T-Mobile customers are only now finding that T-Life records their screen
If you are a T-Mobile user, it's pretty much mandatory to use T-Life. The app is required even for in-store transactions and you might be turned away from stores if you don't have the app on your phone. Some users also complain that the app is buggy and not easy to use. Another thing that annoys many customers is that the app displays ads. And now, customers have come across another red flag. The T-Life app features a screen recording tool that's toggled on by default. As the name implies, the tool records your screen while you are using the app. T-Mobile says it uses the recordings to analyze your information and improve how you use the app.
T-Life's screen recording tool records your screen. | Image Credit - Reddit user Remarkable-Cancel862
It's not clear whether the toggle has always existed, but, in any case, it's only now that most people have become aware of it and as expected, there's a bit of a blowback.
—Ok_Theory5606, Reddit user, May 2025 While T-Mobile does let you opt out of the setting, perhaps it might have been a better idea if it was the other way around.
Since the feature doesn't record your activity outside of the app, some people may not mind it. Also, considering T-Mobile now wants customers to do everything on their own using the app, the tool makes sense, considering it will allow customer service representatives to help those who are struggling. The feature will let them see how you are using the app and assist you if you get stuck. Apparently, the feature will mostly only be used by store representatives to help you with the upgrade process.
Some users also claim that the feature kicks in when you shake your phone while using the app when you encounter an error. Doing this sends a screenshot to T-Mobile so that it can fix the issue.
—Comprehensive_Bat973, Reddit user, May 2025
The bottom line is that there isn't necessarily anything inherently wrong about the feature. T-Mobile seems to have deployed it to improve the app. However, it might have been a better idea to notify customers about the feature first and make it opt-in.
We have contacted T-Mobile for clarification and will update the story when we have a response.
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