TextNow Passcode & Caller ID: Setting Up App Privacy

Privacy matters more than ever when it comes to messaging and calling apps. Whether you share a device with family members, use a work phone, or simply want an extra layer of security on your personal number, knowing how to lock down your TextNow account is essential. Two of the most useful privacy features available are the app passcode lock and the caller ID settings. Together, they give you control over who can access your app and what information other people see when you call them.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about setting up a TextNow passcode and managing your caller ID display options. We will cover where to find these settings, how to configure them correctly, and what to do if something is not working the way you expect.

TextNow gives you a real phone number that can send texts and make calls over Wi-Fi or data. Because that number is tied to your account rather than a physical SIM card, anyone who gets into the app on your device can potentially read your conversations, check your call history, and even make calls or send messages pretending to be you.

A passcode lock on the app itself is your first line of defense. It means that even if someone picks up your phone and your device screen is already unlocked, they still cannot open TextNow without knowing the correct PIN or passing the biometric check.

Caller ID settings, on the other hand, affect the outward-facing side of your privacy. They control what name and number appear on the recipient’s screen when you place a call. Getting this right means you can choose how much information you share with the people you contact.

The passcode feature in TextNow lets you require a PIN or biometric authentication every time the app is opened. Here is how to enable it on both Android and iOS devices.

Step 1: Open the TextNow App Settings

Launch the TextNow app on your device. Tap on your profile icon or the menu icon, which is usually located in the top corner of the main screen. From the menu that appears, select Settings.

Step 2: Find the Privacy or Security Section

Inside Settings, look for a section labeled Privacy or Security. The exact label may vary slightly depending on which version of the app you are using. If you do not see it right away, scroll down through the settings list.

Step 3: Enable the App Lock or Passcode Option

Tap on the App Lock or Passcode option. You will be prompted to create a PIN. Choose a PIN that is not something obvious like 1234 or your birth year. Confirm the PIN when the app asks you to enter it a second time.

Step 4: Enable Biometric Login (Optional but Recommended)

After setting your PIN, many devices will offer the option to also use fingerprint or face recognition. Enabling this makes it faster to unlock the app yourself while still keeping it secure against others. Toggle the biometric option on if your device supports it and if you prefer that experience.

Step 5: Test Your New Passcode

Close the app completely by removing it from your recent apps tray. Then reopen TextNow. If the passcode is set up correctly, you will be prompted to enter your PIN or use biometrics before the app loads. If the app opens without asking, go back into Settings and make sure the lock is enabled and saved properly.

Caller ID settings in TextNow determine what other people see on their screens when you call them. This is a separate privacy consideration from the app lock, but it is equally important if you care about controlling your identity on outbound calls.

Understanding How Caller ID Works in TextNow

By default, TextNow will display your TextNow phone number as the caller ID when you make an outgoing call. The display name associated with that number depends on how your account profile is set up. Some carriers and devices may also pull a name from their own directories, so the name shown can sometimes vary based on the recipient’s device or carrier.

How to Update Your Caller ID Name

To change or update the name that is associated with your TextNow number for caller ID purposes, follow these steps:

1. Open the TextNow app and go to Settings.
2. Look for Account or Profile settings.
3. Update the display name or account name field with the name you want recipients to see.
4. Save your changes.

Keep in mind that caller ID name propagation through the telephone network is not always instant. It can take time for the updated name to appear correctly on recipients’ screens, especially if their carrier uses a cached database. This is a limitation of how the broader phone network works, not something specific to TextNow alone.

Blocking Your Caller ID for Individual Calls

If you want to make a call without showing your number at all, you can use the standard phone network prefix. Before dialing the number you want to reach, type *67 followed by the full phone number. This instructs the network to suppress your caller ID for that call, so the recipient will see “Unknown” or “No Caller ID” instead of your TextNow number.

Note that this works on most calls within the United States and Canada, but it may not work on every carrier or in every country. Emergency services will still be able to see your number regardless of any caller ID suppression you have applied.

I Forgot My TextNow App Passcode

If you forget the PIN you set for the app lock, your options depend on how the feature is implemented on your device. In many cases, you can fall back to your device’s biometric authentication if you enabled it during setup. If you cannot access the app at all, you may need to uninstall and reinstall TextNow. Note that reinstalling will not delete your account or messages stored on TextNow’s servers, but you will need to log back in with your TextNow credentials. Your number and account stay intact as long as you remember your login email and password.

The Passcode Option Is Not Showing in My Settings

If you do not see a passcode or app lock option in your TextNow settings, it is possible that your version of the app does not yet include this feature, or it may have been temporarily removed in a recent update. Try updating the app to the latest version through your device’s app store. You can also find updated APK information on TextNow APK for Android users who want to stay current with app versions.

My Caller ID Is Showing the Wrong Name

If the name showing on caller ID is not what you set in your profile, wait a day or two after making a name change, since phone network directories update on their own schedule. If the problem persists after several days, try logging out of your TextNow account and logging back in to refresh your profile data.

Calls Are Going Out as “Unknown” Even When I Do Not Want That

If your outbound calls are showing as Unknown or No Caller ID when you want your number to appear, check whether you or anyone else accidentally used the *67 prefix before the number, or whether there is a setting in your device’s phone app that is suppressing caller ID globally. On some Android devices, there is a system-level caller ID setting inside the native dialer that can override app behavior. Check your device’s Phone or Dialer settings and make sure caller ID is not set to hide on all calls.

Does setting a TextNow passcode protect my messages from other apps?

The TextNow passcode only prevents access to the TextNow app itself. It does not protect your messages from being accessed through a backup tool, a file manager, or another app that might have permissions on your device. For broader device security, make sure you also have a screen lock enabled at the system level.

Can someone call me back on my TextNow number even if I blocked my caller ID?

Yes. Using *67 hides your caller ID for outgoing calls, but your TextNow number still exists and is active. Anyone who already has your number, or who found another way to obtain it, can still call or text you on it. Blocking caller ID only prevents your number from being shown on that specific outbound call.

Is the app passcode the same as my TextNow account password?

No. The app passcode is a local PIN stored on your device that locks the app on that device only. Your TextNow account password is what you use to log into your account from any device. They are independent of each other, and changing one does not change the other.

Will my TextNow number change if I reset the passcode?

No. Resetting or removing your app passcode has no effect on your TextNow phone number. Your number is tied to your account, not to any local device settings.

Taking a few minutes to set up your TextNow passcode and review your caller ID settings is a simple way to significantly improve your privacy. The passcode protects your conversations and account activity from anyone who might pick up your device, while proper caller ID setup ensures that you present yourself the way you want to on every call.

Both features are straightforward to configure, and together they give you meaningful control over your TextNow privacy. If you run into issues that are not covered here, check the official support resources through the app itself for the most up-to-date guidance directly from the development team.

Disclaimer: This is an independent, fan-made resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to TextNow, Inc. in any way. All product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Information on this site is provided for general guidance only and may not reflect the most current features or policies of the TextNow service.