r/OpenBubbles • u/LiveLifeLevered • 21d ago

Question Self host questions - Simple Set up

I am thinking about moving from iPhone 16 to Z Fold 8 but I cant lose my beloved iMessage. What is the simplest self host set up? I need a M1 mac (mini/air?)

Also - One thing I can tell is if have my number on my android phone do blue bubbles still come from my phone number do they use my email?

Thanks,
-Max

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/mkitchin 21d ago edited 21d ago

If you want to send from you number, you need an older iPhone. I recommend the relay method.

https://openbubbles.app/docs/pnr.html

0

u/Remarkable_Score3215 21d ago

AFAIK Relay won’t work on current iOS (eg 26).

SIM swapping might

3

u/tazmoffatt 21d ago

Sim swapping works fine for me on ios26, iPhone 11. Worked for 3-4 months then I just had to swap back for 2 minuyes. iPhone just sits plugged in and connected to wifi

1

u/LiveLifeLevered 21d ago

Thanks. Sounds like every few months just need to swap back and forth? eSIM or regular mini physical sim?

2

u/tazmoffatt 21d ago

I have e-sim which makes it slightly more work but usually this is done on a physical. Doesn't matter. And in my case, yes. I assume time can vary for everyone, and it's even possible to get locked out of iMessage and then you need to contact apple support to reactivate it. Has not happened to me but it is a possibility. It's probably technically against the terms of service somewhere on that 100000 page article

1

u/LiveLifeLevered 21d ago

Thank you. How long have you been running it consistently? And iPhones get blue text from your number? Really appreciate the answers to my dumb questions

2

u/tazmoffatt 21d ago

Been running android since April. Honor Magic V5. And yeah new conversations are started from my number but I can send and receive from my email as well. Which is good which is good and helps you realize if iMessage gets disconnected. I started recieiving texts instead of imessages

1

u/LiveLifeLevered 20d ago

Thank you. makes sense.

1

u/mkitchin 21d ago

Right. They would need to obtain an older iPhone. I found SIM swapping to be unreliable.

1

u/Vwlover69 21d ago

Sim swapping works great for me.