Getting Started with TextFree

FYI: We only support service to US and Canadian residents while they are within the United States and Canada at this time. If you reside outside of the US or Canada, you cannot create an account. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Please view the topics below to learn more about how TextFree works on your device.

• Sending your first message
  
  • Text
  • Picture
  • Group 
• Making your first phone call
• Setting up your voicemail greeting

--Tab Names--

• Android
• iOS

--Tab 1 Start--

Sending your first:

Text message (SMS):

1. From within your inbox, tap the new message icon  along the top toolbar.
2. Your new message screen will have a search bar along the top where you can begin typing the name or number of your contact.
3. To learn how to add, edit, or delete your contacts, click this link: How to add or edit contacts
4. If you begin typing, your contact's name will appear in a drop-down list. Tap on their name to add them as the recipient
5. Now, type your message in the designated field, then tap the paper airplane icon to send your message

Picture message (MMS):

1. From the message screen, tap the camera icon on the bottom left-hand corner to choose a picture from your camera roll,  or take a new photo.
2. Choose the picture (or take a new one) then click send (paper airplane)

Important: TextFree does not support sending nor receiving picture & video messages (MMS files) to and from Canadian numbers.

Note: TextFree requires access to your photos in order to send pictures.

To give access: 

1. App Settings
2. Get Help (bottom)
3. Manage Permissions
4. Tap 'Permissions'
5. Enable 'Storage Permissions' 

Group message:

1. From your inbox, tap on the new message icon  to start your group
2. Scroll to choose a contact, or begin typing their name into the search bar.
   • Tap on their names to add each member to the group. 
   • There is a max of 10 recipients per group message

Please Note:

• After you've been chatting with your group, you'll see all messages from each member in the conversation
• After sending your group message, tap on "i" in the upper right corner to view group details

Placing a phone call:

You can place a call from within the app in a few ways (seen in the list below):

1. Holding down on a conversation 
   1. Simply press & hold the convo (from the inbox) until you see the outgoing call
2. Call through the contact list
   1. Tap the address book 
   2. Tap the name of the contact (or number) you wish to call
   3. Tap the phone icon to place a call
3. From the dial pad
   1. Tap the 9 dot icon a the top right of the inbox screen
   2. Enter the phone number you would like to place a call to then click the green call button

Setting up your voicemail greeting

1.  App settings
2. Scroll to 'Manage Greetings'
3. Choose Default or 'Add a custom greeting'

Note:

• The default greeting will be your phone number. 
• There is no voicemail box; all voicemails are contained within the conversation in the TextFree inbox. 

--Tab 1 End--

--Tab 2 Start--

Sending your first:

Text message (SMS):

1. From within your inbox, tap the new message icon along the top toolbar.
2. Your new message screen will have a search bar along the top where you can begin typing the name or number of your contact.
3. To learn how to add, edit, or delete your contacts, click this link: How to add or edit contacts
4. If you begin typing, your contact's name will appear in a drop-down list. Tap on their name to add them as the recipient
5. Now, type your message in the designated section, then tap the paper airplane icon to send your message

Picture message (MMS):

From the message screen, tap the paper clip icon on the bottom left-hand corner to choose a picture from your camera roll, or take a new photo.

Your pictures can be received directly to your TextFree assigned phone number. (applies to most carriers - Verizon, Sprint, AT&T for example)

Important: TextFree does not support sending nor receiving picture & video messages (MMS files) to and from Canadian numbers.

Important: Make sure you have allowed TextFree access to your photos.

Group message:

1. From your inbox, tap on the new message icon  to start your group
2. Scroll to choose a contact, or begin typing their name into the search bar.
   • Tap on their names to add each member to the group. 
   • There is a max of 10 recipients per group message
3. After you've been chatting with your group, you'll see all messages from each member in the conversation
4. After sending your group message, tap on "i" in the upper right corner to view group details

Placing a phone call

Important items to note prior to making a call:

• Make sure you've allowed the app access to your contacts in order for your device's address book to populate
• When the call is connecting, make sure you have a consistent 'HD' or 'excellent' quality signal for best results - this will show in the upper right corner during the call

You can place a call from within the app in a few ways (seen in the list below):

1. From an existing conversation in the inbox
2. Within an existing conversation
3. Placing a call through your contact list
4. From the dial pad

Setting up your voicemail greeting

1.  App settings
2. Scroll to 'Manage Greetings'
3. Choose Default or 'Add a custom greeting'

Note:

• The default greeting will be your phone number. 
• There is no "legacy" voicemail box; all voicemails are contained within the conversation in the TextFree inbox.  

To record a custom voicemail:

1. Access the app Settings by tapping on the Settings button on the top left-hand side of your screen 
2. Tap "Manage voicemail greeting" to choose the default or custom voicemail setting
3. Choose "custom", then tap "record" to begin recording your 30-second voicemail message
4. You'll see the time counting down as you're recording your message. When finished recording, tap STOP
5. When finished, just tap Save in the upper right

Note: You can play or change your custom greeting at any time

--Tab 2 End--