> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.foundable.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Text Ted from your phone
> Link your phone once, then text Ted from Messages: ask for work, get answers by text, and pause or disconnect anytime.
You can text Ted from your phone, the way you’d text someone who works for you. Link your phone once, then text him from Messages wherever you are, and he texts you back.
Text Ted works by SMS or iMessage, on every plan, Free included. Your texts and his replies are also saved as a chat in Foundable.
## Link your phone
Press **Text Ted** at the top of the chat, or choose **Text Ted** in your [account menu](/get-started/find-your-way-around).
The dialog says “Scan with your phone’s camera.” Point your phone’s camera at the QR code. It opens Messages on your phone, ready to text Ted.
Send it. Ted texts back that you’re linked: “Linked! I’m your Ted for”, then your [foundable](/help/glossary#foundable)’s name.
If you can’t scan the code, press **Can’t scan?** to see “Ted’s number” and “Your code”, each with a copy button. Text your code to Ted’s number from your phone.
Tap **More** at the bottom, then **Text Ted**. You can also tap **Text Ted** at the top of the chat.
The sheet says “Send one text to connect.” Tap **Open Messages** and send the text to Ted.
Ted texts back that you’re linked: “Linked! I’m your Ted for”, then your foundable’s name.
To text by hand instead, tap **Text manually**. It shows “Ted’s number” and “Your code”. Text your code to that number.
Once your phone is linked, Text Ted in Foundable says “Connected · phone ending in” and the last digits of your number. Each code links once. To link again later, open Text Ted for a new one.
## Text Ted
Write to Ted the way you would in the chat. For example:
```text wrap theme={null}
Did anyone sign up on the website today?
```
```text wrap theme={null}
Draft an email to Jamie saying the order ships Friday.
```
Here’s how texting works:
* **Plain, short answers.** Ted keeps his texts short. A long answer ends with “The rest is in Foundable:” and a link.
* **Choices come numbered.** When Ted offers you options, reply with the number alone.
* **Decisions open in Foundable.** Anything you need to decide, like a draft to approve, comes as a link: “Open it in Foundable:”. A “yes” by text doesn’t approve it, so open the link and decide there. See [Approve Ted’s work](/ted/approvals).
* **Words only.** Ted doesn’t read photos you text. He replies: “Text Ted reads text only here; describe it in a message.”
* **Credits, as in the chat.** Ted’s replies by text use [credits](/help/glossary#credit), the same as in the chat.
* **A chat of its own.** Your texts land in one chat in Foundable, marked “Text” in **Chat history**. See [Chat with Ted](/ted/chat#your-chats).
## Text commands
Send one of these as a text of its own:
| Text | What happens |
| - | - |
| `STOP` | Pauses Text Ted: “Text Ted is paused. Reply START to resume.” |
| `START` | Turns it back on: “Text Ted is back. Send a message whenever you like.” |
| `HELP` | Ted texts the list of commands. |
| `/foundables` | Lists the foundables your phone is linked to, and which one answers. |
| `/switch` and a foundable’s name | Makes that foundable answer your texts: “Switched Text Ted to”, then its name. |
| `/unlink` | Disconnects your phone: “Unlinked. Open Text Ted in Foundable for a new code whenever you want to reconnect.” |
A text that’s only “stop”, “cancel”, “quit” or “unsubscribe” pauses Text Ted too. Reply START to turn it back on.
## Pause or disconnect your phone
* **Pause.** Text `STOP`. Text Ted in Foundable then says “Paused”, with “Text START to resume.”
* **Disconnect.** Open Text Ted in Foundable and press **Disconnect phone**. It asks “Disconnect your phone?”: press **Disconnect**. Or text `/unlink`.
If you delete the chat your texts go to, your next text to Ted starts a new chat.
## Who can text Ted
Everyone on your team who can work with Ted can link their own phone and text him, each in their own chat. View-only teammates can’t use Text Ted.
A phone texts one foundable at a time. If your phone is linked to more than one, text `/foundables` to see them and `/switch` to change which one answers. See [Your foundables](/account/foundables).
## What you’ll see
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
| - | - | - |
| “This phone is already linked to”, then a foundable’s name | This phone was already linked. | Nothing. Text Ted as usual. |
| “Text Ted is paused. Reply START to resume.” | Your phone paused Text Ted. | Reply START. |
| “Please send up to 20,000 characters in one message.” | Your text was too long. | Send a shorter text, or use the chat. |
| “You’re out of credits. See your plan in Foundable, then text again.” | Your credits ran out. | Get more credits, then text again. See [Plans and credits](/account/plans-and-credits). |
| “Ted could not answer that; try again in Foundable.” | Ted couldn’t answer this text. | Ask again in the chat in Foundable. |
| “Couldn’t load.” in the Text Ted dialog | The dialog couldn’t load. | Press **Try again**. |
## FAQ
No. Text Ted is on every plan, Free included. Ted’s replies use credits, the same as in the chat.
Not by replying “yes”. Ted texts you a link instead. Open it, and approve or decline in Foundable.
Not by text. Ted reads text only there. To show him a photo, add it in the chat in Foundable with **+**, then **Add photos & files**.
In **Chat history**: your texts and Ted’s replies are in the chat marked “Text”.
Text `STOP` to pause him, or `/unlink` to disconnect your phone. You can also press **Disconnect phone** in Text Ted in Foundable.
## Related
The full chat, with files, history and cards.
Decide on what Ted texts you a link to.
What Ted can do for your business.
Give teammates a role that can work with Ted.
This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.