TextFree Permissions

Enabling device permissions are necessary for TextFree to function properly and to optimize your use of the application for your personal and/or business needs.

Please review the device-specific information below for more information. 

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• Android
• iOS

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To enable permissions within TextFree:

1. Go to your TextFree 'Settings'
2. Under General choose 'Get Help'
3. Choose 'Manage Permissions'
4. Tap the slide to enable permission

Note: Permission settings may vary per Android device and may include additional permission options not listed here. Some of these entries are added automatically by Android or Google Play and are standard for many apps.

TextFree only uses the permissions needed for the app to work properly, and you can review or turn off any optional ones in your device settings under Apps → TextFree → Permissions.

Below are the TextFree permissions for Android that are necessary to ensure TextFree works as expected:

1. Contact Permission
2. Microphone Permission
3. Phone Permission 
4. Storage Permission
5. Notification Permission
6. Location Permission

Contact Permission

"Allow TextFree to access your contacts?" is the prompt for contact permissions. With this permission disabled, TextFree can't access contacts, thus you won't know who is calling/texting you and you will be unable to sync your contacts, save a phone number or edit contact info.

Note: This permission is strictly for functional purposes. We never access or share this info in the background.

Microphone Permission

TextFree needs permission to access your microphone to make/receive phone calls, set custom voicemail greetings, and record videos. 

The term "record audio" is used when asking for microphone access. 

Note: Don't worry, we do not actually record anything!

Phone Permission

Enabling Phone permissions are crucial to the core function of TextFree.

"Allow TextFree to make and manage phone calls?" is the prompt for phone permissions. With this permission disabled, TextFree cannot make and receive calls and thus your 2nd number will not function properly. 

Note: We never access your phone in the background.

Storage Permission

"Allow TextFree to access photos, media, and files on your device?" is the prompt for storage permissions. 

To save pictures, videos, or ringtones on your device, TextFree needs access to your device's storage.

Notification Permission

TextFree needs notifications enabled in order to alert you when you've received calls, texts, or a voicemail.

Location Permission

Enabling this permission allows TextFree to know your location to help suggest a local area code as your TextFree number. 

If you're having trouble receiving a local number, please visit 'Not receiving local phone numbers?'

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--Tab 2 Start--

To enable permissions within TextFree:

1. Go to your TextFree 'Settings'
2. Under General choose 'Support'
3. Choose 'Manage Permissions'
4. Tap the slide to enable each permission.

Below are the TextFree permissions for iOS that are necessary to ensure TextFree works as expected:

1. Location Permission
2. Contacts Permission
3. Microphone Permission
4. Phone Permission 
5. Storage Permission
6. Notification Permission
7. Camera Permission
8. Photo Permission
9. App Tracking Permission (iOS 14+ only)

Location Permission

Choose one of the following: Never, Ask Next Time, While Using the App, or Always. Enabling this permission allows TextFree to know your location to help suggest a local area code as your TextFree number. 

If you're having trouble receiving a local number, please visit 'Not receiving local phone numbers?'

Contacts Permission

"Allow TextFree to access your contacts?" is the prompt for contact permissions. With this permission disabled, TextFree can't access contacts, thus you won't know who is calling/texting you and you will be unable to sync your contacts, save a phone number or edit contact info. 

Note: This permission is strictly for functional purposes. We never access or share this info in the background.

Microphone Permission

TextFree needs permission to access your microphone to make/receive phone calls, set custom voicemail greetings, and record videos. The term "record audio" is used when asking for microphone access. 

Note: Don't worry, we do not actually record anything! 

More information can be found in the article 'Why do we need access to your microphone?'

Phone Permission

Enabling Phone permissions are crucial to the core function of TextFree.

"Allow TextFree to make and manage phone calls?" is the prompt for phone permissions. With this permission disabled, TextFree cannot make and receive calls and thus your 2nd number will not function properly. 

Note: We never access your phone in the background.

Storage Permission

"Allow TextFree to access photos, media, and files on your device?" is the prompt for storage permissions. 

To save pictures, videos, or ringtones on your device, TextFree needs access to your device storage.

Notification Permission

TextFree needs notifications enabled in order to alert you when you've received calls, texts, or a voicemail.

Camera Permission 

TextFree needs access to your camera so that you can send pictures or videos within the app.

Photo Permission 

Photo permission is required when sending picture messages through TextFree. 

App Tracking Permission

With iOS 14+, we ask for ad tracking in TextFree. While this isn't required in order to use TextFree, it will help us to send personalized ad content when using the app. 

More information on this permission can be found in the article Why am I being asked to allow tracking on TextFree?

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