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TextSecure users can register their phone numbers with a server running the open-source TextSecure-Server software. By default, TextSecure will send text messages encrypted over the users data connection instead of the usual text message if possible. This means that if the user sends a message to another registered TextSecure user, there is no SMS charge associated with the message. It is merely treated as an additional data transfer.

TextSecure can use SMS to communicate with non-TextSecure users and with TextSecure users in the event that a data connection is unavailable. Green text bubbles indicate SMS-based communication and blue text bubbles indicate communication over a data connection.

All conversations between TextSecure users are encrypted and their integrity can be checked using identity keys. Regardless of whether the messages were sent encrypted or not, TextSecure stores the messages in an encrypted database on the user's device. The keys that are used to encrypt the user's messages are stored on the device alone, and they are protected by an additional layer of encryption if the user has a passphrase enabled.

TextSecure also allows users to set up chats with more than two people - a "group chat". The group chat will be encrypted and held over the user's data connection if all participants are registered TextSecure users. If a single participant is not a TextSecure user, the group chat will be unencrypted and held over MMS.


TextSecure users can register their phone numbers with a server running the open-source TextSecure-Server software.

The application will automatically encrypt all conversations held with other registered TextSecure users. In the user interface, encrypted messages are denoted by a lock icon. Media attachments are encrypted in the same way as other messages.

By default, TextSecure will send the messages over the user's data connection if possible.[7][8] This means that if the user sends a message to another registered TextSecure user, there is no SMS charge associated with the message. It is merely treated as an additional data transfer. If the data connection is unavailable, the application will fall back to using SMS/MMS to transport the message.[7][25]

TextSecure can use SMS to communicate with non-TextSecure users. Messages that have been sent via SMS/MMS and messages that have been sent via the user's data connection can be distinguished by color. Green text bubbles indicate SMS-based communication and blue text bubbles indicate communication over a data connection.

Regardless of whether the messages were sent to another TextSecure user or not, TextSecure stores the messages in an encrypted database on the user's device.[1]

To avoid SMS fees, TextSecure can be configured to only communicate over the data channel. This, however, limits communication to only TextSecure users.[7]

TextSecure also allows users to set up chats with more than two people - a "group chat". The group chat will be encrypted and held over the user's data connection if all participants are registered TextSecure users. If a single participant is not a TextSecure user, the group chat will be unencrypted and held over MMS.[6] The application encrypts the group discussions automatically if all participants are using TextSecure.

Open WhisperSystems does not have access to the contents of any messages sent by TextSecure users. Additionally, the complete source code for the TextSecure clients and the TextSecure server is available on GitHub. This enables interested parties to examine the code and help the developers verify that everything is behaving as expected. It also allows advanced users to compile their own copies of the applications and compare them with the versions that are distributed by Open WhisperSystems.[26]