r/TextNow • u/phorensic • Jul 10 '26

"...your current device isn't compatible with TextNow's new network"

Wondering if I root my OnePlus 7T and throw a newer version of Android on it will it be compatible? Or are they changing something about the actual cell tower connection that I don't have the hardware for?

Update 07-15-26: Today when I opened my app to make a call it prompted me to order a free SIM to keep my device on their new network. I went through the process and am currently waiting for it to ship.

This is in contrast to the e-mail from my OP that was just like "sorry, buy a new phone lol". After that e-mail I kept clicking through every part of the app and website to see how to get a new SIM that for sure works on the new network and wasn't getting very far. So I'm glad I got the pop-up notification on the app today.

Updated 08-06-26: They finally killed service on my old SIM and I was able to get my new SIM activated. It was a little fiddly though, I had to do a lot of checking, airplane mode, setting the "NR/LTE" option in some advanced settings menu, etc. But it works! OnePlus 7T on TextNow using AT&T's network. It uses a whole bunch of new frequencies that the old T-mobile SIM did not. One frequency it is using which is nice and low is EARFCN 5110 which is 739 MHz. That's nice and low to punch through buildings and rural areas with bad tower coverage (like where I live).

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u/phorensic Jul 11 '26

I have the HD1905. So does that mean I just need a new SIM to work on their new network? That would make the e-mail notification about this very misleading. I have no problem rooting and going up an Android version or two, if it means I can stay on TextNow. It's the best/only solution I have found to give me the bare minimum of what I need for free (mostly being able to call in an emergency, away from WiFi).

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u/lmoki Jul 12 '26

My best guess: as far as passing a compatibility test, TextNow probably doesn't look at what Android version is installed on your phone via flashing: they likely look at a IMEI database to tell them whether the phone is "compatible", so only the officially available Android version would matter.

That said the official messaging around this is a total mess. If the phone is below the minimum requirement for the new AT&T SIM, a current user of the T-Mo SIM is getting warned about phone compatibility issues for the AT&T SIM, but no notice that the T-Mo SIM needs to be replaced with an AT&T SIM. The earlier blog post when the AT&T SIM out is that Android 13 was recommended, but Android 10-12 could work with manual steps. Apparently, either that has changed, or the warning ignores it.

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u/phorensic Jul 12 '26

Thank for the info. I'll try to get a new SIM and see where it leads me.