Using SMS


Zoom Phone SMS allows you to send and receive text messages (SMS) using the Zoom desktop app, mobile app, or Zoom Web App. You can also use SMS with a call queue or auto receptionist or use the SMS auto responder.

Note: If you disable location services, your admin can prevent you from sending SMS to certain locations. Contact your admin if you are unable to send SMS to those locations.

This article covers:

Prerequisites for using SMS

Limitations for using SMS

SMS has the following limitations:

How to compose a new SMS message

Note: When sending an SMS or group text to emergency phone numbers in the US and Canada, you'll get an error message indicating that texting emergency services isn't possible. Instead, you'll be prompted to call those numbers. The system will initiate calls to these emergency phone numbers automatically after a 10-second countdown unless you opt to cancel the call.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
    Note: If you are not seeing the SMS tab, make sure the prerequisites are met.
  4. In the top-right corner of the SMS tab, click the compose icon .
  5. In the To field at the top, enter a name or phone number to search through your contacts directory, or manually enter a phone number.
    If the recipient is in your contacts directory, the number will be replaced by the contact's name, otherwise, it will remain a phone number.
    Notes:
    • You can add up to 10 contacts/phone numbers.
    • If the contact has several phone numbers, click the right arrow icon to view and select the number to send SMS to.
  6. Enter a message.
  7. (Optional) Click the Template icon , then select your template.
    Note: This option is available only if your admin has enabled SMS Templates. If your admin set up the Contact Dynamic field in the template, you'll need a personal contact available for the recipient for the field to be filled, otherwise, the field will be missing in your message.
  8. To send the message, press the Enter key or click the send icon .

Android | iOS

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Phone tab .
  3. Tap the SMS tab.
    Note: If you are not seeing the SMS tab, make sure the prerequisites are met.
  4. In the top-right corner of the SMS tab, tap the compose icon .
  5. In the To field at the top, enter a name or phone number to search through your contacts directory, or manually enter a phone number.
    If the recipient is in your contacts directory, the number will be replaced by the contact's name, otherwise, it will remain a phone number.
    Notes:
    • You can add up to 10 contacts/phone numbers.
    • If the contact has several phone numbers, click the right arrow icon to view and select the number to send SMS to.
  6. Enter a message.
  7. (Optional) To the left of the chat compose box, tap the add button , then tap the Template icon and select your template.
    Note: This option is available only if your admin has enabled SMS Templates. If you admin set up the Contact Dynamic field in the template, you'll need a personal contact available for the recipient for the field to be filled, otherwise, the field will be missing in your message.
  8. To send the message, tap the send icon .

Web App

  1. Sign in to the Zoom Web App (ZWA).
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
    Note: If you are not seeing the SMS tab, make sure the prerequisites are met.
  4. Click the compose icon below the SMS tab .
  5. In the To field at the top, enter a name or phone number to search through your contacts directory, or manually enter a phone number.
    If the recipient is in your contacts directory, the number will be replaced by the contact's name, otherwise, it will remain a phone number.
    Notes:
    • You can add up to 10 contacts/phone numbers.
    • If the contact has several phone numbers, click the right arrow icon to view and select the number to send SMS to.
  6. Enter a message.
  7. To send the message, press the Enter key or click the send icon .

How to reply to an existing SMS conversation

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
  4. Click an SMS conversation.
  5. Enter a message.
  6. (Optional) Click the Template icon , then select your template.
    Note: This option is available only if your admin has enabled SMS Templates. If your admin set up the Contact Dynamic field in the template, you'll need a personal contact available for the recipient for the field to be filled, otherwise, the field will be missing in your message.
  7. To send the message, press the Enter key or click the send icon .

Android | iOS

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Phone tab .
  3. Tap the SMS tab.
  4. Tap an SMS conversation.
  5. Enter a message.
  6. (Optional) To the left of the chat compose box, tap the add button , then tap the Template icon and select your template.
    Note: This option is available only if your admin has enabled SMS Templates. If you admin set up the Contact Dynamic field in the template, you'll need a personal contact available for the recipient for the field to be filled, otherwise, the field will be missing in your message.
  7. To send the message, tap the send icon .

Web App

  1. Sign in to the Zoom Web App (ZWA).
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
  4. Click an SMS conversation.
  5. Enter a message.
  6. To send the message, press the Enter key or click the send icon .

How to use SMS features

While composing a new SMS or replying to an existing conversation, you can use these features:

Send images (JPG, PNG, and GIF files)

Notes:

  • You can only send one image at a time. Sending images (also known as MMS) is not supported when sending to international phone numbers.
  • MMS is not supported on Zoom Web App.
  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
  4. Click an SMS conversation.
  5. Above the chat compose box, click the File button to select an image.
  6. (Optional) Enter a message to send with the image.
  7. To send the image, press the Enter key or click the send icon .
    If you also enter a message, the text and image will appear in a single chat bubble in Zoom Phone. The other SMS participant may see separate chat bubbles depending on their SMS service.

Android | iOS

Notes:

  • You can only send one image at a time. Sending images (also known as MMS) is not supported when sending to international phone numbers.
  • MMS is not supported on Zoom Web App.
  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Phone tab .
  3. Tap the SMS tab.
  4. Tap an SMS conversation.
  5. Above the chat compose box, tap the plus icon , then tap Photo Album to select an image to send.
  6. Tap Done.
  7. (Optional) Enter a message to send with the image.
  8. Tap the send icon to send the image.
    If you also enter a message, the text and image will appear in a single chat bubble in Zoom Phone. The other SMS participant may see separate chat bubbles depending on their SMS service.

Call the other SMS participant

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
  4. Click an SMS conversation.
  5. In the top-left corner of the SMS conversation, click the Phone call button .

Android | iOS

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Phone tab .
  3. Tap the SMS tab.
  4. Tap an SMS conversation.
  5. In the top-right corner of the SMS conversation, tap the Phone call button .

Web App

  1. Sign in to the Zoom Web App (ZWA).
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
  4. Click an SMS conversation.
  5. In the top-left corner of the SMS conversation, click the Phone call button .

View phone numbers and details involved in the SMS conversation

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
  4. Click an SMS conversation.
  5. In the top-right corner of the SMS conversation, click the info button .
  6. View and manage the following details:
    1. Click members to view the involved phone numbers in the SMS conversation.
    2. Click Push notifications and select to receive push notifications for All messages or Nothing.
    3. Click Images to view images that are shared in the SMS conversation. Hover your mouse over the image, click the ellipsis , then choose to Open Image, Show in folder, or Copy.
    4. Click Files to view files that are shared in the SMS conversation.
    5. Click More Options , then Block Number to block unwanted numbers from the Zoom app.

Learn more about SMS messages and conversation options.

Android | iOS

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Phone tab .
  3. Tap the SMS tab.
  4. Tap an SMS conversation.
  5. In the top-right corner of the SMS conversation, click the info button .
  6. View and manage the following details:
    1. View the involved phone numbers in the SMS conversation.
    2. Tap Search in conversation to search for specific messages or files. 
    3. Tap Images to view images that are shared in the SMS conversation. Tap the image, then tap the ellipsis , then choose to Copy, Save image, or Open with other app.
    4. Tap Files to view files that are shared in the SMS conversation.
    5. Tap Receive notifications to configure your phone's notification settings for the Zoom mobile app.
      You will be directed to your phone's notification settings.
    6. Tap Block Number to block unwanted numbers from the Zoom app.

Learn more about SMS messages and conversation options.

Web App

  1. Sign in to the Zoom Web App (ZWA).
  2. Click the Phone tab .
  3. Click the SMS tab.
  4. Click an SMS conversation.
  5. In the top-right corner of the SMS conversation, click the info button .
  6. View and manage the following details:
    1. Click members to view the involved phone numbers in the SMS conversation.
      1. To the right of a phone number you want to manage, click the ellipsis , then click Copy Number or Block Number to block unwanted numbers from the Zoom app.
    2. Click Push notifications and select to receive push notifications for All messages or Nothing.

Learn more about SMS messages and conversation options.