Question 339 of 750

Mobile OS Features and Tools →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Checking the Default SMS App in Android for Message Delivery Issues

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of mobile os features and tools. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A technician is troubleshooting an Android device that cannot receive SMS messages, though data and calls work fine. The user recently installed a messaging app from an unknown source. Which mobile OS feature should be checked first?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.

A
Verify that the device is not in Airplane Mode
Why wrong: Airplane Mode would also affect calls and data, which are working fine.
B
Check the 'Default SMS app' setting in Apps & Notifications
If the default SMS app is misconfigured or incompatible, SMS delivery fails; resetting to the native app often resolves this.
C
Clear the cache of the Phone app
Why wrong: The Phone app handles calls, not SMS; clearing its cache won't affect messaging.
D
Disable Google Play Protect
Why wrong: Play Protect scans apps for malware but does not control SMS routing.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is to check the Default SMS app setting in Apps & Notifications. This is correct because Android routes all SMS messages exclusively through the app designated as the default; if a recently installed third-party app from an unknown source is set as the default but is malfunctioning or lacks proper permissions, incoming messages will be silently dropped even though data and calls work fine. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Android’s app permissions and default handler architecture—a common trap is to immediately suspect carrier issues or SIM problems, but the OS setting is the first logical step. Remember the memory tip: “Default drives delivery”—the default SMS app is the single gatekeeper for all text messages, so always verify that gate before digging deeper.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

Check the 'Default SMS app' setting in Apps & Notifications

The core issue is that SMS messages are not being received, while data and calls work fine. On Android, SMS routing is handled by a designated 'Default SMS app.' If a third-party messaging app from an unknown source was recently installed, it may have claimed this role, but misconfigured or lacks the necessary permissions (e.g., SMS permissions) to properly receive messages. Checking the 'Default SMS app' setting under Apps & Notifications is the first logical step to ensure the correct app is assigned to handle SMS, as Android will only deliver incoming SMS to the designated default app.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Verify that the device is not in Airplane Mode
Why it's wrong here
Airplane Mode would also affect calls and data, which are working fine.
✓
Check the 'Default SMS app' setting in Apps & Notifications
Why this is correct
If the default SMS app is misconfigured or incompatible, SMS delivery fails; resetting to the native app often resolves this.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Clear the cache of the Phone app
Why it's wrong here
The Phone app handles calls, not SMS; clearing its cache won't affect messaging.
✗
Disable Google Play Protect
Why it's wrong here
Play Protect scans apps for malware but does not control SMS routing.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA often tests the misconception that SMS issues are always related to network connectivity or Airplane Mode, but the real trap here is that Android's SMS routing is app-dependent, and a third-party app can hijack the default SMS role without the user's awareness, causing SMS to fail while other services work.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Android's SMS routing is governed by the SmsManager API, which delivers incoming SMS only to the app registered as the default SMS handler via the `setDefaultSmsPackage()` method. If a newly installed app from an unknown source takes over this role but lacks proper SMS permissions (e.g., `RECEIVE_SMS`), the system may fail to route messages correctly, leading to silent message loss. This is distinct from MMS or data issues, as SMS uses the control channel (signaling) rather than the data channel, so data connectivity remains unaffected.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

Mobile OS Features and Tools — This question tests Mobile OS Features and Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Check the 'Default SMS app' setting in Apps & Notifications — The core issue is that SMS messages are not being received, while data and calls work fine. On Android, SMS routing is handled by a designated 'Default SMS app.' If a third-party messaging app from an unknown source was recently installed, it may have claimed this role, but misconfigured or lacks the necessary permissions (e.g., SMS permissions) to properly receive messages. Checking the 'Default SMS app' setting under Apps & Notifications is the first logical step to ensure the correct app is assigned to handle SMS, as Android will only deliver incoming SMS to the designated default app.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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