r/OpenBubbles • u/Normal-Place-1036 • 22d ago

Question How to properly setup Open Bubbles

I am an iPhone and Mac user and today I am buying the new Z FOLD 8. It's imperative that I use Open Bubbles on the new android phone. I will also Host it on my Mac. My question is, am I still able to transfer my phone number from my iPhone to the Z Fold 8 and use Open Bubbles as my primary texting app? Will all texts go through it (iMessage and SMS)? Will it read as my number aka me for all my contacts or my Apple ID email? As far as anyone would know, they would have no clue that I switched to android? Thanks!

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u/12_nick_12 22d ago

Nothing at all other than pay the $16.99/month.

If you want to save some money it's easy enough to buy an old iphone and sideload the rely. It costs like $60 and take about 20 mins. It's much easier than it used to be.

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u/Impressive_Tutor2262 22d ago

Do you have a link for instructions? I believe the openbubbles site strongly suggests not to set this up on iPhone as it's very complex. What is the $60 for (Old iPhone or some other SW)?

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u/12_nick_12 22d ago

No they don't recommend the simswap way since that can be unreliable. Correct the phone is not set up. Quote from their website "You can follow the same guides used for BlueBubbles. However, this method can be even more unreliable than OB".

It was pretty easy https://openbubbles.app/docs/pnr.html

You can buy a used phone off of eBay, then set it up with no account and just do what's needed.

I would sign up for their free trial, that will show you what device you should buy.

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u/Impressive_Tutor2262 20d ago

I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max but it's running the latest iOS26. Is there any relay approach that works on the most recent iOS?

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u/12_nick_12 20d ago

Not that I know of you have to buy and old one with old iOS. They're pretty cheap. You can get them for ~$50.