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Using an SMS from name

How to change the default, create, edit, or delete one.

Laura Russell avatar
Written by Laura Russell
Updated over a week ago

An SMS From name is the sending identity that your contacts see when they receive a message from you. This can be a word, for example, MyCompany, which is known as an alpha from name, or a number, known as a numeric from name. The options available to you for a from name depend on the countries you want to send SMS to.

Your company name is your default SMS From name. You can have more than one From name, and any newly created From names can be set as your default.

If you have purchased any inbound numbers, these appear in your list of from names, and you can select any of these as your default from name. You can’t edit or delete these numbers.

Learn more in Purchase an SMS number.


Before you start

Things you need to know:

  • Contacts can't reply to an alpha from name, but they can reply to a numeric from name.

  • Messages sent from an alpha from name which might require a response, for example, an opt-out, must include your inbound number in the message.

  • If you’re sending marketing messages, most countries require that you include an opt-out option.

  • To meet network requirements, SMS alpha from names can be a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 11 mixed alphanumeric characters and numbers and can’t contain a space. SMS alpha from names can’t be made completely of numbers.

  • In the US, marketers cannot or should not send from Alphanumeric names (such as your brand name).

Disallowed from names

There’s a list of blocked from names that you can't use. If you try to use a from name that's blocked, you get a warning notification. If you're having trouble adding your company name as your from name, contact your Customer Success representative.


Create an SMS from name

  1. Expand the User menu and go to Settings > SMS > SMS from names.

  2. Select NEW FROM NAME.

  3. Enter a new from name.

  4. Select ADD FROM NAME.

Edit an SMS from name

  1. Expand the User menu and go to Settings > SMS > SMS from names.

  2. Select the Edit icon for the from name you want to edit.

  3. In the Edit from name modal, enter the from name you want to use.

  4. Select SAVE.

Delete an SMS from name

  1. Expand the User menu and go to Settings > SMS > SMS from names.

  2. Select the Delete icon for the from name you want to delete.

  3. In the Confirm delete modal, select DELETE.

Change your default SMS from name

  1. Expand the User menu and go to Settings > SMS > SMS from names.

  2. Select the Default radio button for the from name that you want to set as the default.

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