FAQs

What is dumbsms?

dumbsms lets you send and receive texts from your computer through a connected flip phone. The phone keeps the SIM and cell signal; your Mac becomes the keyboard. No cloud, no account — everything stays on your machine and your phone.

Which phones work?

Tested on the TCL Flip Go (4058W) and Sonim XP3plus (XP3900) — both are 4G LTE Android flips, not KaiOS. The Sonim is much faster (~10×) for sync and photo downloads. Eyeing a different model? See phone compatibility.

Is it free?

Yes. dumbsms is free software under the GNU GPL v3.0 or later. Download from the download page — no signup, no subscription.

Which desktop platforms work?

macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later is the best-tested path (desktop app + dumbsms-cli). Windows ships the same pair. Linux currently ships the CLI only. Builds are on the download page; USB and Bluetooth validation on real Windows/Linux hardware is still in progress. If you try one, we'd love to hear how it goes.

What is the companion app, and do I need it?

The companion is a small helper that runs on the phone. You need it for pictures and group threads (MMS). Plain SMS works without it on the Sonim; the TCL Flip Go requires it for almost everything useful. Setup is covered in the companion app guide — part of the normal setup flow after you connect over USB.

USB or Bluetooth?

Both work. USB is faster and more reliable — use it for the first big sync and companion install. Bluetooth (BLE) is fine for day-to-day texting once things are set up. On the TCL, either link is slow compared to the Sonim; that's a hardware limitation, not a bug.

Does dumbsms read my messages in the cloud?

No. Messages live on the phone and in a local cache on your computer. dumbsms talks to the phone directly over USB or BLE. There is no backend, no telemetry, and no account. See the privacy page for details.

Will KaiOS or iPhone flips work?

No. dumbsms needs a real Android phone with USB debugging — the same developer-mode path you'd use for sideloading. KaiOS, locked firmware, and non-Android flips won't work.

Something broke — where do I start?

Most issues are connection, permissions, or the companion app not being installed. Work through the troubleshooting guide first. Still stuck? Contact the author with your phone model and any error text from Settings or the compose screen.

Where is the full setup walkthrough?

Start at the get started overview. It walks you through download → developer mode → USB connection → companion app → daily use, with links to each detailed guide along the way.

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