# Send and receive SMS in the Webphone

> Start an SMS chat, choose the number you send from, and manage your chats in the browser and desktop Webphone.

- URL: https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/phones-and-apps/webphone/webphone-sms/
- Section: Phones and apps › Webphone
- Type: guide
- Applies to: All countries
- Last reviewed: 2026-11-09

Send and reply to text messages from your business numbers in the **SMS** tab of the browser and desktop Webphone. Each conversation is a chat with one number.

## Before you start

- An SMS-enabled number must be routed to you, and your licence needs an SMS plan to send. Your administrator sets this up: see [SMS to Webphone users](https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/services/phone-numbers/sms-to-webphone-users/).
- If no number is routed to you, the **SMS** tab tells you to configure **SMS routing** in the customer portal.

## Start a new chat

1. Open **SMS** and click **+**.
2. Choose a **Contact**, or enter the phone number. Pick the country, then type the number.
3. In **Send from**, choose the number or sender ID to send from. Your administrator can set the one chosen automatically (**Default SMS ID** in your [User](https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/pbx/accept-make-divert/user/) settings).
4. Type your message and click **Send**.

You can also start a chat from anywhere a number or contact is shown, such as **Contacts**, **History** or **Voicemail**: click the SMS icon next to it.

## Reply in a chat

1. Click the chat in the list. Use **Search** above the list to find one.
2. Type your message. Press Enter to send. To start a new line, press Shift + Enter or Ctrl + Enter.
3. To send from a different number, click the number shown next to the message box and choose another.

## Message length

Below the message box, a counter shows how many characters are left in the current SMS and how many SMS the message uses. Long messages are sent as up to 3 SMS. If you go over, the counter shows **Limit exceeded** and you can't send until you shorten the message.

Each SMS holds 160 standard characters, or 70 if the message has emojis or non-Latin characters. When a message is split, each part holds a few characters less.

## Sender IDs that can't receive replies

- **No-Reply** and other alphanumeric sender IDs (a name instead of a number) can only send. Replies to them aren't received.
- A chat with a name instead of a number shows **It is not possible to reply in this chat**.

To send from your business name, see [SMS sender ID register](https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/security/sms-sender-id-register/).

## Manage your chats

From an open chat, use the buttons at the top and the chat's menu to:

- call the number, add it to your contacts or send an email;
- **Mark as unread**;
- **Block number** (see [Contacts and call history in the Webphone](https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/phones-and-apps/webphone/webphone-contacts-and-call-history/#block-a-number));
- delete the chat. You're asked to confirm first.

To clear all unread markers, open the menu above the chat list and choose **Mark all chats as read**.

## If a message can't be sent

| Message | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **Not enough funds** | Your account balance is too low to send SMS. Ask your account administrator to top up. |
| **Destination is not supported** | SMS can't be sent to this number at the moment. |
| **SMS cannot be sent** | Contact the support team. |

If you're told that Application-to-Person messaging (A2P) must be activated, regulations require it before this number can send SMS. Your administrator can find more in the number's **SMS routing** settings in the customer portal.

For texts that don't arrive, see [SMS not received](https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/troubleshooting/sms-not-received/).

## Next steps

- [SMS to Webphone users](https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/services/phone-numbers/sms-to-webphone-users/)
- [Webphone notifications and ringtone](https://kb.voipcloud.online/au/phones-and-apps/webphone/webphone-notifications-and-ringtone/)