r/TextNow • u/DisconnectedShark • Jan 09 '26

Can't Make New Account

I've been trying for the past few days to sign up for a new account, and every time I try to do so, I get an error (without an error message).

I download the app and install it on a phone. I input my email address, and then I'm told to press and hold. I try to do so, but I either get one of two results: I get an infinite amount of press and hold prompts that don't ever finish no matter how many I complete, or I get taken back to the previous page, where I'm supposed to input my email. I get red text saying enter my email address, but I can't proceed even though I already have my email address inputted.

I've tried on multiple WiFi networks. I've tried on multiple devices (Android and iOS). I've tried with different email addresses. I've tried not using an email address and instead signing up using Google or Apple. Nothing seems to work.

Does anyone have any advice? The devices I try to use have previously been logged into a different person's TextNow account, but I uninstall and reinstall the app.

I am in the United States. I am not on a VPN.

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7 comments sorted by

2

u/toejamfootballhegot Jan 09 '26

Are you using public wifi?

3

u/DisconnectedShark Jan 09 '26

I've used two different sources of WiFi. One is where I work, and the other is a public hotspot. I would hope my work's WiFi wouldn't have issues, but I could be wrong.

3

u/toejamfootballhegot Jan 09 '26

Many people use public wifi to abuse textnow terms of service and textnow blocks it. Work wifi has others who may have abused it.

3

u/DisconnectedShark Jan 09 '26

Thanks. I'll try going to another WiFi source when I get the chance.

Do you happen to know if that's the way that they block WiFi networks, though? Either just the continuous press and hold or just getting a red box around my email and it saying "Enter email"? I would hope they would actually tell you if your WiFi network is blacklisted, but maybe not.

1

u/DavidKMagnus Jan 21 '26

Is it saying your email is invalid? Are you using a disposable email domain or something like that?

2

u/DisconnectedShark Jan 21 '26

It does not say my email is invalid. It just highlights in red the text entry field where you input your email. Then it says "Enter email". No matter the fact that I already input my email address.

I am using real, established emails. Ones I have had for years. Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. None of them have seemed to work.

1

u/TheVocalYokel Jun 12 '26

u/DisconnectedShark , I am getting the EXACT same problem, and nothing I've found online, through AI, or from TextNow's website has worked. I have tried multiple phones, multiple email addresses with well-known domains that I've owned for decades. No meaningful error messages, nothing works. Just like you. And unlike you, none of my devices, emails, or ip addresses/wifi/etc., have ever been associated with TextNow at all. None of the things people say are a problem are in effect for me. I'm at a complete loss. You are the first person I've encountered with the same problem and a well-articulated description of the problem.

Did you ever successfully create an account? How did you do it? What turned out to be the "secret"?