---
schema_version: "1"
id: eef9607de9a55485f0f8142b4e4450992fdf074ccb872c5f3268553218132f42
title: Create SMS Short Code Channels for Service
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/service/264-0-0/messaging_setup_shortcodes.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.messaging_setup_shortcodes.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: aa3c7e3e31b03982be587cdcb391a88ac5e2a1b1e8adbeee3fdcdd23ec176c47
description: Use short code phone numbers to send recurring messages and one-time alerts to your US and Canadian customers. When customers respond, they can have two-way conversations with service reps. Short codes have high throughput, which means you can send high volumes of one-to-one messages.
products:
  - Service Cloud
  - Digital Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Create SMS Short Code Channels for Service

Use short code phone numbers to send recurring messages and one-time alerts to your US and Canadian customers. When customers respond, they can have two-way conversations with service reps. Short codes have high throughput, which means you can send high volumes of one-to-one messages.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.messaging_editions.htm&amp;type=5&amp;language=en_US" target="_blank">View supported editions.</a></td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
              <a name="messaging_setup_shortcodes__d1316e672"><!-- --></a><span style="vertical-align:text-bottom;display:inline-block;"><img style="margin-bottom:0;" id="messaging_setup_shortcodes__d1316e672" src="https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-service-support_channels-264-0-0-production-enus/f3c4b3d2-ff86-4f7c-9fe2-3d8b23d35109/resources-global/_corporate/images/checkmark.png" alt="Checkmark"></span>
              <strong>This article applies to:</strong>
            </td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Standard and Enhanced SMS channels</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
              <span style="vertical-align:text-bottom;display:inline-block;"><img style="margin-bottom:0;" src="https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-service-support_channels-264-0-0-production-enus/f3c4b3d2-ff86-4f7c-9fe2-3d8b23d35109/resources-global/_corporate/images/crossmark.png" alt="X icon"></span>
              <strong>This article doesn’t apply to:</strong>
            </td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Enhanced In-App Chat, Enhanced Web Chat v1, Enhanced Web Chat v2, Enhanced
              WhatsApp, Enhanced Facebook Messenger, Enhanced Apple Messages for Business, Enhanced
              LINE, and Bring Your Own Channel</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table> <table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d166853e96">User Permissions
              Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d166853e96 ">To set up Messaging:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d166853e96 ">Configure Messaging</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d166853e96 ">To view SMS channels:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d166853e96 ">View Setup and Configuration</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d166853e96 ">To create SMS channels:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d166853e96 ">
              <p>System Administrator AND Configure Messaging</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">OR</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Configure Messaging AND
                Customize Application AND Manage Auth. Providers AND View Setup and Configuration
                AND Modify All Data</p>
            </td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-service-support_channels-264-0-0-production-enus/f3c4b3d2-ff86-4f7c-9fe2-3d8b23d35109/images/icon_important.png)

Important Standard SMS channels were retired on February 14, 2026. To avoid service interruptions, upgrade your standard SMS channels to enhanced channels now. Enhanced SMS offers many of the [standard SMS features you love](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.messaging_sms_compare.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "View a side-by-side comparison of standard and enhanced SMS channels. Going forward, new features are available exclusively in enhanced SMS channels.") plus session transfers and AI agent support. See [Upgrading from Standard to Enhanced SMS Messaging](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.messaging_upgrade.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "When you upgrade your standard SMS channel to an enhanced channel, you gain access to key customer service tools. Learn what to expect in an upgrade.").

Want to see short codes in action? Watch our video.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-service-support_channels-264-0-0-production-enus/f3c4b3d2-ff86-4f7c-9fe2-3d8b23d35109/images/icon_note.png)

Note If you have the Agentforce Contact Center Digital add-on, you must purchase message credits to create a short code SMS channel. During channel creation, we'll let you know if they're missing. Message credits determine the quantity and nature of messages that your business can send, and allow you to access the full SMS feature set. They appear in Digital Wallet under the [Salesforce Message Credits - SMS card](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.service_cloud_billable_usage_types.htm&type=5&language=en_US).

Setting up a standard or enhanced short code SMS channel involves a multi-step application process. Approving and provisioning a short code can take 10–16 weeks. Here’s what to expect from the setup process:

![Graphic showing 6 steps of short code setup process](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-service-support_channels-264-0-0-production-enus/f3c4b3d2-ff86-4f7c-9fe2-3d8b23d35109/support_channels/images/messaging/messaging_short_code_process.png)

To get started, go to [Service-Digital Engagement Messaging: Short Code Application Process.](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000380702&type=1&language=en_US)

- **[Considerations for Short Codes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.messaging_short_code_considerations.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    When you use short codes, your business is required to follow carrier compliance requirements, industry standards, and applicable laws. Short codes are only supported in the US and Canada.