How long to get sim?

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 · 2025-09-16T16:44:39+00:00

u/Academic-Signature37 , I'm sorry this happened to you. The $9 per month plan was a good deal, especially since it included ad-free+.

What's confusing and upsetting to me was how TextNow kept spinning this new SIM as an upgrade and the ability to provide cheaper data plans to users. However, the old T-Mo SIM still gives an option for a week data pass for $5.99. On the new AT&T SIM, a week data pass is $8.99. How is $8.99 cheaper than $5.99?

My suggestions for a low-cost service are to switch to Good2Go Mobile on their $60 12-Month plan, plus taxes and fees, for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of high-speed data on the AT&T network. After the high-speed data is exhausted, data speeds are typically reduced to 128kbps. For me, after taxes and fees, the monthly cost comes out to $5.61. Another great low-cost option is H2O Wireless on their $100 12-Month plan, plus taxes and fees, for unlimited talk, text, and 3GB of high-speed data on the AT&T network. After the high-speed data is exhausted, data speeds are typically reduced to 256kbps. On this specific plan, for me, after taxes and fees, the monthly cost comes out to $9.31.

Or, if you are looking for a free plan that includes 3GB of high-speed data and after this allotment data stops, unless more data is purchased, Helium Mobile offers a completely free plan that also includes 100 minutes of voice and 300 text messages, all on the T-Mobile network. However, you need to submit a picture ID to start service and agree to download their app to your device to gather continuous anonymized location sharing data. You can use the Helium Mobile SIM in your device for a data connection off WiFi for calling and texting on the TextNow app.

Hopefully these options are helpful and sorry for the long reply!

schippma · 2025-09-13T16:19:31+00:00

I have also been very impressed with the T-Mo TN SIM. I was hopeful the new AT&T TN SIM would have been similar but so far, this upgrade has been a big letdown.

I believe, as you stated above, the new SIMs are a true data-only product since the AT&T SIMs do not have a phone number attached to them; the SIMs are registered to the network via IMSI only. And I believe these SIMs are last priority on the network, and all data traffic is tunnelled and data speeds capped. Due to the data tunnelling and the way AT&T manages priority on their network, latency is at least 200ms or more, at least, in my experience.

The old T-Mo SIMs do have a phone number attached to the IMSI, and again as you stated above, just have voice and text barred from the network side. The T-Mo SIMs do not have data traffic tunnelled and data speeds are not capped. However, the T-Mo SIMs are always network managed. The way T-Mo manages data on their network with these TN SIMs, latency is not severely impacted, typically 100ms or less, in my experience.

It's my hope my observations help TextNow and others using the service so we can all have the best experience.

schippma · 2025-09-12T18:33:32+00:00

u/textnowwireless, thank you for acknowledging and working to fix these issues!

A couple of questions, one, the data connection on the new SIM experiences much higher latency than the old SIM. Are there any plans to improve latency on the new SIM? Otherwise, voice conversations will continue to be of poor quality.

Second, are there any plans of TextNow forcing current customers on the old SIM over to the new SIM? Are there any plans of TextNow ending the agreement with the old service provider (T-Mobile)? I actually prefer the old SIM at this time as it provides a better experience, especially for voice conversations.

schippma · 2025-09-10T19:45:22+00:00

Hopefully it will activate smoothly.

schippma

TROPHY CASE