Phone Services
Do not remove
The core telephony service that connects the phone to the cellular network for calls, texts and mobile data.
Android (AOSP) package
Phone and Messaging Storage
Do not remove: com.android.providers.telephony Do not remove Vendor documentation
The database that stores your SMS and MMS messages and the access point settings for mobile data. Do not remove it: disabling or uninstalling it can leave the phone unusable.
What it does
Phone and Messaging Storage is the Android database that holds text and multimedia messages, the carrier access point names (APNs) used for mobile data and MMS, and SIM-related records. Messaging apps, the telephony service and carrier settings all depend on it. It runs whenever a message arrives or the phone sets up a mobile data connection.
Also shown as Mobile Network Configuration.
If you disable it
Texts stop saving and arriving, mobile data and MMS can lose their access point settings, and community lists rate removal as unsafe. Never disable it.
How to disable it
On most phones Settings greys out Disable for this package, so ADB is the way to turn it off. The commands below work without root and can be undone.
Turn it back on
adb shell pm enable com.android.providers.telephonyRestore it after a per-user uninstall
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.providers.telephonyData and battery
Stores your SMS and MMS messages and carrier access point settings on the device.
Where it appears
- Made by Android Open Source Project.
Questions people ask
What is com.android.providers.telephony?
com.android.providers.telephony is Phone and Messaging Storage. The database that stores your SMS and MMS messages and the access point settings for mobile data.
Can I disable Phone and Messaging Storage?
No. Do not remove it: disabling or uninstalling it can leave the phone unusable.
What happens if I disable Phone and Messaging Storage?
Texts stop saving and arriving, mobile data and MMS can lose their access point settings, and community lists rate removal as unsafe. Never disable it.
Sources
- Android source: TelephonyProvider manifestAndroid source
- Android Developers: TelephonyDeveloper documentation
- Universal Android Debloater list entryCommunity list
Each source answered when this page was checked on 25 October 2026.
Confidence: Vendor documentation. Backed by the maker's own documentation, the Android source or the Play listing. How we decide a verdict.
Cite this page: https://mysystemapp.com/packages/com.android.providers.telephony/ (verified 25 October 2026). Something wrong or out of date? Request a correction.