100 Creative Ideas on What to Text an Old Friend

Reconnecting with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while can feel a bit daunting. Maybe you’ve drifted apart, or life just got in the way. Whatever the reason, figuring out what to text an old friend can be a little tricky.

But it doesn’t have to be. Whether you want to rekindle an old bond or simply check in, sending that first message can be a simple, heartfelt way to reach out and reconnect, reminding both of you of the good times you shared.

Examples of Texts to Send

Below are five categories of text examples, each tailored to different situations and approaches when reconnecting with an old friend.

Simple Greetings

Starting with a simple greeting is a straightforward and non-intrusive way to reconnect. These texts are great for reaching out without any pressure, allowing you to gauge your friend’s response before diving into a deeper conversation. They’re perfect if you’re unsure how your friend might react or if it’s been a very long time since you last spoke.

1. “Hey [Name], it’s been a while! How’s life treating you?”
2. “Hi [Name], long time no talk! What’s new with you?”
3. “Hey, just wanted to say hi and see how you’ve been!”
4. “It’s been too long, [Name]! How have you been?”
5. “Hi [Name], I was thinking about you today. How’s everything going?”
6. “Hey [Name], how’s it going? Feels like ages since we last caught up!”
7. “Hi [Name], hope you’re doing well! Missed our chats.”
8. “Hey, just thought I’d drop you a message to see how you’re doing.”
9. “Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing great! It’s been too long.”
10. “Hey, [Name]! How are things on your end?”
11. “Hi [Name], just checking in. How’s everything?”
12. “Hey [Name], I was just thinking about you. How’s life?”
13. “Hi [Name], hope all is well with you! Missed catching up.”
14. “Hey, just wanted to reach out and say hi. How have you been?”
15. “Hi [Name], it’s been forever! What’s new?”
16. “Hey [Name], how’s everything? Feels like ages since we last talked.”
17. “Hi [Name], just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.”
18. “Hey [Name], how have you been? It’s been too long!”
19. “Hi [Name], just thinking of you and wanted to say hello.”
20. “Hey [Name], how’s everything going? Missed our talks.”

Referencing Shared Memories

Bringing up a shared memory is a powerful way to rekindle an old friendship. It reminds both of you of the good times you had together, creating an instant connection. These texts work well if you’re looking to create a sense of nostalgia or want to start the conversation on a positive, familiar note.

1. “Remember that time we got lost in [place]? I was just thinking about it!”
2. “I saw [something related to a memory], and it made me think of you!”
3. “Do you remember that crazy party we went to? Good times!”
4. “I was just laughing about that road trip we took to [destination]. Such a blast!”
5. “Remember when we used to hang out at [place]? Miss those days!”
6. “I came across a photo from our [event]—brings back so many memories!”
7. “Do you remember our old hangout spot? I drove by it the other day.”
8. “I was just telling someone about that wild night we had in [city]!”
9. “Remember our [school/college] days? Those were some good times.”
10. “I saw [a mutual friend], and it reminded me of our old adventures.”
11. “Remember that hilarious inside joke we had? Still cracks me up!”
12. “I was just thinking about that time we [shared activity]—so much fun!”
13. “Do you remember our epic [vacation/trip]? I still smile thinking about it.”
14. “I found an old playlist from our [event]—total nostalgia!”
15. “Remember when we [shared hobby or activity]? Miss those times!”
16. “I just heard our old favorite song on the radio—it took me right back!”
17. “Do you remember that time we stayed up all night talking? Good times.”
18. “I was just reminiscing about that crazy [activity] we did together.”
19. “Remember that spontaneous trip we took to [place]? So much fun!”
20. “I found that old movie we used to watch all the time—made me think of you!”

Checking In on Their Life

These texts show that you care about what’s going on in your friend’s life. They’re perfect for when you want to reestablish a connection by expressing genuine interest in their current situation. These messages help you catch up on what’s been happening and can lead to deeper conversations.

1. “Hey [Name], how have you been? What’s been keeping you busy lately?”
2. “Hi [Name], how’s work/life treating you these days?”
3. “Hey, I was wondering how you’ve been. Anything exciting happening?”
4. “Hi [Name], what have you been up to? Miss catching up.”
5. “Hey [Name], how’s everything going with you? Hope all is well!”
6. “Hi [Name], just checking in—how’s life treating you?”
7. “Hey [Name], what’s new in your world? Missed our talks.”
8. “Hi [Name], how’s everything? Anything fun or exciting happening?”
9. “Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing well! How’s life these days?”
10. “Hi [Name], just wondering how you’ve been. What’s new with you?”
11. “Hey [Name], what have you been up to? Would love to catch up!”
12. “Hi [Name], how’s everything on your end? Hope all is good.”
13. “Hey [Name], just thinking of you and wondering how you’ve been.”
14. “Hi [Name], what’s been going on in your life? Miss hearing from you.”
15. “Hey [Name], how’s everything going? Any big news or changes?”
16. “Hi [Name], just curious—how have you been? Anything exciting?”
17. “Hey [Name], I was wondering how you’re doing. Miss our conversations.”
18. “Hi [Name], how’s everything? Would love to hear what you’ve been up to.”
19. “Hey [Name], just wanted to check in—how’s life treating you?”
20. “Hi [Name], I hope all is well with you. What’s new?”

Sending a Compliment or Positive Message

Compliments and positive messages can be a great way to brighten someone’s day and make them feel appreciated. These texts are ideal if you want to approach the reconnection with a warm, uplifting tone. They help convey that you value the friendship and the qualities you admire in your friend.

1. “I saw something today that reminded me of you—made me smile!”
2. “Hey [Name], just wanted to say I’ve missed our conversations.”
3. “Hi [Name], you always had the best advice. I could use some now!”
4. “Hey, just thinking about you today—hope you’re doing great!”
5. “Hi [Name], I always appreciated your kindness. Miss that!”
6. “Hey [Name], you’ve been on my mind lately. Hope all is well!”
7. “Hi [Name], you always knew how to make me laugh. Miss those days!”
8. “Hey [Name], just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you.”
9. “Hi [Name], your positivity always brightened my day. Miss that!”
10. “Hey [Name], I was just thinking about how much fun we used to have.”
11. “Hi [Name], you always knew how to make any situation better.”
12. “Hey [Name], just wanted to say you’re missed. Hope you’re doing well.”
13. “Hi [Name], you always had the best perspective on things. Miss that!”
14. “Hey [Name], your sense of humor always brightened my day.”
15. “Hi [Name], just thinking about how awesome our friendship was.”
16. “Hey [Name], you’ve always been such a great friend. Miss you!”
17. “Hi [Name], just wanted to say I appreciate you. Hope you’re well!”
18. “Hey [Name], you always brought out the best in me. Miss that!”
19. “Hi [Name], I’ve been thinking about how much fun we had together.”
20. “Hey [Name], you’ve always been such a positive influence in my life.”

Light-Hearted and Fun Messages

Sometimes, the best way to reconnect is through humor or light-heartedness. These texts are great for easing back into a friendship by sharing something funny, interesting, or nostalgic. They’re perfect for sparking a smile or laugh and setting a positive tone for the conversation.

1. “Hey [Name], I just found an old meme we used to laugh at—still hilarious!”
2. “Hi [Name], guess what? I just saw someone who looks just like you!”
3. “Hey [Name], I was just about to do [shared activity], and it made me think of you!”
4. “Hi [Name], I just tried [something new]—you would have loved it!”
5. “Hey [Name], remember that time we tried [something fun]? I just did it again!”
6. “Hi [Name], I was just thinking about how we used to [shared hobby]. Miss it!”
7. “Hey [Name], I just watched the funniest video—totally something you’d love!”
8. “Hi [Name], I just had a [food or drink] that reminded me of you!”
9. “Hey [Name], I found an old playlist we used to jam to—total throwback!”
10. “Hi [Name], remember when we used to [inside joke]? Still cracks me up!”
11. “Hey [Name], I just had a [funny situation] that totally reminded me of us!”
12. “Hi [Name], I just saw the funniest thing—wish you were here to laugh with me!”
13. “Hey [Name], I just did [fun activity] and it made me think of you!”
14. “Hi [Name], I found our old [shared interest] stuff—made me smile!”
15. “Hey [Name], I just had the weirdest dream about us—so funny!”
16. “Hi [Name], I just tried [new experience], and it reminded me of our adventures!”
17. “Hey [Name], I just heard the craziest story—totally something you’d enjoy!”
18. “Hi [Name], remember when we [fun memory]? I was just thinking about it!”
19. “Hey [Name], I just saw the coolest [something you both like]—made me think of you!”
20. “Hi [Name], I just did something that totally reminded me of our fun times!”

Tips for Reconnecting with an Old Friend

1. Start with a Friendly Greeting

Opening the conversation with a warm and friendly greeting sets a positive tone right from the start. A simple “Hey [Name], how have you been?” can go a long way in breaking the ice. This shows that you’re genuinely interested in hearing about their life and opens the door for a relaxed and easy conversation.

2. Acknowledge the Time Gap

It’s natural to feel a bit awkward about the time that’s passed since you last spoke. Acknowledging this time gap can help ease any tension and make the reconnection feel more natural.

You might say something like, “I know it’s been a while since we last caught up, but I’ve been thinking about you,” or “It feels like forever since we last talked!” This approach shows that you’re aware of the time that’s passed but are still eager to reconnect.

3. Be Genuine and Sincere

When reaching out to an old friend, sincerity is key. Show that your interest in reconnecting is genuine by expressing real curiosity about their life. Avoid generic phrases and instead personalize your message to reflect your unique relationship.

For example, instead of just asking, “How are you?” you could say, “I’ve been wondering how you’re doing and what’s new in your life.” This makes the conversation feel more meaningful and less like a routine check-in.

4. Use Shared Memories

One of the best ways to rekindle an old friendship is by reminiscing about shared experiences. Bringing up a funny memory, a significant event, or even a small inside joke can instantly reignite the bond you once had.

For example, you might say, “Remember that crazy road trip we took? I was just thinking about it the other day!” or “I saw a photo from our old summer camp days, and it made me smile.” Shared memories remind both of you of the good times and can serve as a great conversation starter.

5. Keep It Light-Hearted

When reconnecting, it’s best to keep the conversation light and positive, especially in the beginning. Avoid diving into heavy or potentially sensitive topics until you’ve reestablished a comfortable rapport.

Start with casual, easy-going subjects that can help reignite the connection without any pressure. You could talk about hobbies, recent travels, or even share a funny story or meme to get the conversation going.

6. Respect Their Response Time

Not everyone is available or ready to jump back into a conversation right away, so it’s important to respect your friend’s response time. After you’ve sent your initial message, be patient and give them space to reply when they’re ready.

Avoid sending multiple follow-up texts if they don’t respond immediately. A gentle nudge after a reasonable amount of time is okay, but overwhelming them with messages might come off as pushy. Understanding their pace will help the conversation flow naturally.