Learn about AT&T Real-Time Text (RTT)

Have a hearing or speech disability and want another way to communicate besides TTY? Get it with a built-in feature on many of our wireless phones and Apple iPads or our free app for Android Tablets.

DETAILED INFO

About AT&T Real-Time Text

If you have a hearing or speech disability and want an alternative to TTY for communicating using wireless devices, you can use RTT. It uses a mix of text and voice.¹ As a sender types a message on their device, text displays on the receiving device. RTT is great for everyday communication and is compatible with emergency calls just like TTY is today.²

Want to talk with someone with RTT or a TTY device? AT&T Real-Time Text uses our cellular network or Wi-Fi Calling to connect with users on networks that support this type of communication. As more carriers support RTT, you can talk to more people this way.

See which AT&T wireless phones have Real-Time Text at att.com/TTY.
Set up and use RTT on iPad - Apple Support

Android tablet users get the AT&T Real-Time Text app through the Google Play^TM Store for no charge.³

Key benefits of AT&T Real-Time Text

Doesn’t require connection to mobile TTY devices
Works on our cellular network and with Wi-Fi Calling
Offers a more conversational flow compared to TTY and relay services
Supports simultaneous text and speech on RTT-to-RTT calls

Important info about the AT&T Real-Time Text app for Android Tablets

RTT to TTY and TTY to RTT communications may be limited by TTY capabilities. The conversation between RTT and TTY users requires one-way communication until the person finishes talking. Then the other person can respond with text. Text messages can only use characters that work with TTY.
You may have issues when receiving calls on your RTT device if other softphone applications (for example, FaceTime^® and Skype^®) are running at the same time.
The app performs best on 4G and 5G-enabled tablets. 3G network functionality is limited.
Using the RTT service on a device that's not AT&T-certified, or on a network other than ours (for example, on Wi-Fi^®), may affect the quality of your service.
Devices that are on suspended accounts operate in the same way as deactivated devices. Those devices can only make voice 911 calls and won’t be able to make RTT calls until the account is reactivated.
Our new 2-step sign-in process helps keep your info safe. Find out how to set it up

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Last updated: June 28, 2021