Google Play services enables important features of your device and helps make your device more secure and reliable. Google Play services is different from the Google Play Store. Learn more about Google Play services.
How Google Play services can use your messages
Google Play services may periodically access your SMS or MMS messages to perform core services on your device. Some examples are:
To backup & restore messages
Google Play services may periodically access your SMS or MMS messages in the background to backup and restore messages on your device.
Tip: To manage your backup and restore settings, on your Android device, open Settings 
To verify your phone number
If you opt-in to phone number verification, Google Play services may send and access SMS messages in the background to discover and verify the phone number associated with your Google Account.
Tip: To manage your phone number verification settings, on your Android device, open Settings
To send your device location to authorized emergency partners
Google Play services may access your SMS or MMS messages to help share your device location when you text a supported emergency number. Learn about Emergency Location Services.
Tip: To manage your Emergency Location Services, on your Android device, open Settings
To enable SMS-based verification
Google Play services may access your SMS messages in the background to allow verification for apps and services on your device, like:
- Google Account sign-in and recovery
- Autofill of one-time SMS verification codes for apps on your device
- SMS verification for your digital wallet and payments
To show phone notifications on your Chromebook
If you turn on Phone Hub, Google Play services may periodically access your SMS and MMS messages in the background to show notifications on your Chromebook. Learn how to set up Phone Hub on your Chromebook.
To add people to your family group
When you invite someone to join a Google Family group, Google Play services may access your SMS information to help you send text invitations. Learn how to join a family on Google.
How Google handles your information
In order to enable some features, Google Play Services may collect and send some information to Google which may include crash logs and diagnostics information for analytics purposes. Any information that Google collects is handled in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy.