# Text with Groupthink

> Link your phone number and ask about the people in your life by text.

Source: https://groupthink.com/docs/text_with_groupthink/
Last updated: 2026-09-30

Text with Groupthink lets you ask about the people in your life from your phone's own Messages app, with nothing to install. You link your mobile number once, save the Groupthink number to your contacts, and text it a question like "Who haven't I talked to in a while?" or "What did Maya say about the launch?". The answer comes back in the same thread, drawn from what Groupthink knows about your relationships.

## Link your number

1. Go to [User Settings > Notifications](https://app.groupthink.com/settings#notifications) and find the **Text with Groupthink** card at the top.
2. Enter your number in **Mobile number** and click **Text me a code**.
3. A text arrives from Groupthink with a six-digit code. **Reply to that text with the code.** You do not type the code into Groupthink; replying is how Groupthink knows the phone is yours.
4. Groupthink texts back to say you are linked, and the card changes to **Linked**.

While Groupthink waits for your reply, the card reads **Waiting for your reply**. It updates on its own once your reply arrives, so you can leave the page open.

Codes stop working after 15 minutes. If yours expired, enter the number again and click **Text me a new code**. To give up on a code, click **Cancel**.

## Text it

Once you are linked, the card shows the number Groupthink texts you from. Save it to your contacts so you can find the thread again, then text it anything about the people in your life. For example:

- "Who haven't I talked to in a while?"
- "What's going on with Theo?"
- "What did I promise Ines last week?"

Answers are short and in plain text, written for a phone screen. Ask a follow-up in the same thread and Groupthink keeps the context of what you were just talking about.

Groupthink only ever texts you, the account owner. It never texts your contacts, and it does not text you first: apart from the code and the "you're linked" message, it only replies when you text it.

## Pause or stop texting

Reply **STOP** (or **OPT OUT**) to the Groupthink number at any time. Groupthink stops texting that number straight away, and the card in settings reads **Paused**.

To turn texting back on, reply **START**, **UNSTOP**, or **YES** from the same number. Groupthink texts once to confirm, and you are linked again. You can also enter the number in the card again and click **Text me a code**, then reply to the new code, just like the first time.

## Change or remove your number

To remove your number, open the card and click **Unlink this number**. Groupthink stops answering texts from it.

To switch to a different number, unlink the old one first, then link the new one. Each account has one linked number, and each number can be linked to only one Groupthink account.

## What it does not do yet

- **Groupthink does not send you anything on its own.** There is no daily text, reminder, or nudge. It answers when you ask.
- **It answers questions; it does not capture notes.** Texting it a note about someone does not add that note to their record. To add something, use [Capture](/docs/capture_texts) or [Quick Log](/docs/quick_log).
- **Numbers in the US and Canada only.** Numbers from other countries are not accepted yet.

## Messages you might see

| Message                                                                                | What it means                                                                                      |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Enter a mobile number we can text, with its country code if it is outside your region. | The number could not be read as a mobile number. Check it, and include the country code.           |
| Texting is only available for numbers in US, CA right now.                             | The number is outside the US and Canada.                                                           |
| That number is already linked to another Groupthink account.                           | Someone else has linked or is linking that number. Unlink it from the other account first.         |
| We just texted that number. Give it 5 minutes before asking for another code.          | You asked for a code a moment ago. Reply to the one you already have, or wait before asking again. |
| That number asked us to stop texting it. Try again later.                              | The number replied STOP recently and has not been confirmed as yours. Wait and try again.          |
| We couldn't text that number just now. Try again in a few minutes.                     | Groupthink could not send the code. Nothing is wrong with your number; try again shortly.          |
| That code didn't match. Check the text and try again.                                  | The reply did not match the code. Reply again with the six digits from the latest text.            |
| Too many tries. Open Groupthink settings to send a new code.                           | Five replies did not match, so the code no longer works. Ask for a new one in settings.            |

If you get a text from Groupthink with a code you did not ask for, reply **STOP** and Groupthink will not text you again.