---
title: "Enable External SMS/MMS Messaging"
slug: "enable-external-smsmms-messaging"
updated: 2025-05-02T23:37:38Z
published: 2025-05-13T15:00:01Z
---

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

# Enable External SMS/MMS Messaging

Businesses use SMS for client and prospect communication because it's quick, and widely accessible. To ensure security and regulatory compliance, Company Admins can enable or disable external SMS/MMS messaging for their entire company.

Let’s dive into the details.

> [!NOTE]
> Who can use this
> 
> Company Admins can turn external SMS/MMS messaging on and off.

## Turn on external SMS/MMS messaging

To turn on external SMS/MMS messaging for your company, head to the **Dialpad Admin Portal.**

1. Select **My Company**
2. Select **SMS Management**
3. Select **SMS Settings**
4. Beside **Inbound & Outbound SMS/MMS**, toggle the slider **on**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/enable-external-smsm.png)

> [!CAUTION]
> Important
> 
> If your company is sending messages to US phone numbers, you must [register your messaging campaign](/v1/docs/text-message-campaign-registry-for-dialpad-customers).
> 
> If unregistered, outbound SMS/MMS messages from your phone numbers are highly likely to be blocked and are subject to higher usage fees.

## Turn off external SMS/MMS Messaging

To turn off external SMS/MMS messaging for your company, head to the Dialpad Admin Portal.

1. Select **My Company**
2. Select **SMS Management**
3. Select **SMS Settings**
4. Beside **Inbound & Outbound SMS/MMS**, toggle the slider **off**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/off-smsm.png)

When SMS/MMS is disabled, all users in your organization will not be able to send or receive external SMS/MMS messages.

Internal (Dialpad-to-Dialpad) messaging will still work.

> [!NOTE]
> Notes
> 
> When external SMS/MMS is turned off, SMS APIs and SMS CSAT Surveys will not work.
> 
> If external messaging is turned off, SMS registration is not required, and Company Admins will no longer receive registration notifications.

## Enable outbound messaging from unregistered numbers

Major US mobile carriers are regulating SMS/MMS messages sent via A2P (Application to Person) messaging. All businesses that send text messages to ten-digit US phone numbers are required to register their Brand and SMS/MMS Campaigns. If you send SMS/MMS messages without a successfully registered campaign, your messages are at high risk of being blocked (and will also be billed at higher messaging rates).

While not recommended, you can send SMS/MMS messages from unregistered campaigns.

To enable outbound messaging from unregistered numbers:

1. Select **My Company**
2. Select **SMS Management**
3. Select **SMS Settings**
4. Beside **Outbound SMS/MMS from unregistered phone numbers (US Numbers Only)**, toggle the slider **on**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/enable-smsm-outbound.png)

## Frequently asked questions

### What counts as an external message?

An external SMS/MMS message is a message sent to a non-Dialpad number.

### Can I opt out of the registration process?

No. All organizations that send text messages to ten-digit US phone numbers must register.

Companies that do not register are at a high risk of being blocked. Their messaging rates will also be subject to higher usage fees.

Be sure to read [this Help Center article](/v1/docs/text-message-campaign-registry-for-dialpad-customers) to learn all about the Text Message Campaign Registry for Dialpad users.

## Related

- [SMS Registration Guide](/sms-registration-guide.md)
- [Edit or Delete an SMS Campaign](/edit-or-delete-an-sms-campaign.md)
- [Text Message Campaign Registry for Dialpad Customers](/text-message-campaign-registry-for-dialpad-customers.md)
- [Text Message Campaign Registry FAQs](/text-message-campaign-registry-faqs.md)