How to Send and Receive Text Messages
Texting with Phound is as natural as using your phone's built-in messaging app. The key difference is that your messages come from your Phound number, keeping your personal number private. Every text you send and receive is organized by persona, so conversations for different parts of your life never bleed into each other.
This guide covers individual carrier conversations. Check the number's SMS badge for texts and MMS badge for media. Phound does not support group MMS chats. In-app groups between Phound users and Wave broadcasts are separate features.
See Number Features to review the badges before sending.
If Phound asks you to verify your identity before texting a regular phone number, follow the account restrictions and identity verification guide. That verification restriction no longer applies once your identity is verified.
Sending a New Message
Here is how to compose and send a text message from scratch:
Step 1: Open the Messages Tab
Tap the message bubble icon in the bottom navigation bar of the Phound app. This takes you to your messaging inbox, where you will see all active conversations for the currently selected persona.
Step 2: Select Your Persona
Before composing a message, confirm that you are texting from the correct number. The currently active persona is displayed at the top of the inbox screen. Tap on it to switch to a different persona if needed.
Choosing the right persona before you type is important. Once a message is sent, the recipient sees the phone number associated with that persona. You cannot change the "from" number after sending.
Step 3: Start a New Conversation
Tap the compose button (typically a pencil or "+" icon in the upper corner of the inbox screen). This opens a new message window.
Step 4: Add the Recipient
In the To field, you can:
- Type a phone number directly using the keypad.
- Search your contacts by name. Phound accesses your device's contact list so you can find people quickly.
- Select from recent conversations: Start typing a name or number and Phound will suggest matches from your history.
Choose one recipient for an individual carrier SMS/MMS conversation. Do not add multiple external phone numbers expecting a shared carrier group chat. For the distinction between carrier messages, in-app groups, and Wave broadcasts, see How Messaging Works.
Step 5: Compose Your Message
Tap the text input area at the bottom of the screen and type your message. The message field expands as you type, and you can see a character counter that indicates how your message will be segmented.
Step 6: Send
Tap the Send button (the arrow icon) to deliver your message. You will see the message appear in the conversation thread, and a delivery status indicator will update once the message has been sent and delivered.
Tip: If you are texting a new contact for the first time from a Phound number, consider introducing yourself in the message. The recipient will see an unfamiliar number, and a quick "Hi, this is [your name] from [context]" helps them know who is reaching out.
Reuse a Canned Response
Phound can save common messages as Canned responses on desktop and mobile. On desktop, right-click inside the message field. On mobile, open the actions available from the message field. Select Canned responses, choose a saved label, and review or personalize the draft before selecting Send.
Create and manage the saved text under Preferences > AI Assistants > Canned responses. See Create and Use Canned Responses for the complete workflow.
Replying to a Message
When someone texts your Phound number, their message appears in the inbox for that persona. Replying is simple:
- Open the conversation by tapping on it in the inbox.
- Read the message in the conversation thread.
- Type your reply in the text input area at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Send to deliver your response.
Your reply is automatically sent from the same persona that received the original message. You do not need to select or confirm the persona, Phound keeps the conversation on the correct number.
Quick Replies from Notifications
When you receive a text notification, you can often reply directly from the notification banner without opening the app. On iOS, long-press the notification to reveal a reply field. On Android, tap the reply action on the notification. Quick replies are sent from the persona that received the message automatically.
Tip: Quick replies from notifications are great for short responses when you are busy. For longer conversations or when you need context from earlier in the thread, open the full conversation in the app.
Attaching Photos, Videos, and Media
A number with the MMS capability can send media in an individual carrier conversation. The badge does not enable group MMS chats, and there is no client MMS switch to turn group messaging on.
How to Attach Media
- Open a conversation or start a new message.
- Tap the attachment icon (typically a paperclip or camera icon) next to the text input area.
- Choose your media source:
- Photo Library: Select a photo or video from your device's gallery.
- Camera: Capture a new photo or video directly from the messaging screen.
- Files: Attach a file from your device's file system (supported file types only).
- The attachment will appear as a preview in the compose area.
- Add any text you want to include with the attachment (optional).
- Tap Send.
Supported Media Types
| Media Type | Supported Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photos | JPEG, PNG, GIF | Automatically compressed for MMS delivery |
| Videos | MP4, MOV | Compressed to ~3.5 MB for carrier compatibility |
| Audio | MP3, M4A | Short clips recommended |
| Animated GIFs | GIF | May be resized to fit carrier limits |
Media Size and Quality
MMS has carrier-imposed size limits, so Phound automatically compresses media before sending. Photos are typically resized with minimal visible quality loss. Videos are compressed more aggressively to fit within the approximately 3.5 MB carrier limit.
Warning: High-resolution videos and very large image files will be noticeably compressed for MMS delivery. If maintaining original quality is important, consider sharing via a cloud storage link in your message text instead.
Managing Conversations
As you use Phound for texting, your inbox will grow. Here is how to keep things organized:
Viewing Conversations by Persona
Each persona has its own inbox with separate conversation threads. To view messages for a specific persona, select that persona from the persona switcher at the top of the Messages screen. Only conversations associated with that number will be displayed.
This separation is one of Phound's most useful features, you will never accidentally see a business text mixed in with personal conversations, or vice versa.
Searching Messages
Need to find a specific message? Use the search bar at the top of the inbox to search within the active persona's conversations. You can search by contact name, phone number, or keywords in the message text.
Deleting Messages
To delete a specific message within a conversation:
- Open the conversation.
- Long-press (tap and hold) on the message you want to delete.
- Select Delete from the context menu.
- Confirm the deletion.
To delete an entire conversation thread:
- In the inbox, swipe left on the conversation you want to delete (iOS) or long-press and select Delete (Android).
- Confirm the deletion.
Warning: Deleting a message or conversation removes it from your Phound account permanently. This action cannot be undone. Deleted messages are not recoverable, and the deletion only affects your copy, the recipient still has their copy of the conversation on their device.
Receiving Messages While the App Is Closed
You do not need to keep Phound open to receive text messages. When someone sends a text to your Phound number, a push notification is delivered to your device, even if the app is not actively running.
For notifications to work reliably, make sure notification permissions and background app refresh are both enabled for Phound in your device settings. On Android, check that battery optimization is not aggressively restricting the app, some manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) have aggressive battery management that can delay push notifications.
Tip: If you notice delayed or missing text notifications, check your device settings for Phound and make sure it is set to unrestricted under battery optimization.
Texting Tips and Best Practices
- Introduce yourself when texting new contacts. Your Phound number is unfamiliar to them, and a brief intro prevents confusion.
- Double-check the persona before sending. A quick glance at the persona indicator avoids sending from the wrong number.
- Use the search feature to find conversations quickly by keyword or contact name.
- Keep media file sizes reasonable. Resize large images before attaching, and keep videos short for the best MMS experience.
- Review your notification settings to make sure each persona alerts you the way you prefer.
For more on individual SMS/MMS, number capabilities, group messaging restrictions, and delivery receipts, read How Messaging Works.
Still Need Help?
If you are having trouble sending or receiving texts, here is what to do next:
- Check your data connection: Make sure you have an active internet connection via Wi-Fi or cellular data.
- Verify notification permissions: Go to your device's settings and confirm Phound has permission to send notifications.
- Contact Support: Our support team is available through Settings > Help & Support in the app.
- Search the Knowledge Base: Find specific answers using the search bar at the top of any page.
You are ready to text with confidence using Phound. Pick a persona, compose your message, and send it, your real number stays private every step of the way.