How to Send a Text from Email

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: December 23, 2024 Fact Checked

Do you need an alternate way to send someone a text? If you don't have access to a mobile phone, you can try sending a text from an email . This method also works to mask your phone number if you don't want to share it with others, but still want to communicate through their phone. You will need to know your recipient's phone number and carrier to begin. This wikiHow will show you how to send a text message from your email by using a carrier gateway address.

Things You Should Know

You'll need to know the recipient's number, carrier, and carrier gateway address to send texts from email.
Sending texts through emails may accrue fees with your or your recipient's carrier.
Texts sent from email usually take about 30 seconds to receive.

Steps

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1
Get the recipient's carrier. Each carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc) has a specific email gateway that you will have to go through in order to email a text message. If you don't know the person's carrier off the top of your head, you can enter their 10 digit phone number into a carrier lookup system such as CarrierLookup or FoneFinder.
- Some cell phones cannot receive MMSs, even when sent from email. If you are using the correct gateway and still have having trouble getting a message through, it's possible that the phone you're trying to contact does not accept MMS messages.
2
Enter the phone number in the "To" field of your email. Be sure to enter the full 10-digit number, followed by the specific carrier gateway address. Here is a list of some of the most common carrier gateways: ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- AT&T: number@txt.att.net ^{[2]
  X
  Research source} for a normal text message (SMS), or number@mms.att.net for a multimedia message (MMS)
- Verizon: number@vtext.com ^{[3]
  X
  Research source} for both SMS and MMS messages
- Sprint PCS: number@messaging.sprintpcs.com for both SMS and MMS messages
- T-Mobile: number@tmomail.net for both SMS and MMS messages
- Virgin Mobile: number@vmobl.com for both SMS and MMS messages
- These gateways change periodically and are not always published for non-subscribers.
- If you don't know the phone number's carrier, you'll need to ask the recipient or use a carrier look-up service. ^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
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3
Enter your text in the body of the email. Although you can technically include a subject, doing so will take away from the body of your text, as most text messages have a 160-character limit. ^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Texts that exceed the character limit will be broken up into multiple messages. While your emails will be free, the recipient will be charged per message (unless they have unlimited texting).
- Images and videos will automatically be sent as an MMS message.
4
Send your text. Click on the send button as you normally would for sending an email. The recipient should receive the text in about 30 seconds and will see it on their phone as a normal text conversation. ^{[6]
X
Research source} They will be able to respond to you as they would to any other text.
- The recipient will be able to see the email address you used to send the message.
- You can find your text again in your email's Sent folder.
- Depending on your service, Wi-Fi, or carrier, your text may take longer than 30 seconds to send.
5
Open their response. When you receive a reply, it will be sent to the account from which you originally emailed the text. However, unlike a normal text or email message, it will be received as a text file attached to a blank message. ^{[7]
X
Research source} Click to open the attachment, or save it to your desktop and open it with a text reader or word processor.
- If you need to block a sender on email, click their contact information. This will bring up more options. Click Block or Block this caller to block the sender.

Community Q&A

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Question

I don't mind a client have my email address that I give out. However, I don't want them to have my personal cell phone number. Does emailing a text to a client's cell phone accomplish this?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes, your client will not have your personal cell phone number if you use this method. They will see your email address as the sender.

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Question

Can it be done anonymously?

Community Answer

It can only be done anonymously if you don't have the information for your email account. If you make an email with no information about yourself than, that's the best way. However, if you use your standard email that people associate with you, then they'll know who is sending it.

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Question

If someone is texting me via email, do I get charged data on my mobile for receiving and sending text messages back?

Community Answer

It depends upon your plan. If you are normally charged for sending and receiving text on a per-call basis, then yes, there’s a charge. If your plan has a certain text or data allowance, as long as you’re within the maximum limits, there should be no additional charge.

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Tips

SMS is replacing phone calls as a means of quick check-ins and communications. Consider including your SMS address in your email signature and on your business cards to provide another method for people to contact you.

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Warnings

Sending emails via text is generally free, but the recipient will be subject to normal texting charges.

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