# Is there a way to auto respond to texts when I'm out of the country?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-respond-to-texts-when-im-out-of-the-country/977990>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 10, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-respond-to-texts-when-im-out-of-the-country/977990 "2023-01-10T19:56:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-respond-to-texts-when-im-out-of-the-country/977990/1 "2023-01-10T19:56:48Z")

</div>

I’ll be doing a couple of international trips this year, some for over a week. The last time I went away I know I missed some text messages while I was away and would like a way to say, I’m not here right now, please get back to me on this date.

My phone plan does not allow me to receive texts while I’m out of the country, and I also tend to use my phone with a local sim card. I’ve seen there are apps that will send an automatic reply, but those all seem to be for when you can receive texts already and not when the texts don’t come through.

I suspect the answer is no but I thought I’d see if there is a way.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-respond-to-texts-when-im-out-of-the-country/977990/2 "2023-01-10T21:17:34Z")

</div>

Edit: never mind, read more carefully.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-respond-to-texts-when-im-out-of-the-country/977990/3 "2023-01-10T21:40:40Z")

</div>

I don’t see it.

With your phone being off your normal provider’s network, there is literally nothing you own or control which can react to a text message. The only entity in this entire situation which is in a position to fulfill this requirement is your provider, so you might want to check with them.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-respond-to-texts-when-im-out-of-the-country/977990/4 "2023-01-10T21:46:15Z")

</div>

I don’t know of any method, but just an aside - if this is a personal phone, consider what you are doing quite carefully. I never put any kind of autoreply on my personal voicemail or email when I’m “off the grid” for an extended period backpacking, because you are announcing to _anyone_ who tries to contact you that you are not home for an extended period.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-respond-to-texts-when-im-out-of-the-country/977990/5 "2023-01-10T23:10:38Z")

</div>

My provider offered this years ago, then removed it under the guise of “improving customer service”. I suspect they upgraded their back end and the new software didn’t support it.