Set Up SMS & MMS Messaging

This guide walks you through setting up SMS and MMS messaging in GoHighLevel, from purchasing a phone number to completing A2P 10DLC registration and configuring compliance settings.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

Admin or agency-level access to your sub-account
Your business EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Your business address and contact information
A branded business email address (not a free Gmail or Yahoo address)
A publicly accessible website with terms of service and privacy policy

Purchase a Phone Number

Your first step is to acquire a phone number for sending and receiving text messages.

Navigate to Settings > Phone Numbers
Click Add Number in the top right
Select Local Number for a 10-digit long code (10DLC), Toll-Free, or Short Code
For most businesses, choose a local 10DLC number from your area code
Select your desired area code from the dropdown
Review the available numbers and click Select next to your preferred number
Confirm the purchase

Your new phone number is now active and ready for setup.

Register Your Brand for A2P 10DLC

Application-to-Person (A2P) 10DLC registration is required for all businesses sending SMS from local numbers in the United States. Without this registration, your messages will face heavy filtering and may not be delivered at all.

Navigate to Settings > Phone Numbers > Trust Center
Click Complete Brand Registration or Add New Brand
Enter your Legal Business Name exactly as it appears on your EIN records
Enter your Business EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Provide your Business Address and Contact Information
Enter a Branded Business Email (must be a domain email, not a free provider like Gmail)
Enter your Business Website URL
Select your Business Type and Industry
Review all information for accuracy, then click Submit

The registration typically takes 1 to 5 business days for approval. You will receive an email notification when your brand is approved.

Register Your Campaign

After your brand is approved, you need to register a campaign that describes your messaging use case.

Navigate to Settings > Phone Numbers > Trust Center > Campaign Registration
Click Create Campaign or Add New Campaign
Enter a Campaign Description that clearly explains who is sending, who is receiving, and why messages are being sent
Provide Sample Messages with realistic examples of actual messages you will send. Include bracketed template fields like [First Name] and opt-out language in at least one sample
Describe your Opt-In Method (web form, verbal consent, paper form, QR code, or text message keyword)
Write your Opt-In Confirmation Message that includes your brand name, message frequency, “Message and data rates may apply”, HELP instructions, and STOP instructions
Enter your Terms and Conditions URL (must be publicly accessible)
Enter your Privacy Policy URL (must state that mobile information will not be shared with third parties for marketing)
Review all fields carefully, then click Submit Campaign

Campaign approval typically takes 1 to 5 business days. Monitor your email for approval notifications or rejection reasons.

Configure Messaging Compliance Settings

Once your campaign is approved, configure automatic compliance features to ensure every message includes required opt-out language.

Navigate to Settings > Phone Numbers > Messaging tab
Open the Messaging Compliance section
Enable Add opt-out message and enter text such as “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”
Enable Add sender information and enter your business name
Enable Periodic Opt-Out to automatically re-add compliance language at your chosen interval (1 to 60 days)
Set your preferred Opt-Out Interval (recommended: 30 days)
Click Save to apply your compliance settings

Your messages will now automatically include opt-out language and sender information.

Test Your Setup

Verify that your SMS and MMS setup is working correctly.

Send a Test Message:

Navigate to Conversations in the left sidebar
Click Create New Message or select an existing contact
Choose your phone number from the dropdown
Type a test message
Click Send
Confirm the message delivers and includes your compliance footer

Test MMS Attachments:

Open the same conversation
Click the attachment icon in the message composer
Upload a test image (under 5 MB)
Click Send
Verify the image appears in the conversation thread

Verify Compliance Appending:

Review your sent test message
Confirm your opt-out language appears at the end
Confirm your business name appears if sender info appending is enabled

Next Steps

Now that your SMS and MMS system is configured, explore these related features:

Set up automated messaging with the Workflow Builder
Create reusable message templates in the Templates and Themes section
Configure DND Settings to respect contact preferences
Build targeted campaigns with Smart Lists
Review the complete SMS & MMS Guide for advanced strategies