What to Say When He Texts 'Sorry I'm Bad at Texting'
He's admitting he doesn't message much. Learn how to reply in a way that accepts this, sets expectations, and keeps momentum going.
When a guy says he's bad at texting, he's usually being honest. He might be slow to respond, prefer phone calls, or just have a low tolerance for messages. But he's also signaling something: he doesn't want you to expect constant back-and-forth, and he's flagging it early so you don't feel ignored.
The trap is treating this like a complaint you need to fix or a personality flaw to work around. The better move is to accept it as information about how he operates, then show you're unbothered by it. A good reply does two things at once. It acknowledges what he said without making it weird. It shifts the energy so the conversation keeps moving.
This matters because how you respond here sets the tone for how you'll actually text with him going forward. A desperate reply ('no worries I'm patient!!!') or a sarcastic one ('lol sure') both land badly. You want something that feels grounded and natural, like you heard him and you're fine with it.
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He's giving you a heads up, not asking for patience
This isn't him apologizing for a pattern you've already noticed. He's pre-empting a potential problem before you form an expectation. He's already thinking about how his texting style might land with you, which is actually thoughtful.
What he's not doing is asking you to wait around or prove your commitment. Don't read this as an invitation to show loyalty by being patient. He's managing expectations so you both can be realistic. Take him at face value. He texts slowly. That's his normal. He doesn't want you confused about why.
Acknowledge it and move on in one move
A good reply says 'I heard you and it's not a problem' without dwelling on it. You're not forgiving him, not bragging about your own texting habits, not asking questions about it. The goal is to show you process what he said and then immediately return to whatever you were actually talking about.
This does two jobs. It makes clear you're not the type to get upset about response time. It demonstrates that you can have light, unstressed communication with him. It also keeps the conversation momentum going instead of letting his statement become this heavy thing you both have to address.
Send it when you naturally see his message
Don't wait hours to prove you're chill about it. Don't respond instantly to show eagerness. Just reply when you see it, like you would to any other text. Waiting feels calculated. Responding too fast looks like you were staring at your phone.
If he goes quiet for a few days after this, that's consistent with what he told you. Don't panic and send a follow-up. Let him come back to the conversation on his own timeline. If he doesn't text again for a week, that's data about his texting style being real. At that point you can decide if that works for you. But don't punish him for being honest.
Why these replies fail
“haha no worries at all!! i'm super patient, take your time whenever”
Over-promising patience makes you sound like you're prepared to be ignored, and it turns his comment into something you need to manage.
“lol ok so i guess i won't expect much then”
It sounds like sarcasm or hurt, even if you meant it light, and it puts him on the defensive.
“why do you think that? are you just busy or is it more of a preference thing?”
Turning it into a question makes him feel analyzed, and it extends a throwaway comment into a whole conversation.
Common mistakes
- Over-reassuring him that it's fine, which makes it a bigger deal than it is
- Making a joke about it in a way that sounds like you're hurt or keeping score
- Asking him why he's bad at it, turning his statement into a therapy session
- Texting him a long response immediately after, contradicting what he just said
- Saying 'me too' or 'same' when you're actually not, just to make him comfortable
Questions people ask
- Does 'bad at texting' mean he's not interested in me?
- Not necessarily. Some people text slowly, prefer calls, or don't enjoy the back-and-forth. Someone interested will still make contact though. Watch whether he initiates at all over the next week or two. If he reaches out, even infrequently, he's interested. If you're always the one starting conversations, that's different data.
- Should I text him first next time to show I like him?
- No. You already know he's slow to text. Texting him first won't change that or make him like you more. You can initiate sometimes, but don't use it to compensate for his slower pace. Let the conversation be what it is.
- How long should I wait before assuming he's lost interest?
- If he said he's bad at texting, three or four days isn't unusual. A week of complete silence while you're the only one reaching out is different. Pay attention to whether he ever initiates, not just how fast he responds. Initiation matters more than speed.
- Is it okay to ask him to call instead of text?
- Only if that's something you actually want. Don't suggest it as a workaround to his texting style. If you prefer calls, mention it naturally. But don't position it as a solution to his bad texting. That puts pressure on him to change his communication style for you.
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