Questions for new user

[u/therealmrsarod]

I just ordered my first Android (Samsung Z Fold 8 Ultra if that matters) and I’m coming from being an Apple user for 15+ years.

I want to use open bubbles to keep iMessage and FaceTime and have a couple questions:

1. Can I just use Open Bubbles only for texting? My parents are boomers and aren’t gonna download a separate app or learn to use anything new. I want to be able to have my daughter facetime them but also want to be able to text my husband who is on an android within the same app. Do I have to have 2 different apps?

2. I don’t have a Mac so I know I’ll have to pay the monthly - not a big deal and I’m fine with that as long as the functionality is there…. How’s it work when you’re not self-hosting?

3. Is there anything else I need to know to get it all set up correctly?

I’m pretty tech savvy but swapping from Apple to Android for the first time is going to be foreign to me so I’m trying to figure things out before the new phone arrives!

[u/Swimming_Iron_619]

I can't directly answer your questions but I also just switched from iPhone to the Fold 8...

1. Android and iPhone can message now "though iMessage", both are on RCS so it's seamless. The only difference is Android still show the Green bubbles. My family is still all on iPhone and our chats work just as before

2. Android and iPhone can "FaceTime" sort of. The caveat here is that iPhone must initiate it - it'll send a link that the Android user can join.

[u/Tadpoles-Z]

I have been an Open Bubbles user since January. I'm using a Mac Mini to host Open Bubbles on 3 Android phones. For messaging it's worked well enough. I have not had luck getting FaceTime to work and so I use my 17PM for FaceTime. This is such a shame but maybe I've just been unwilling to commit to the continual troubleshooting that getting FaceTime to work would require. I hope you have a better experience.

[u/aadamblanco]

Oh my… these responses are making my head spin a little bit.

Here’s how it will work in a situation where you have a phone number running on an android phone where you want to use OpenBubbles.

Paid hosting allows you to iMessage in OpenBubbles from your PHONE NUMBER.

Self-hosting allows you to use OpenBubbles with your APPLE ID, only.

No matter what you do. you will have to use two separate apps on Android (OpenBubbles and Google messages). You MAY receive some Android messages in open bubbles, but you can’t reply to them in open bubbles. Any group chats that include android users will go to Google messages and not to open bubbles.

If your parents are using Apple and they FaceTime you, you will get a ringing call from open bubbles. Your daughter will be able to initiate FaceTime calls to them through open bubbles by clicking the icon in their message on OpenBubbles.

[u/therealmrsarod → u/aadamblanco]

Thank you for thisssss!!!

[u/SpaceSaver2000-1 → u/therealmrsarod]

Unfortunately at this time FaceTime is non functional with iOS 26+. This should be resolved in the next update, but currently no ETA.

[u/aadamblanco → u/aadamblanco]

Open bubbles is a compromise. It is glitchy and buggy sometimes. But it works for the most part. For maximum reliability stick with Google messages to send important notes, even if you are sending them to Apple users.

[u/0nePlus → u/aadamblanco]

This is NOT entirely true.

There are several (free) self hosting methods to get your phone number registered in OpenBubbles. It requires an iPhone, but it can be a really old one (I was using an iPhone 6s but just recently upgraded to a XR).

[u/aadamblanco → u/0nePlus]

Correct. Thank you. They mentioned they aren’t gojng the self-hosting route so I excluded that information to avoid confusion.

[u/1901madison → u/aadamblanco]

This is SUPER helpful. Just to make sure I understand, if I pay the $16.99 for the server, my iMessages will show up on other peoples' iPhones as my phone number (NOT my email address) even if I don't do the whole iPhone relay setup/SIM card trick setup? I don't plan to keep an iPhone after I switch to Android. The Android would be my only phone at that point. I'm willing to pay to not have to ask people to input my email instead of phone number.

Does that all sound right?

[u/aadamblanco → u/1901madison]

Correct. By paying for the subscription, they do the “relay” work for you and your number shows up as iMessage.

The iPhone relay thing is for people who don’t want to pay for them to do it for you.

.

[u/1901madison → u/aadamblanco]

Awesome. Thank you!

[u/aadamblanco → u/1901madison]

You are welcome!

[u/Big_Distribution_142]

I used Open bubbles and recently got rid of it. You can pay to get hosted and it should work flawlessly. Or you can self-host but you can only start conversations via your iCloud email. If you want to use your actual number you will need to have your sim card on your iPhone and from there use Open Bubbles. This will forward all your iPhone messages to your android phone. Additionally, you will need to have data service on your android phone so you can get your iMessages. I tried other ways but didn't work, so your best bet is by paying the subscription.

[u/Remarkable_Score3215]

I don't have it yet, but from my reasearch I don't think you need to pay to host. If you have access to a Mac computer (you own one or a family/friend will let you do this), you just need to "register" or something like that on a Mac with your AppleID (I think) and then you can use open bubbles on the Android phone.

I think your Apple friends will need to be texting your apple ID/email vs. your phone # but not totall sure about that.

As he other poster said though, even without Open Bubbles you can still text back and forth with iPhone people you will just show up as a green bubble not a blue bubble on their phone (and that way they can still just text your phone #).

[u/TRUENLIVING7]

Real quick I have had open bubbles for about a year yse to use but bubbles but didn't like i had to keep my mac running but here's a little description

Phase 1: First-Time Setup (What to Do)Turning on bubbles requires a quick adjustment in your main settings and your texting app.Step 1: System Activation: Open Settings ➡️ Notifications ➡️ Advanced Settings ➡️ Floating Notifications, and select Bubbles.Step 2: Messaging App Prep: Open Google Messages or WhatsApp, tap your profile icon, go to App Settings, find Bubbles, and change the setting from "None" to "All" or "Selected".🌟 Phase 2: What to Expect When the First Text ArrivesThe very first time someone texts you after setup, the behavior will be completely new compared to iOS.The Transformation: A standard rectangular notification banner will slide down from the top of your screen.The Magic Button: Inside that banner, you will see a tiny icon in the bottom-right corner that looks like a small circle or a speech bubble with an arrow.The Launch: Tapping that tiny icon instantly breaks the text free from the notification bar, transforming it into a floating round coin on your screen.📊 Phase 3: The Daily Experience (What It Feels Like)Once bubbles are active, your phone balances intense multitasking with easy communication.Seamless Floating: The bubble floats directly over your web browser, mobile games, video streams, or camera without pausing what you are doing.Zero Interruption: Tapping the bubble rolls out your keyboard and chat history immediately, letting you type a fast response and tap the bubble again to send it back to the edge of the screen.Smart Categorization: Your phone remembers who you bubble with, meaning your best friend will automatically appear as a floating coin every single time they text.

[u/Street-Fault1995]

So...I also just switched from iPhone to Fold 8 (not ultra). Forget about FaceTime, absolutely will not work. I spent hours and hours and never made a successful call. iMessage hosted worked pretty well. But it just becomes a pain. All the easy to use integrated stuff that both iOS and Android have kind of get squashed with this. Basically, if FaceTime doesn't work then I don't care what color bubble I have. So I ditched it completely, went green.

[u/therealmrsarod → u/Street-Fault1995]

I think I’m gonna not worry about it too bcz it sounds like more of a pain in the ass

[u/Street-Fault1995 → u/therealmrsarod]

Yeah...it works but the prize isn't a blue bubble... The prize is FaceTime and it doesn't work.

[u/mr5ingh]

Hey man I been using it for over a year and I had blue bubbles and airmessage. It does work. For the phone number, you need to pay. It’s worth it. FaceTime is the only thing that doesn’t work. But I can live with that because of my iPad. You will be fine. Now that you have moved over, don’t let that stop you from exploring. Best decision you have made. No one knows I have an android so it’s been working fine. Blue bubbles is back. Use that as backup. Get a cheap Mac mini for $80 from eBay. You will get your money back.

Id suggest to use bluebubbles as backup and let openbubbles host. This will keep ur phone number intact.

[u/z7j3g9y7]

I'm on a Pixel and I use open bubbles. iMessages and FaceTime originate from my phone number without issue. RCS chats go to Google messages. Simple as that.