Messages app installed Internet connection	Temporary access to text messages

It is evident that for a seamless and hassle-free way to receive text messages and much more, Msafely is the best option available.

Part 4. FAQs

Q1. How to see texts on someone else's phone through iCloud?

To view texts via iCloud, you'll need access to their Apple ID and iCloud credentials. Once logged in, you can check their message history if iCloud backup is enabled.

Q2. How to see someone's messages?

You can view someone's messages using monitoring apps like Msafely or by accessing their device through iCloud or Google accounts. You can also use text messaging forwarding, or the Google messaging app on Android.

Q3. How to transfer text messages from one phone to another?

You can transfer messages using backup and restore features like iCloud (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android). Alternatively, use a third-party app to migrate messages.

Q4. How can I check someone's text messages?

To check someone's messages, you can use apps like Msafely for remote monitoring, auto-forwarding SMS applications, and iCloud and Google Backups. Or through physical access

Q5. How to retrieve text messages from another phone?

You can retrieve text messages by using backup services like iCloud or Google Drive or by using monitoring apps, depending on the device’s settings.

Part 5. Conclusion

Receiving text from another number is entirely possible with the right tools and methods. Whether you choose a discreet monitoring app like Msafely, use iCloud or Google Backup, or use SMS forwarding options, each method has its unique benefits and requirements.

Msafely stands out as the best method. With its advanced features like real-time text message monitoring, social media tracking, and stealth mode operation, it offers comprehensive monitoring without alerting the target device's user.