---
schema_version: "1"
id: 9b67e0d7be6ac8997fba09575d1f374acf1a2e6b29ef43e0b51bd3a13fb30ff3
title: Create and Manage an RCS Message
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mktg_content_rcs_create.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_content_rcs_create.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 0905e0dc120e36fe1aa82d094949b2db32036865d44555d8fb7e55db44ba94f7
description: Build interactive RCS messages that include suggestions and rich content to engage customers on their mobile devices. Unlike standard SMS, RCS allows you to use branded media and suggestions to streamline promotions and transactional follow-ups.
products:
  - Marketing
release: "264"
---
# Create and Manage an RCS Message

Build interactive RCS messages that include suggestions and rich content to engage customers on their mobile devices. Unlike standard SMS, RCS allows you to use branded media and suggestions to streamline promotions and transactional follow-ups.

### Required Editions

| Required Editions |
| --- |
| Available in: Salesforce Enterprise and Unlimited Editions with Marketing Cloud Next Growth or Advanced Edition and the Salesforce Message Credits - RCS add-on |

 
| User Permissions Needed |   |
| --- | --- |
| To create or edit content: | Marketing Cloud Manager permission set AND any CMS workspace contributor role |
| To publish or unpublish content: | Marketing Cloud Manager permission set AND a CMS workspace contributor role of content admin or content manager |

- **[Rich Card Specifications](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_content_rcs_rich_card_specifications.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Learn about the supported media formats, layout options, and interactive elements available for RCS Rich Cards.

## Create a Text Message

Create an RCS plain text message to build a basic, conversational RCS message that includes interactive suggestions.

1. On the Content tab, click **Add**, and then select **Content**.
2. From the list of content types, select **RCS Message**.
3. Click **Create**.
4. Select the purpose of the message.
5. For Message Type, select **Text**.
6. Specify these message details.
    1. Enter the message.
    2. To personalize your message, click **Add Merge Field** and select Unified Individual for profile data or **Select Event** for real-time interaction such as subscription confirmation.
    3. To add suggestions to your message, click **Add**.
    4. Enter a label for the suggestion.
    5. Select the action that occurs when a user taps the button. Open a URL opens a web page URL. Dial a Phone opens the phone app with a pre-filled number for calling. Quick Reply guides customers to select pre-defined responses for fast, low-effort communication.
    6. To track the suggestion interaction, enter an action identifier.
7. Save your changes.

## Create a Media Message

Create immersive, branded conversations that go beyond standard text by adding high-resolution images, videos, and documents.

1. On the Content tab, click **Add**, and then select **Content**.
2. From the list of content types, select **RCS Message**.
3. Click **Create**.
4. Select the purpose of the message.
5. For Message Type, select **Media**.
6. Specify the media properties.
    1. Select the media type such as Image, Video, or Document.
        
        Uploading a document is supported only in India.
    2. Select the location where the image is stored. You can add media by selecting an image from CMS, adding a trusted URL, or using a merge field.
    3. Enter a caption for the media.
    4. Enter an HTTPS thumbnail URL of 2048 characters or fewer.
7. Save your changes.

## Create a Rich Card Message

Build interactive rich card messages to deliver a branded experience that outperforms standard text and media messages.

1. On the Content tab, click **Add**, and then select **Content**.
2. From the list of content types, select **RCS Message**.
3. Click **Create**.
4. Select the purpose of the message.
5. For Message Type, select **Rich Card**.
6. Select the card layout as Vertical or Horizontal.
7. Select the media size as Small, Medium, or Large. Select No Media if you don’t want to add media to your message.
8. Select the media type as Image, Video, or Document.
9. To add media, select media from the CMS, add a trusted URL, or include a merge field.
10. Enter a caption for the media.
11. Enter an HTTPS thumbnail URL of 2048 characters or fewer.
12. Enter the title and description of the message.
13. To add buttons to your message, click **Add**.
    1. Enter a label for the button.
    2. Select the action that occurs when a user taps the button. Open a URL opens a web page URL. Dial a Phone opens the phone app with a pre-filled number for calling. Quick Reply guides customers to select pre-defined responses for fast, low-effort communication. View Location opens a map to display a specified geographic location. Share Location prompts the user to share their current location. Calendar Event opens the native calendar app to create a scheduled event.
    3. To track the button interaction, enter an action identifier.
14. To add suggestion chips to your message, click **Add**.
    1. Enter a label for the suggestion.
    2. Select the action that occurs when a user taps the button. Open a URL opens a web page URL. Dial a Phone opens the phone app with a pre-filled number for calling. Quick Reply guides customers to select pre-defined responses for fast, low-effort communication. View Location opens a map to display a specified geographic location. Share Location prompts the user to share their current location. Calendar Event opens the native calendar app to create a scheduled event.
    3. To track the suggestion interaction, enter an action identifier.
15. Save your changes.

To make an RCS message available to include in a flow, publish it. You can’t activate a flow that contains an RCS message until the message is published.

## Create a Carousel Message

Build interactive, multi-card carousel messages to showcase multiple products, offers, or items within a single message.

1. On the Content tab, click **Add**, and then select **Content**.
2. From the list of content types, select **RCS Message**.
3. Click **Create**.
4. Select the purpose of the message.
5. For Message Type, select **Carousel**.
6. Select the media size as **Small**, **Medium**, or **Large**. Select **No Media** if you don’t want to add media to your message.
7. Select the carousel width as **Small** or **Medium**.
8. Configure the card details.
    1. Select the media type as **Image**.
    2. Select the media height as **Small**, **Medium**, or **Large**.
    3. To add media, select media from the CMS, add a public image URL, or include a merge field.
    4. Enter a caption for the media.
    5. Enter the title and description for the card.
9. To add buttons to the card, click **Add**.
    1. Enter a label for the button.
    2. Select the action that occurs when a user taps a button.
        
        Open a URL opens a web page URL. Quick Reply guides customers to select pre-defined responses. Open App Page opens a page within a mobile app. View Location opens a map to display a specified geographic location. Share Location prompts the user to share their current location. Calendar Event opens the native calendar app to create a scheduled event.
    3. To track the button interaction, enter an action identifier.
10. To add a new card, click **Add Card** and repeat steps 7 through 9 and configure each card.
11. To add global suggestion chips for your carousel, click **Add**.
    1. Enter a label for the suggestion.
    2. Select the action that occurs when a user taps a button.
        
        Open a URL opens a web page URL. Quick Reply guides customers to select pre-defined responses. Open App Page opens a page within a mobile app. View Location opens a map to display a specified geographic location. Share Location prompts the user to share their current location. Calendar Event opens the native calendar app to create a scheduled event.
    3. To track the suggestion interaction, enter an action identifier.
12. Save your changes.

## Preview and Test an RCS Message

Now, you can preview and test your RCS message.

Before you can preview or test, you must publish at least one segment and make sure you have a sender code available in Salesforce Setup. You can preview and test an RCS message in any status. Test sends count toward message credits.

To test personalization fields, send a test message. When you receive the message, test links and make sure that merge fields and shortened links display properly.

1. Open the preview window.
    1. When editing your message, in the main toolbar, click **Preview**.
    2. From the content detail page, click **Preview**.
2. Select a segment and a sample recipient.
3. To configure a test send, open the **Test** tab.
4. Select an RCS agent to send the message from.
5. Enter up to five numbers for devices that you can easily access.
6. Send the test message.

## Unpublish an RCS Message

To prevent sending a message in a campaign, unpublish the RCS message.

1. From your marketing workspace, open the RCS message that you want to unpublish.
2. Unpublish the message.
    1. When you’re editing your message, from the main toolbar, click **Unpublish**.
    2. From the content detail page, click **Unpublish**.
3. Review the list of related flows and content and determine if any other changes are needed.
4. Choose how and when to unpublish.
    1. To unpublish the message immediately, click **Unpublish Now**.
    2. To unpublish the message later, click **Schedule Unpublish**, and schedule a date and time.

After you unpublish, the RCS message is no longer available in flows and can't be sent. You can make any necessary edits and republish it, or delete it.