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The smart inbox ​

ClearSMS sorts each conversation into one of four categories and gives each its own tab. This page explains the tabs, how a message ends up in one, and how to set up the Focused tab.

The tabs ​

TabWhat it holds
FocusedThe categories you choose. Personal, Transactions and OTP to start with.
PersonalMessages from people and saved contacts.
TransactionsBank alerts, bills, deliveries and services.
OTPVerification codes and one-time passwords.
PromosOffers and marketing, silenced by default.
AllEvery conversation.

Each chip shows its unread count.

How a message is sorted ​

Sorting happens on your phone, with fixed rules. Nothing is sent anywhere to be analysed. A conversation's tab is decided by its latest message:

  1. Saved contact? A conversation with someone in your contacts is always Personal.

  2. A code? A message with a 4 to 8 digit number near words like "OTP", "verification", "code" or "do not share" is OTP.

  3. Money? Words like "debited", "credited", "UPI", "balance" or "bill" together with an amount (such as ₹, Rs, INR or $) make it a Transaction.

  4. Marketing? Words like "sale", "% off", "cashback", "coupon" or "shop now" from a business sender make it a Promotion.

  5. Anything else from a business sender (a name such as VM-HDFCBK, or a short code) goes to Transactions. From an ordinary phone number, it is Personal.

So a text from an unknown phone number is never sorted as a promotion; only business senders are.

Rules are not perfect

Because sorting uses keywords, an occasional message lands in the wrong tab: for example, a friend's text that mentions a payment amount may appear in Transactions if they are not in your contacts. Save people you text often as contacts to keep them in Personal.

Choose what the Focused tab shows ​

  1. On the Focused tab, tap Edit next to the list of categories under the chips.

  2. In Focused tab shows, tick the categories you want and untick the rest.

You can also change this in Settings under FOCUSED TAB, by tapping the category chips.

Notifications by category ​

ClearSMS posts each category on its own Android notification channel, so you can change their sounds in Android's notification settings for ClearSMS.

ChannelBehaviour
Personal messagesRings and pops up.
OTP & verification codesRings and pops up, with a Copy code button.
Transactions & alertsNormal notification.
Promotions (silent)Never rings or vibrates.

Next steps ​