Is your partner using the TextNow app on their phone?
If it’s making you worry that they are cheating on you, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I’ll tell you all you need to know about TextNow, including what it’s used for, and if and how it can be used for cheating.
Quick Summary
TextNow is a VoIP app that allows people to get a second phone number with which to make calls and send texts.
Some people use it for cheating, as it allows them to hide messages and text people from dating apps without giving out their true number.
What Is TextNow?
TextNow is a VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) app that allows users to make phone calls and send text messages over the internet, without a physical sim card.
When you download the TextNow app, you can sign up for a virtual phone number that operates just like a regular cellular phone number.
The difference is that this number relies on internet connectivity to send and receive text messages and make phone calls.
However, despite that, you can use TextNow to text and make calls to real phone numbers, not only other virtual numbers.
As long as you have an internet connection, you can use it just like a regular cellular number – and the person on the other end of the line will have no idea that you are using a TextNow number.
People usually use TextNow to get a second phone number in addition to their regular phone number.
What Is TextNow Used For?
TextNow can be used for many things.
Here are some of the common reasons people use TextNow.
Avoiding Spam
Let’s say you are applying for jobs, and you don’t want to use your real phone number to apply.
There are a lot of fake job listings on sites like Indeed that are intended to harvest people’s phone numbers. They will take your phone number and sell it to telemarketers, causing you to get bombarded with spam calls.
That’s why many people instead use a VoIP phone number, like TextNow, to sign up for such things.
Saving Money
Another reason you might use TextNow to get a second phone number is to save money on your cellular phone plan. If you have Wi-Fi at home or at work, you can use TextNow to text and make phone calls, without using up texts and minutes from your cellular plan.
Getting Unlimited Talk and Text
TextNow offers an unlimited Talk and Text plan in the United States. It requires a TextNow sim card, and it works over the cellular networks, just like a regular sim card.
It is powered by ads, which is how it’s able to offer unlimited talk and text.
This might be a bit confusing, since we just said that you don’t actually need a sim card to use TextNow. That’s true.
You can use TextNow in one of two ways.
You can use it over Wi-Fi, without a TextNow sim card. Or, you can get a TextNow sim card, which allows you to make calls and place texts via the TextNow app even if you don’t have Wi-Fi.
Cheating and Infidelity
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And now, we get to the juicy part. Yes, TextNow can be used for cheating and infidelity.
Cheaters often use VoIP text apps to hide the fact that they are communicating with someone else.
They are worried their partners may sometimes check their phone or see an SMS notification from someone pop up on their phone when they are watching a movie together, so they use an app like TextNow instead.
Why Do Cheaters Use TextNow?
It Keeps Suspicious Texts and Messages Separate
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TextNow helps keep calls and text messages hidden from an unsuspecting spouse. All texts and calls made with TextNow are kept within the TextNow app.
A cheater can use TextNow just for the people they are having casual sexual relationships with.
Even if you check your partner’s SMS messages, WhatsApp messages, and phone log, you will not see any of the calls and texts that they sent to someone they are having an affair with if they are using TextNow.
You probably won’t think to look for an app called TextNow. Not a lot of people know about this app.
This is especially true if you and your partner share phones, and you don’t have much reason to suspect them. You probably aren’t actively looking for evidence of cheating.
In that case, using TextNow is a great way to avoid suspicion in the first place.
They Can Lock and Hide the App
TextNow allows you to set a passcode to be able to access the app. That means that even if your partner doesn’t have a passcode on their phone, or you know the passcode to their phone, you can still be locked out of TextNow.
TextNow also provided the option to automatically have the app get locked when the phone goes to sleep and to automatically lock TextNow when you press on the power button.
That makes it super easy for a cheating partner to close and lock the app when their partner is approaching.
Cheaters can even hide the TextNow app from the list of app icons – there are many apps that allow people to hide other apps.
It Allows Them to Avoid SMS & Call Notifications
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The last thing a cheater wants is for an SMS notification saying “hey love” or “hey babe” to pop up when their spouse is using their phone or when they are watching a video on the phone together.
One of the best ways to avoid that is to use a separate app like TextNow. You can always block notifications from a specific app while leaving open the regular SMS notifications.
That way, even if you happen to be using their phone, you won’t see an SMS pop up from a suspicious number. Then, when they are alone, they can open the TextNow app and check for missed calls and texts.
If they do that, you will probably never suspect your partner of cheating, even if you sometimes use their phone and you know each other’s passcodes. You will go on with your life, thinking nothing is wrong, never suspecting that your partner is actually cheating on you.
They Can Hide the Evidence
TextNow also makes it easy to delete messages and chats. You can simply select a chat you want to delete and trash it forever, leaving no trace.
That makes it easy to hide the evidence of their wrongdoings.
Not only that, but when a passcode is enabled for the app, TextNow will prevent you from taking a screenshot!
If you see something and want to screenshot it and send the screenshot to yourself as evidence of your partner’s infidelity, you won’t be able to, and your partner will be able to deny that it ever happened.
How to Check If Your Partner Has Been Using TextNow to Cheat?
So, how can you check if your partner has been using TextNow to cheat on you? Here are some steps you should take to uncover his or her infidelity.
1. Check for the TextNow App
The first step is to check if the TextNow app has been installed.
If you don’t see it anywhere on the home screen, go to the app drawer and use the search bar to search for TextNow.
2. Check for Hidden Apps
If you don’t see TextNow, the next step is to check if your partner has hidden it. There are a few ways to hide apps.
Some phones allow you to hide apps from the app drawer. However, you can still find them by going to the settings, clicking on Apps, and then clicking on the list of apps.
However, there are other ways to hide apps. Your partner may be using a launcher such as Nova Launcher, which replaces the default launcher on your phone and allows you to hide apps.
Depending on the launcher, you should usually be able to find those hidden apps by going to the launcher’s settings.
There is another, sneakier way that people hide apps, though. There are “app vault” apps that allow people to hide apps.
These apps are often disguised as regular, harmless apps.
For example, there are “calculator” apps like Calculator Vault that look and function just like a regular calculator. You can even perform normal calculations!
However, when you enter a secret passcode into the calculator, it reveals a list of hidden apps in a special vault. Cheaters often use these types of apps to avoid detection, because who would become suspicious of a calculator?
So, how can you check if your partner has been hiding apps? Once again, by going to the list of apps in your settings, you can usually find all installed apps, even hidden ones.
However, if you want to check for “app vault” apps specifically, you can check each installed app’s details by simply going to the app store and checking for the list of installed apps.
Suspicious apps will show up there, and they will usually be suspiciously named as “Hide Apps” or “App Vault Calculator” or something like that.
Check If TextNow Is Password Protected
If you find the TextNow app, check if it’s protected by a password. If it is, and you normally share the passcode to each other’s phone, check to see if the passcode is the same as the one you know.
If there is a passcode that you don’t know, that is definitely grounds for a suspicion. Why else would your partner be hiding their chats from you?
They might be cheating on you and have something to hide. Either way, it’s a red flag.
What to Do If Your Partner Is Using TextNow?
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If you notice your partner using TextNow, what can you do about it? Here are my recommended steps to take.
1. Don’t Panic
First of all, avoid panicking and going haywire on your partner. There may be a legitimate reason your partner is using TextNow, especially if they are not hiding the app by using a secret vault app.
If you panic, you may escalate the situation when there is no need to. Take a step back, and take a deep breath.
2. Think About Other Red Flags
TextNow alone isn’t proof of cheating. There are many reasons your partner might have TextNow on their phone.
However, it’s important to also think about other potential red flags you may have missed that indicate your partner is cheating. Red flags may include:
- Staying out late at night while claiming to be working overtime
- Going to the gym for extended periods all of a sudden
- Being evasive in general
- Not being interested in physical intimacy
- Frequent arguments for no reason
It’s often easy to miss these red flags when you never had any real reason to suspect infidelity.
3. Look for Evidence
If you can, look for evidence of wrongdoing. Try to get into the TextNow app, if you can.
For example, try common passcodes that you and your partner both use to see if they allow you access to your partner’s TextNow account.
If you can get it, look at the text messages.
Take pictures with your phone, if you find something wrong.
4. Confront Your Partner
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Now comes the most challenging part – confronting your partner. This is the most difficult part, since it’s so hard to do it right.
If your partner isn’t cheating, it could potentially hurt your relationship. Your partner may feel upset that you suspect them of cheating.
Even if they were cheating, they could gaslight you and pretend you are the one in the wrong for even suspecting them of being capable of such a thing.
That’s why I recommend that you gather any evidence you can of wrongdoing to back up your claims. Cheaters often deflect blame and gaslight you into thinking that you are the one who is starting problems when none exists.
It’s also important to do it the right way. You need to give your partner some benefit of the doubt.
Instead of assuming they are wrong and immediately accusing them, sit them down for a conversation. Say that you have some fears and concerns and would like to discuss things with them.
Do it calmly, without trying to blame them right off the bat. Give them a chance to explain themselves, because they may have a good reason for using TextNow.
If they say they have a good reason for using TextNow, ask them to show you how and why they use it. Say that it will help build trust between you and quell your fears.
If they do that, great!
However, if they immediately start gaslighting or accusing you, or if they become very defensive and change the topic to deflect blame on you, something is probably going on.
Conclusion
TextNow is a messaging app that is sometimes used for infidelity. However, it can be used for harmless and innocent purposes as well.
Therefore, if you suspect your partner of infidelity simply because they are using TextNow, you might be making a mistake.
Sit down with them for a conversation instead of immediately accusing them. Try and find out the facts first.
Remember, talking things out is often the best way to know the truth, and rebuild trust.
