How to use text, picture and data-free messaging

50p each, everywhere in the world. But if your mobile settings aren’t right and you’re out of mobile data allowance, you could be charged £3 for 1GB a day to send a picture message in the UK and EU, more if you’re roaming elsewhere (see: pay monthly tariffs.

Rather than using our mobile network to send your photos, videos and sound clips, you could use:

• Email or Bluetooth.
• Facebook Messenger, Twitter or WhatsApp (see below: How to get data free messaging).
• Or choose another mobile messaging app and use your mobile data or WiFi connection to send picture messages.

For how to switch off picture MMS messaging in Settings, follow your device guide on Virgin Mobile phone support.

Or change your picture message to a standard SMS text message, included in your allowance for no extra cost, such as by:

• Removing smiley faces or :) emoticons, emojis and attachments from your messages (pictures, sound clips GIFs).
• Sending individual messages not group texts.
• Checking your mobile has the newest software update installed. See our mobile device guide for more information.

Standard text messages that are 3 times too big or 480+ characters are usually converted to picture messages, so they’re easier to send. Your mobile’s specific limit may vary.

Before tapping Send, check character counter most phones have above the button. Or go to Settings > Message preferences, than switch off automatic conversion to stop this happening and send long texts as several SMS messages.

Switch off Group Messaging in your mobile’s Settings so group texts aren’t send as photo messages.

Installing your mobile’s newest software should update your keyboard and send emojis as part of a standard text message. Third-party emoji apps and keyboards may always send emojis as photo messages – check the terms and conditions of any you’ve downloaded.

Are you creating faces from brackets, dashes and colons in your text message? Changing your phone settings should stop your phone sending these emoticons as images. On an older Samsung, for example, you’d open Messaging > Settings > Text > Input Mode, then switch from Automatic to Unicode.

Check your Contacts. Some mobile’s change texts to photo messages if a phone contact’s just an email address, no phone number.

Only what you agree to share with WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook Messenger. They’ll need your consent to know your location and collect information about you (your search history, contacts, purchases) and your device (the browser and operating system you’re using, for example).

Sure thing – for messaging, not calls. Automatic app updates use background data, mind you – switch these off in your phone’s settings so you aren’t charged for going over your allowance to the tune of £3 a day for 1GB.

Some foreign mobile networks block these apps but, while you’re exploring the EU, nothing changes – messaging won’t use your data allowance (see: fair use limits. International data roaming costs are charged in the rest of the world, for messages on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Twitter. But remember, you could connect to WiFi and avoid these.

WhatsApp’s a free app for sharing encrypted messages and calls with a friend or your group. Only the people you’re chatting with know what you’re sending. But you won’t be signing in and out with a password. Just register your mobile number once and sync your phone contacts, you can share messages, sound clips (voice notes) and photos without using your Virgin Mobile data. If you aren’t connected to WiFi, use your data allowance to have video calls or share a 24 hour Status update on WhatsApp.

Available from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Messenger’s a free app for hanging out, one on one or in groups, with contacts in your phone book – plus, your friends on Instagram and Facebook, if you’ve an account. Just search their names or usernames to message without using your Virgin Mobile data – you can add sound clips, stickers and more. Set messages to disappear when read.

Or call your mates, watch videos together, have group video chats and gaming sessions, when you’re connected to WiFi or using your data allowance. Available from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Twitter’s a free social media network for sending private messages with friends and sharing 280 character messages (tweets) that the whole world can read and reply to. You can see top trending topics, breaking news headlines, and everyone’s reaction in real-time. You can follow sports teams, celebrities, presidents, family, businesses, charities – all the Twitter accounts you’re interested in. And people interested in you, will follow yours to hear what you have to say.

Available from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Your mobile account has limits capping your spending. You can text short code numbers and Payforit services, charging less than £40 a message, until you’ve spent £240 a month – and no more, until your next Pay Monthly mobile bill.

Texting STOP or STOP ALL to the short code may unsubscribe you from messages or you could contact the company’s helpline. If you were charged for messages after you ended the service, it’s them you’ll need to ask for a refund. Messages may have been queued up, ready for you, before you cancelled.

To block texts from all short code numbers, call 789 on your Virgin Mobile phone (or 0345 6000 789* on any phone). Texts from unknown senders and more spam, you can forward to 7726 free. You’ll get an automated reply, thanking you for your report, and more instructions if needed.

*Call cost may vary