Ed Sheeran reveals he hasn't used his phone since 2015 on 'The Tonight Show'

Ed Sheeran shares how turning his phone back on after 8 years inspired his new emotional song 'Old Phone'.

Ed Sheeran revealed that he hasn’t used his cellphone since 2015, a decision that inspired his new song "Old Phone."

The four-time Grammy Award winner discussed his cellphone hiatus during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 26. Sheeran explained that the turning point came amid a legal battle surrounding his song "Thinking Out Loud," where he was ordered to surrender his devices for evidence in the copyright infringement case. The case concluded in his favor in 2023.

Since then, Sheeran switched to using a tablet for communication and completely disconnected from his phone. "I switched it off in 2015 and left it in a box," Sheeran shared. However, after receiving his phone back following the lawsuit, he turned it on and was flooded with old notifications, which took him on an emotional journey.

"The first text was from a friend who passed away the year before. The second was an argument with an ex-girlfriend, the third from a family member I hadn’t spoken to in 10 years," Sheeran recalled. "The fourth was another friend who had died." The flood of memories led him to write "Old Phone," a song that reflects both deep emotional moments and the lighthearted frustrations of everyday life.

 

 

 

 

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Additionally, Sheeran has opened a pop-up pub called "Old Phone" in Ipswich, Massachusetts, inspired by the song. Guests must bring their old phone and find a meaningful message or video, which will be projected onto the pub's walls. The pub will be open for two days, March 28 and 29, serving Guinness and tater tots as part of the experience.