> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cloudtalk.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Text Messaging

> How to use the SMS feature to read or send text messages

> [!NOTE]
>
> Here's how to access your messages and send a reply in your Phone app.

**User level:** Agent

***

## Messages

> [!WARNING]
>
> **SMS/MMS turns on automatically for eligible US and Canada numbers.** When you buy a US or Canadian local number in the Dashboard and your account has an active [A2P 10DLC registration](/en/articles/7222203-registering-standard-usa-numbers-for-messaging-a2p-10dlc.md), CloudTalk enables SMS on it for you. Some purchases need a quick check by our team first, and you’ll hear from us if yours does.
>
> For **US toll-free numbers, numbers in other countries, or numbers added outside the Dashboard**, your admin needs to [contact our team](https://support.cloudtalk.io/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=26305535257884) to activate messaging.

On your CloudTalk phone app, you can get to the **Messages** screen by tapping the chat bubble icon in the bottom border.

Messages are marked by type (WhatsApp or SMS/MMS) and organized by time, from most recent to oldest. Unread messages have a blue dot. You can also use [inbox filters](/en/articles/9082531-message-inbox-filters.md) to boost your messages.

If the last message in a chat failed to send, the chat shows a red mark in the Messages list, with the reason underneath. You can spot problems without opening every chat. The mark clears when the customer replies. To resend, open the chat and tap the failed message (see [Drafts and Failed Messages](#drafts-and-failed-messages) below).

If you don't have permission to view contacts, chats show **Hidden Contact** instead of the customer's details, both in the Messages list and inside the chat.

To control which numbers and channels notify you about new messages, see [Message Notifications and Controls](/en/articles/message-notifications-and-controls.md).

![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/400e9cb99d5c-screenshot-2026-02-02-at-12-34-14.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=be3e4b6e45f7b2e2c5f96de3818257d9)

### Reply in a Chat

1. From the **Messages** screen, tap the chat you want to reply to. This opens the chat history with that contact.

2. Type your message into the text bar or use a template, and tap the arrow icon to send.

On a shared number, you'll see when a teammate is already typing a reply in the same chat. Wait for their message before you reply, so the customer doesn't get two answers.

### Send a New Message

1. From the **Messages** screen, you can select the **`+`** icon to start a new chat.

   ![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/be5186f6e458-screenshot-2026-02-02-at-11-35-14.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=9b0dac6ff19dd5c78765f93ba3098c53)

   1. Search and select the desired contact.

   2. Choose the contact number, if there is more than one.

2. You can also send a message from the **Call History** screen.

   1. On desktop, tap the chat icon while hovering over a contact.

   2. On mobile, select the info icon for the desired contact. Scroll down and select **Send message**.

      ![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/408a9eea9f6f-file-2.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=0611da4278dfb12bba797554a850bc59)

3. On desktop, you can additionally send a message from the **Contacts** screen.

   1. Tap the chat icon while hovering over a contact.

      ![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/db9c3e6546de-screenshot-2026-02-02-at-12-01-14.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=ce164dac8fc57b75956d339de7f3b657)

4. When there is no chat history, you will be prompted to **`Start new conversation`**.

5. Type your message into the text bar or use a template, and tap the arrow icon to send.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Tip: searching for a contact with a common or duplicate name**
>
> The recipient search list shows contact names only. If you have multiple contacts with the same or similar name, you may not be able to tell them apart from the list alone.
>
> Instead of searching by name, type the phone number directly (including the country code, e.g. +1 415 555 0100) into the *To* field. CloudTalk will automatically link the message to the matching contact.

![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/7e560002c02f-screenshot-2026-02-02-at-12-18-13.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=c496bcfc8dd14ab90cc6dddeaa4565eb)

### Message Length

As you type, a counter under the message box shows how much room you have left. One SMS fits up to 160 standard characters, or 70 if your message uses emojis or accented characters. Longer messages are split into several parts (fragments) and put back together on the customer's phone. Some countries don't put split messages back together, so keep important messages short. See [Cannot Send or Receive SMS](/en/articles/12959333-cannot-send-or-receive-sms.md) for more.

### Check if a Message Was Delivered

Every message you send shows a small status icon next to the text, so you know whether it reached the customer without waiting for them to reply. On desktop, hover over the icon to see the status.

| **Status** | **What it means** |
| - | - |
| **Sent** | The message left CloudTalk and is on its way to the customer. |
| **Delivered** | The message reached the customer's phone. |
| **Not delivered** | The customer's carrier couldn't deliver the message. See [Cannot Send or Receive SMS](/en/articles/12959333-cannot-send-or-receive-sms.md) for common reasons. |
| **Failed** | The message couldn't be sent. It stays in the chat so you can resend it (see below). |
| **Seen** | WhatsApp only. The customer opened the message. |

### Drafts and Failed Messages

Started a reply and got pulled away? Your draft saves as you type, so it's still in the chat after you refresh the app, switch to another screen, or take an incoming call. Open the chat again and pick up where you left off.

If a message fails to send, it stays in the chat as a retry bubble instead of disappearing. Tap the bubble to send it again. The message goes out once, so nothing is lost and the customer never gets a duplicate.

This works for SMS and WhatsApp chats, on desktop and mobile.

### Use SMS Templates (Desktop)

From the desktop app, you can add and use templates to make outbound messaging more convenient.

1. While in a an SMS chat, tap the bottom left icon to access templates.

   ![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/e116c494d07e-screenshot-2026-02-02-at-12-15-49.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=d0c4dceafc81f2e409b547bb9366a212)

2. Select, edit, or delete from existing templates.

   ![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/838372f69f90-edit-or-delete-template.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=e4276b480ca1a9fbd9557a86b38a603b)

3. To create a new template, select **`Add new`**.

   1. Write your template and give it a name. **Save**.

      ![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/52b30f46f39f-screenshot-2024-04-02-at-17-34-33.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=e1787d0353150f96bd409973260ffaee)

4. Once you select a template, it will paste into the text box so you can review it and make adjustments before sending.

   ![](https://mintcdn.com/cloudtalk/iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu/images/help-center/articles/3765739/b0d3af28d304-template-pastes-before-sending.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iz8SL1-6a3Qpskmu\&q=85\&s=532a0bfb7c369c0b38486be01d9c4236)

***

*Need help or have a question?* Just reach out through our [Support portal](https://support.cloudtalk.io/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=26305535257884) — we're here for you.


## Related topics

- [Messaging in CloudTalk](/en/articles/messaging-in-cloudtalk.md)
- [Registering Standard USA Numbers for Messaging (A2P 10DLC)](/en/articles/7222203-registering-standard-usa-numbers-for-messaging-a2p-10dlc.md)
- [CloudTalk Phone guide](/en/articles/10559000-cloudtalk-phone-guide.md)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.