How do I activate message notifications (RCS or SMS) ?Updated a month ago
💬 Understanding RCS and SMS on your smartwatch
What is the difference between SMS, RCS, and iMessage?
| Type | Platform | Works on watch? |
|---|---|---|
| SMS (green bubbles) | Android & iPhone | Android: ✅ Yes — iPhone: ⚠️ Limited (see below) |
| RCS (enhanced SMS) | Android only | ✅ Yes on Android |
| iMessage (blue bubbles) | iPhone only | ❌ Not supported |
| WhatsApp / Telegram | Android & iPhone | ✅ Yes on both |
🤖 Android — how to activate SMS and RCS notifications
How do I enable SMS/RCS notifications on Android?
- Open the ICE Smart app → go to Notifications → enable your messaging app (Messages, Google Messages, Samsung Messages, etc.).
- On your phone, go to Settings → Apps → ICE Smart → Permissions → make sure all permissions are granted.
- Go to Settings → Battery → disable battery optimisation for the ICE Smart app.
- Make sure Bluetooth is active and the watch is connected.
💡 RCS messages are treated the same as SMS by the ICE Smart app. Once SMS notifications are enabled, RCS messages will also appear on your watch.
SMS notifications stopped working on Android
- Re-check battery optimisation settings — this is the most common cause on Android.
- Close the ICE Smart app completely and reopen it.
- If the issue persists: remove the watch from the app, forget it in Bluetooth settings, Factory Reset the watch, and re-pair.
🍎 iPhone — SMS and iMessage limitations
Why don't I receive SMS or iMessage notifications on my watch with an iPhone?
This is a known limitation on iPhone. Apple restricts third-party apps from accessing the native Messages app (SMS and iMessage). This means that SMS (green bubbles) and iMessage (blue bubbles) cannot reliably be forwarded to third-party smartwatches on iPhone.
⚠️ This is an Apple restriction — it is not a defect with your watch. It affects all third-party smartwatches on iPhone, not only Ice-Watch models.
What can I do if SMS notifications are important to me on iPhone?
- Use WhatsApp, Telegram, or Messenger as your primary messaging app — these work correctly with the watch on iPhone.
- Ask contacts to message you via WhatsApp instead of native SMS where possible.
Can I receive any notifications at all on iPhone?
Yes — the following work well on iPhone:
- Incoming calls ✅
- WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger ✅
- Gmail and other email apps ✅
- Instagram, Facebook, and other social apps ✅
💡 To enable all notifications on iPhone: Settings → Notifications → ICE Smart → "Allow Notifications" must be ON. Also check Settings → Bluetooth that the watch is connected.
❓ Still not receiving SMS or RCS notifications?
If you have followed the steps above and messages still don't appear on your watch, please contact our customer service with:
- Your watch model and 6-digit reference number
- Your phone model and OS version (iOS / Android + version number)
- Your ICE Smart app version
- Which message type is not working (SMS, RCS, iMessage, WhatsApp…)