Using Twitter with your phone

Its inevitable that you will need to Use Twitter with your phone. See the Twitter Phone FAQ

Using Twitter with your phone

Twitter is a new kind of technology that uses multiple methods of communication to help keep you in touch with people you care about.  Using Twitter with your phone will change the feel of Twitter for you.  Not only can you receive text messages when people you've specified update, you can also send updates to Twitter while you're on the go, even if you don't receive messages from others.  These are some of the most frequently asked questions about using Twitter with your mobile phone.

Do I have to use my phone to use Twitter?

Nope.  You can send twitter updates from the Twitter website or from our mobile website, m.twitter.com. You can also check out the apps page to see other popular ways people use Twitter.

Text Messages?  Sounds expensive.  How much will Twitter cost me?

Twitter charges you nothing, but how much it costs to use Twitter with text messaging depends on your text messaging plan.  Standard text messaging rates (such as international text messaging fees) do apply.  Consult your service provider to ensure that your text plan covers your Twitter usage. If you're using our international number, give your provider the Twitter phone number you'll be using to see if you'll incur extra charges.  If you're using Twitter from outside of the US, please consult your carrier, as every provider has a different policy.

When I give you my number, you wont charge my phone bill?

No.  Twitter doesn't charge your phone bill.  Sending and receiving messages to Twitter is like sending to a regular number.  Usage charges for text messaging are applied by your carrier and depend on your SMS plan. Some people pay a per-message charge of ten cents or more.  Some people have an allotted number of text messages monthly.  Some (lucky!) people have unlimited text plans. We must caution: Twitter can become highly addictive, so make sure that your texting habits and your text plan are compatible.

How does Twitter use my phone number?

Think of Twitter as a single contact who sends all of the messages from your friends.  Twitter uses your number to send web updates to your phone in text message format.  Your number is private; Twitter never reveals phone number information.

What are the Twitter phone numbers?

We currently have two short codes and three long codes for those who twitter internationally.

• In the US, use 40404.
• In Canada, use 21212.
• In Sweden, use: +46 737 494222
• In Germany, use +49 17 6888 50505
• Anywhere else, use +44 7624 801423

For all people using international numbers: once your phone is verified, you'll be able to send your updates to Twitter, but you will not be able to receive text updates from Twitter.  Find out more on the Twitter Blog.

What is a short code?

Short codes are numbers made specifically for SMS (text) messages. Twitter uses various short codes to send and receive your updates.  Sending a text message to a short code is just like sending a text message to a phone number. Short codes are made specifically for text messaging, so you can't send an email to a short code, or call a short code.  Charges for using our short codes are the same as standard text messaging rates to full-length phone numbers.  Long codes are also text only, but they're the length of a standard phone number instead of being shortened.

What is Twitter's international number?

If you're not in the US, Canada, Germany, or Sweden use the international long code instead: +44 7624 801423.  If you're using this number you will be able to send messages to Twitter, but you will not be able to receive them.

A word of caution for those using the international number: some carriers don't charge an international fee to use the Twitter international number.  Others consider it an international number and charge from .15 to .25 per message, even within the UK.  Remember to check your phone plan for international rates; be aware that even in the UK, standard messaging rates vary by carrier, and do apply.

How do I add my phone to Twitter?

Add your phone to your account in your Twitter settings.  Once you've added your phone to Twitter, just send the verification code in a text message to the Twitter phone number assigned to you in your settings page.  Once your phone is verified, send Twitter a text message and we'll post it to your profile page and send it to your followers. (Find out more cool things you can do with your phone here!)

How do I add my international number?

Twitter accesses international numbers from the US.  This means that it's important to include '+' and your country code with your complete number in order for us to recognize it properly.  Our international number is a good example; it's formatted like this: +44 7624 801423.  Note: when adding a country code to your number in some countries, you must drop the leading zero.

Can I use the same phone number on multiple accounts?

No.  You can only use one phone number for one account.

If I change my phone number, can I change it on Twitter?

Yes.  To add a new number, just delete your current number from the settings page, and add your new number.  (You'll need to verify your new phone number before using it.)

How long can my updates be?

We have a 140 character limit on Twitter updates.  If your update is longer than that, the full update will post to the web where it can be viewed in its entirety.  We'll still send the truncated version: only the first 140 characters will go to phones.

How do I send direct messages from my phone?

Send a direct message to anyone on Twitter using the direct message comman, d + username, like this: d krissymessage goes here

Make sure to use the user name (found in the profile URL) and not the real name, or it will post to the public timeline, or go to someone else!

Can I update Twitter from my phone but not receive other people's updates?

Yes.  As long as you've verified your phone, you can send updates to Twitter even if all notifications are off.  Make sure to set your updates to OFF on the web, or send OFF from your phone.  People using +44 7624 801423 will always be able to send messages, but will not be able to receive them.

Can I turn updates on for some people and off for others?

Yes. Set up text preferences for people you follow from the drop down 'following' box on the profile page. 

How do I turn a specific person's updates on or off from my phone?

To get a person's updates on your phone, use the commands FOLLOW or ON + username, like this: follow caroline, on caroline

To turn updates off again, send LEAVE or OFF + username, like this. leave crystal, off crystal 

You can change notification preferences from the profile pages of everyone you follow.

How do I know if my friends are getting my updates on their phones?

You don't.  But, if they are on your followers list, they will always receive your updates on the web.

How do I turn ALL twitter messages off or on from my phone?

To stop getting Twitter updates, send OFF, STOP, or QUIT from your phone at anytime.  We will send you a final message confirming that your phone notifications are off.  Sending ON will turn them back on.

Is there a setting for receiving only @replies on my phone?

Nope.  But if we get enough feature requests, we may just add it for you.  Send us one!

Is there a setting for receiving only direct messages on my phone?

Yep! You can set this up in your device settings page.  When you send OFF once, Twitter messages will turn off but direct messages will be on.  When you send OFF twice, everything will be off.  You can also set up email preferences for direct message notifications.

If I turn Twitter off, will I still get Direct Messages?

Yes. You will receive direct messages if you send OFF only once; to disable direct messages, send OFF twice or change the settings in the device settings page.  You will always receive a copy of your message on your web archive, and in your email if you set it up in your preferences.

What's a Nudge?

A nudge is a friendly reminder to update Twitter.  Friends can nudge you (and you them) by sending nudge + username to Twitter, like this: nudge mhegge

Can I favorite updates from my phone?

Yes. if you receive an update that you'd like to mark as favorite, reply to the update with FAV + username, like this:fav delbius

I'm getting a lot of updates.  How can I get fewer?

Stop getting updates from some friends without stopping all updates from all friends.  The easiest way to do this is to change text preferences on the web from the person's profile page.  You can also use the leave or OFF command.  Text OFF + username or LEAVE + username to stop getting messages from a specific person, like this:leave bs

Make sure you're using the username, and not just the screen name.  (Find the user name by going to the person's profile and looking in the URL at top.)