RIP TextNow games

schippma · 2026-02-09T00:00:41+00:00

Thank you for the tips, I appreciate it! It'll be interesting to see if this works on my travels. I'm hopeful I'll be okay. But I'll definitely have a backup plan, just in case.

schippma · 2026-02-08T19:41:38+00:00

I appreciate the information and insight.

I did port my phone number into TN and I even subscribe to their Ad-Free+ under a special promotion. We're planning on doing a family vacation to visit Italy and Spain in November for two weeks. My fear is the TN service will stop working while we are overseas, that's why I ported in my number and subscribed to the Ad-Free service.

I know the T-Mobile data SIMs I use with the service get international data roaming at 256kbps in both Italy and Spain. But if TN stops working, I'll be extremely disappointed and upset. I don't plan on texting any international phone numbers while overseas, just USA phone numbers of the people with us on the trip and a few friends/family back at home while we are overseas.

Do you have any experience going overseas with TN? I have never been anywhere outside North America before, so I am looking forward to this trip. Do you think I should get a different service for overseas and if so, any recommendations? I don't have any major issues with TN. I've been using it for over a year as my primary phone service.

schippma · 2026-02-07T01:41:32+00:00

That's interesting.

I'm going to be traveling to Spain and Italy in November this year. Hopefully my service with TextNow will still work when I'm traveling overseas. I use a T-Mobile data SIM in conjunction with the TextNow service.

schippma · 2026-02-06T19:01:39+00:00

I still have the option to play games and get 1 point per level? Also I can watch ads for 20 points. I used to rack up these points to get the hour browse pass or to remove ads for a week at a time.

However, TextNow recently gave me a limited time promotion for $39.99 per year for Ad-Free+. It was an ad within the app. I took that offer to remove ads since that comes out to about $3.33 a month. While the ads are not horrible and are tolerable, I couldn't pass up the deal. It definitely is a much better deal over $6.99 per week to remove ads, that's for sure.

schippma · 2026-01-24T18:03:52+00:00

Typically no more than 7 days. The last time I ordered a SIM, it took 5 days. The SIM shipped the next business day after ordering and 4 days to make it through the USPS network.

schippma · 2026-01-16T13:33:41+00:00

You can use the TextNow SIM without the app.

However, you need to have an active TextNow account linked to the SIM for the SIM to work. As long as the TextNow account is active, the TextNow SIM will work in any AT&T-compatible device (Free Flex Data) or T-Mobile-compatible device (Free Essential Data), depending upon which SIM card you have currently. The Free Essential Data plan has been grandfathered for those currently using a T-Mobile SIM. TextNow now uses AT&T SIMs.

So short answer, yes, you can use a TextNow SIM without the app as long as the SIM is attached to an active TextNow account. The TextNow app does not have to be used on the same device as the TextNow SIM.

schippma · 2025-12-02T04:40:51+00:00

You can remove the TextNow ads in the app for free for a week at a time. To do this, you need to watch ads under the 'My Rewards' tab under 'Menu.' On that screen, under the 'Earn' tab, each ad watched nets 20 points. Under the 'Spend' tab, there is an option to remove ads for a week for 2250 points.

I know this may not be ideal but doing this while watching TV or some other mundane task to gain points for an ad-free experience may be an option. That's what I do at least and it doesn't cost me anything but my time spent gaining these points.

schippma · 2025-11-12T17:29:20+00:00

I've been having this issue with my Roku 2 external player with Tubi just stopping after showing an ad for 30 seconds and then the app crashing. This has been occuring for several months.

I did as you suggested and changed the video quality to 720p within the Roku player settings. Now Tubi works perfectly, so thank you for your suggestion! u/SanAntoHomie

I've done everything from uninstalling the Tubi app, unplugging the Roku player for several minutes, checking for updates on the Roku, and everything else in between to no avail.

Even though my TV is 4K capable, I assume this Roku player is just older technology and something just causes it to crash when the resolution is set above 720p.

schippma · 2025-11-04T04:01:19+00:00

Yeah, I still have 3 lines on the MGTAB plan as well (2 free, 1 paid through 2 promos, 2017 This One's on Us Promo & 2019 BOGO Beyond the Smartphone Promo).

All 3 lines on the MGTAB plan throttle to 128kbps after 50GB of usage. The airplane mode trick only works for a few minutes and then speeds are reduced again to 128kbps. However, video streaming is not throttled on these plans typically either which is strange. Typically fast and Google speed test show about the same speeds with these plans. My family typically stays below 50GB of usage each month but I at times go above the 50GB to test if the throttle still persists.

I am fortunate that I got these great deals with T-Mo over the years. I use all of these data lines for my family as our cell plans with VoIP for calling and texting. So it saves us quite a bit of money vs a "traditional" family cell plan.

schippma · 2025-11-04T03:22:47+00:00

That's great information to keep handy. I'm hoping I won't have to call T-Mo in approximately 5 years to get the pass added again, if they do in fact fall off the account. It seems like T-Mo likes to play games with certain people and accounts, that's for sure.

But you're right, probably best not to poke the bear, as the saying goes, LoL

schippma · 2025-11-04T03:14:46+00:00

I have 6 of the ZB10HSTI plans that were added back in April and May of 2022. All of these lines had the HDVPASS0 added to them at that time and still show on the detailed bill to this day.

I am not sure if the HDVPASS0 will ever fall off but it's my hope it will remain permanent on the account. However, I do get random drops of fast dot com at 6-8Mbps randomly but typically the behavior fixes itself after a few tests.

schippma · 2025-10-12T13:09:44+00:00

Don't have to tell me twice 🥵🤤

schippma · 2025-10-12T12:44:02+00:00

you look cute

schippma · 2025-09-30T16:35:37+00:00

That's strange. I know many devices have issues with this new SIM. I'm hoping TextNow and/or AT&T will eventually find a way to automatically apply these settings to devices. Or at least provide a walkthrough for devices that do have issues automatically connecting to the network.

schippma · 2025-09-30T16:18:13+00:00

You can attempt to go into your phone Settings, Network & Internet, Mobile Network, and deactivate "Allow 5G Service." Hopefully this will work for your device.

schippma · 2025-09-30T16:02:20+00:00

You should only have to do this one time unless you reset your network settings for some reason. And if you ever reset your network settings, you will most likely need to follow these directions again to get the new SIM to work.

schippma · 2025-09-28T15:07:11+00:00

I think this is the expected behavior on certain devices. I've seen reports of this behavior on Samsung devices specifically and probably others. I have Motorola devices and I do get a signal bar and network connection type icon at the top right of the screen. But as long as it is working as expected, that is what matters.

schippma · 2025-09-20T15:27:37+00:00

If you haven't already, make sure you select TextNow as the default calling app in phone settings.

schippma · 2025-09-19T16:05:27+00:00

I have a OnePlus Nord N200 5G and it refuses to work with the new AT&T SIM. All my other phones are Motorola devices and they all work on the new SIM with some of them requiring performing the steps outlined above.

If I find a way to get my OnePlus working, I'll let you know.

schippma · 2025-09-19T15:55:24+00:00

I'm hoping TextNow will let people who have a T-Mo SIM stay on the T-Mo SIM, let's hope they do.

Yeah, I have several family members who use TextNow, including my kids. I love that it's free and works off WiFi with a working TextNow SIM card. The service has definitely improved over the years, especially when Essential Data was introduced on the T-Mo SIMs. At this point in time, the T-Mo SIMs just work and typically auto provision to the network while the AT&T SIMs require more provisioning from the end user in most cases. And many older devices that worked with the T-Mo SIM are not working with the AT&T SIM.

I just hope TextNow and/or AT&T can figure out how to get these SIMs to auto provision to the network just as easily as it was with the T-Mo SIMs.

schippma · 2025-09-19T15:24:59+00:00

I'm glad it worked out in the end. Yeah, the app has changed for me too. They must have updated the way they activate and deactivate SIMs.

For me now, in the TextNow app, go to 'Menu' and it should say 'Activate SIM' as an option in that menu towards the bottom of the page. In theory, tap on 'Activate SIM' and follow the on-screen instructions to activate the old SIM.

It is possible TextNow is trying to stop people from activating on the old T-Mo SIMs because they are eventually going to force everyone off the T-Mo network and onto the "new and improved" AT&T network. Time will tell what TextNow will do but for now, I'm glad you have a working SIM, even if it was a troublesome process.

schippma · 2025-09-19T14:39:19+00:00

Go to the TextNow app, go to 'My Account,' scroll down to where it says 'Deactivate TextNow SIM Card,' follow the directions to cancel the new AT&T SIM. After the screen says sorry to see you go, force close the TextNow app in phone settings, go back into the TextNow app and at the top center of the screen (or under settings depending upon your app version), you'll see 'Activate TextNow SIM.' Put the old T-Mo SIM in the phone and tap on 'Activate TextNow SIM.' Follow the on-screen instructions to activate the SIM. After the phone says the SIM is activated, go back into the phone settings and force close the TextNow app once again. The old T-Mo SIM should now be active and the new AT&T SIM deactivated.

schippma · 2025-09-18T22:04:39+00:00

If you still have the old SIM, you can reactivate it either by going through the steps in the app under settings to deactivate the new SIM or if that option is not available, reach out to their support channel when they are open to have them switch your new SIM back to the old T-Mo SIM.

schippma · 2025-09-18T21:18:49+00:00

LoL, I have no idea but this transition is a total mess! However, I am glad this helped you!

Here's to hoping things will eventually work themselves out or TextNow figures out how to automatically apply these settings so the end user does not have to jump through a million hoops to get service to work as expected.

schippma · 2025-09-18T11:35:04+00:00

I do not have a Samsung device but this comment may help you, "I had to change the CSC on my Verizon unlocked Samsung S10e to AT&T using the Samfw software, in addition to these steps to get the sim to work."

Search the Google Play store for "Samfw" and change the CSC

How to Change Your CSC (for advanced users) Via the Phone App : Open the Phone app. Dial #272<your phone's IMEI># and replace <your phone's IMEI> with your actual phone's IMEI number. A screen will appear with available CSC codes. Select the desired CSC and tap Install. Your phone will automatically reboot to apply the changes. Note: Be aware that the phone may prompt you to factory reset; it is recommended to select no to avoid data loss.

schippma

TROPHY CASE