There’s no guaranteed way to know if someone is using a secret messaging app, but there are a few common signs that may suggest it.

Some people use messaging apps that look like calculators or vaults, require passcodes, or hide notifications. Others use apps that don’t appear on the home screen or have names you don’t recognize. Frequently switching between apps, clearing message history, or turning off notifications can also be indicators.

That said, many people use alternative messaging apps for completely normal reasons, like privacy, organization, or keeping different conversations separate. For example, Flext allows users to text from a different phone number while keeping messages organized and accessible from their phone or computer. Flext is designed for transparency and convenience, not secrecy, and it doesn’t hide messages or disguise itself as another app.

It’s important to remember that using a second number or messaging app doesn’t automatically mean someone is hiding something. The best way to understand how and why someone communicates is through open and honest conversation, rather than assumptions based on app usage alone.