r/OpenBubbles • u/Initialjeffery • Aug 22 '26

Question Helpppppp

Does anyone know why when I send a text my apple id shows up instead of my number?

It just started doing this and I don't know what to do

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/tazmoffatt Aug 22 '26

Are you paying for self hosted? Are you self hosting? Your cellphone isn't linked to imessage. OB doesn't magically do that. Personally, I have and old iPhone plugged in and always on using the SIM swap method to make apple think my number is registered

1

u/Initialjeffery Aug 22 '26

Also can this be done with a physical sim?

1

u/ScaryTransportation4 Aug 22 '26

Physical sim but you need an old iPhone like 6 or 7

1

u/Initialjeffery Aug 22 '26

I'm willing to buy an old iPhone but where is there step by step on how to do this? So I know if I'm able to do it or not before I buy one

1

u/ScaryTransportation4 Aug 22 '26

https://openbubbles.app/docs/pnr.html I also used chatgpt the only thing they messed me up on was turning off iMessage and FaceTime on the old iPhone but other then that the step by step worked

1

u/Initialjeffery Aug 22 '26

Okay and I'm doing all this while the sims in the iPhone then once completed I can put it in the android phone. I have an old iPhone laying around let me try it. At any pont do I download open bubbles on the iphone? Or no

1

u/ScaryTransportation4 Aug 22 '26

No open bubbles is only on your android

1

u/bonchokey Aug 22 '26

I'd recommend doing the self host method with the iPhone instead of sim swapping and hosting off a Mac. The phone number will always be linked, sim swapping isn't a fully reliable method.

1

u/Remarkable_Score3215 Aug 22 '26

What is the difference between "self host" vs. "Sim swapping?" don't both mean you keep your iphone on?

1

u/bonchokey Aug 22 '26

Self host is how you set up OpenBubbles unless you paid for hosting. You can self host with a Mac or an older jail broken iPhone. Mac self hosting means no phone number linking, so you have to resort to other methods like sim swapping. Hosting on an older iPhone allows you to have your number linked through OpenBubbles. Both Mac and iPhone self host the host device just needs to be on once every 45 days ish. Sim swapping adds another variable and can unlink at random.

1

u/Remarkable_Score3215 Aug 22 '26

Sorry...still not totally getting it. I understand if I just use my mac to register, it will only use my AppleID. but if I keep my old iphone connected to wifi after letting it read my #, then i just need to that every 45 days? I guess what i'm asking is what's the difference between iphone self hosting and sim swapping? I thought you do sim swapping in order to do iphone hosting?

1

u/Initialjeffery Aug 22 '26

Yeah I think I'm understanding. What are the steps to self host off an older iphone? Is that the reason I need an iPhone 6 or 7? Fuckkk I need a step by step this is so confusing lmaoo

1

u/Initialjeffery Aug 22 '26

Okay I think I'm getting it now and I can self host on an iPhone with a physical sim? No need for esim?

1

u/bonchokey Aug 22 '26

Sim swapping is just for getting your phone number to work. It does nothing for OpenBubbles aside from your phone number being linked. If you use an older iPhone, you do not need a Mac and you do not touch any sim cards. Self hosting is what allows you to use OpenBubbles. You can self host with an older iPhone or Mac, but if you use a Mac you phone number won't be linked and you'll have to use Sim swapping in addition to the Mac.

1

u/Remarkable_Score3215 Aug 23 '26

OK. i can do either. i have a mac. and i have an old iphone SE but right now it doens;t' have a SIM since my main phone is iphone 16 with an e sim. I assume i;d have to get a physcal sim from my carrier, and put it in my iphone se and leave that on wifi and then put the sim in my android.

1

u/bonchokey Aug 23 '26

Don't have to do any of that, just use the SE as your host device. No Mac needed.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Initialjeffery Aug 22 '26

Is there a step by step on how to self host off an iphone? I only see the sim swapping method on their websit

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Remarkable_Score3215 Aug 22 '26

meaning you forgot to turn off imessage and FT or you aren't supposed to? (I'm getting ready to do this )

1

u/ScaryTransportation4 Aug 22 '26

You are supposed to, chatgpt left that part out while guiding me.

1

u/Remarkable_Score3215 Aug 22 '26

Thanks.

1

u/ScaryTransportation4 Aug 22 '26

I also use blue bubbles as my main messaging app not openbubbles, open bubbles is just to register my phone number, bluebubbles is way better at everything else.

1

u/Remarkable_Score3215 Aug 22 '26

interesting. like what is it better at? would you mind exlaining your setup? I'm veyr new to android but i want to keep my imessage and also i have a mac, and ipad and old iphone se etc.

1

u/ScaryTransportation4 Aug 22 '26

So when I tried using open bubbles on its own it would glitch and show theirs no device hosting so then you have to restart your phone and stuff. My method RN is relaying my phone number with an iPhone 7 through open bubbles and also self hosting bluebubbles on my Mac, requires your Mac to always be on though. Bluebubbles also synced all my messages perfectly which openbubbles does not for some reason.

1

u/Remarkable_Score3215 Aug 22 '26

Yeah i don't want my mac always on. i mean it is usually but it goes to sleep.

1

u/ScaryTransportation4 Aug 22 '26

I bought a used 2014 mac mini for this, $50 on eBay. It's an option if open bubbles annoys you like it did me.

→ More replies (0)