Mobile phone applications have increasingly been developed to support prevention, reporting and response to violence against women (VAW). However, the availability of digital tools does not necessarily translate into awareness or use, particularly in informal urban settlements where poverty, unequal access to technology and social stigma may constrain digital help-seeking. This study examined awareness and use of mobile phone applications addressing VAW in Mathare, Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study was guided by Resource Theory and Social Exchange Theory and used an exploratory mixed-methods design. The study targeted residents of Hospital and Utalii wards and included women, men and key informants involved in VAW response. A general sample of 200 respondents was planned; 185 completed structured questionnaires, while 15 key informant interviews and two focus group discussions involving 20 participants were completed. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analysed thematically. Physical violence (22.4% among women and 13.3% among men) and sexual violence (16% among women and 10% among men) were the most prevalent forms reported. Smartphone ownership was relatively high among respondents, at 59% for women and 63.3% for men, but awareness of VAW-specific applications was low: only 30% of women and 26% of men who owned smartphones reported awareness of such applications. Use was lower still. Key barriers included limited digital literacy, language barriers, financial dependence, privacy and security concerns, and inadequate network access. Respondents identified digital literacy initiatives, simple interfaces, multilingual and secure applications, mobile-phone acquisition initiatives, trusted institutional partnerships and community-based access as important strategies. The study concludes that improving digital responses to VAW in Mathare requires more than increasing access to smartphones. It requires an integrated