T-Mobile has closed a loophole that allowed employees to use legacy systems instead of the T-Life app to process transactions. This move comes nearly three weeks after a post advising customers to switch to cash payments to bypass T-Life blew up online.
T-Life is the way to go
A leaked chart showing T-Mobile's T-Life plans. | Image Credit - Reddit user Pitiful-Assist-463
T-Mobile has added the option of cash transactions directly to T-Life, according to a post on Reddit and an employee who reached out to us.
Previously, only transactions done using digital payments were routed through T-Life. Some T-Mobile store employees were sharing this hack with customers who did not want to use T-Life.
With the cash payment option added to T-Life, employees and customers have no option other than to use T-Life.
T-Mobile really wants you to use T-Life
Except for a few activities such as special service features, T-Mobile requires customers to use T-Life. T-Mobile employees are still there to guide customers through the process, and there's also the option of sharing the screen, but the bottom line is that the carrier is mandating the app for all core transactions.
T-Life was one of the most popular iPhone apps of 2025, in part because it's a mandatory download. The app has been installed over 90 million times.
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Support for cash payments is another sign that T-Mobile wants nothing to stand in the way of its digital transformation plans.
Have you gotten used to T-Life?
Yes.
100%
No.
0%
What other options do I have?
0%
I was using cash to avoid it.
0%
Resistance to change
T-Life has faced criticism for diminishing the customer experience and endangering jobs. However, if you look past the occasional glitches, T-Life is intended to simplify transactions. By giving customers the power to add lines, upgrade devices, and create accounts on their own, T-Mobile is cutting down the number of steps it previously required to complete simple tasks.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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