TextNow Not Working? 10 Fixes That Actually Work

Few things are more frustrating than picking up your phone to make a call or send a message, only to find that TextNow is not working. Whether the app refuses to open, calls drop the moment they connect, or messages sit in a permanent sending loop, the problem almost always has a fix. This guide walks you through ten proven solutions, covering the most common causes so you can get back online as quickly as possible.

Before diving into specific fixes, it helps to understand why TextNow stops working in the first place. The root cause usually falls into one of three buckets: a temporary server issue on TextNow’s end, a problem with your device or app installation, or a conflict with your network settings. Knowing which bucket your problem falls into saves a lot of guesswork.

The very first thing to do is rule out a server-side outage. If TextNow is down across the board, no amount of app restarts will fix your connection because the problem is not on your device at all.

• Visit a third-party status checker like Downdetector and search for TextNow.
• Check the official TextNow social media accounts for any service announcements.
• Ask in a TextNow community forum or subreddit to see if other users are reporting the same issue.

If reports confirm a widespread outage, the only real fix is to wait. TextNow’s engineering team will restore service, and your account, messages, and number will all be intact when they do.

This sounds obvious, but a full app restart is different from pressing the home button. On Android, open your recent apps list and swipe TextNow away. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and flick the TextNow card off the screen. Then relaunch the app fresh. A surprising number of glitches, including stuck loading screens and frozen call screens, clear up immediately after a proper restart.

TextNow is a VoIP and messaging service, which means it depends entirely on a stable internet connection. A weak Wi-Fi signal or a congested mobile data connection can make the app behave as if it is broken when the real culprit is your network.

• Open a browser and try loading a few different websites to confirm your connection is live.
• Run a speed test. TextNow voice calls generally need at least 1 Mbps upload and download to function reliably. (This is an estimate based on typical VoIP requirements, not an official TextNow specification.)
• If you are on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or restart the router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
• If you are on mobile data, toggle airplane mode on for 10 seconds, then turn it off to force your device to reconnect to the nearest tower.

If you use a VPN, it is one of the most common hidden causes of TextNow problems. TextNow is only available in the United States and Canada, and their servers may block or throttle traffic that appears to originate from a different country. Even a VPN server technically located in the US can introduce enough latency to break voice calls.

Try these steps if TextNow is not working with your VPN active:

1. Disconnect from the VPN entirely and test TextNow on your normal connection.
2. If it works without the VPN, try reconnecting to a server physically located in the US or Canada.
3. Some VPN apps have a split tunneling feature. Use it to route TextNow traffic outside the VPN tunnel while keeping other apps protected.
4. If TextNow still fails with the VPN on, the simplest solution is to disable the VPN when using TextNow.

TextNow not working on Android is often caused by a corrupted cache. Over time, the app stores temporary files to speed things up, but those files can become outdated or corrupt and cause login failures, blank screens, or message sending errors.

1. Go to Settings on your Android device.
2. Tap Apps or Application Manager, depending on your device.
3. Find and tap TextNow.
4. Tap Storage, then tap Clear Cache.
5. Relaunch the app and test it.

If clearing the cache does not help, tap Clear Data as well. Note that this will log you out of the app, so have your login credentials ready. Your TextNow number and messages are stored on TextNow’s servers, not locally, so you will not lose them.

Running an outdated version of TextNow can cause compatibility issues, especially after TextNow pushes a server-side update that requires a newer client. Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, search for TextNow, and install any available updates. If you are using an APK file downloaded from a third-party source, visit TextNow APK to find information about the latest versions and safe installation practices.

TextNow needs several permissions to function correctly. If microphone access was accidentally denied, calls will not work. If notification permissions are off, you will miss incoming messages. Here is how to review them:

• Android: Settings – Apps – TextNow – Permissions. Make sure Microphone, Camera, Contacts, and Notifications are all allowed.
• iPhone: Settings – TextNow. Toggle on Microphone, Contacts, Notifications, and Background App Refresh.

Background App Refresh is especially important on iPhone. Without it, TextNow cannot receive calls or messages when the app is not in the foreground.

If clearing the cache and updating the app have not resolved the issue, a clean reinstall is your next move. Uninstall TextNow completely from your device, restart your phone, then download and install TextNow fresh from the official store. Log back in with your existing credentials. A fresh install removes any corrupted files that a cache clear might have missed.

Sometimes the conflict is not with the TextNow app itself but with the operating system it is running on. An outdated version of Android or iOS can create compatibility issues with apps that have been updated to use newer system features. Go to your device settings, find the Software Update section, and install any pending updates. After the update, retest TextNow before moving on.

If you have worked through every fix above and TextNow is still not working, the issue may be specific to your account. Common account-level problems include a suspended number due to inactivity, a billing issue on a paid plan, or a flag on the account for unusual activity. In these cases, only TextNow’s support team can help.

• Visit the TextNow Help Center through the app or their official website.
• Submit a support ticket with as much detail as possible: your device model, operating system version, the exact error message you see, and what steps you have already tried.
• Check your email for any recent messages from TextNow about your account status.

Why does TextNow keep saying “connecting” on calls?

A stuck “connecting” screen on calls is almost always a network issue. Test your internet speed, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and check whether a VPN is interfering. If none of those help, clear the app cache and try again.

Is TextNow down right now?

The fastest way to check is to use a third-party outage tracker like Downdetector or to look at TextNow’s official social media accounts. If TextNow is down for everyone, you will typically see a spike in user reports within minutes of the outage starting.

Why is TextNow not working on my Android phone but fine on my tablet?

This usually points to a device-specific issue rather than a server or account problem. Focus on the Android-specific fixes: clearing the cache and data, checking app permissions, and reinstalling the app on the affected device.

Will I lose my TextNow number if I reinstall the app?

No. Your TextNow phone number is tied to your account, not to the app installation on your device. As long as you log back in with the same credentials after reinstalling, your number will be exactly where you left it.

Does TextNow work with a VPN?

It can, but results vary widely depending on the VPN provider, the server location, and the protocol being used. TextNow is only available to users in the US and Canada, so connecting through a server in another country will often cause the app to fail. Using a US-based server or disabling the VPN entirely gives the best results.