--- title: "SMS - Auto-Respond Docs" description: "Send a text message alert to one or more phone numbers every time a new Auto-Respond lead comes in." source: https://auto-respond.com/docs/integrations/sms/ last_updated: 2026-07-03 --- ![SMS documentation guide](https://auto-respond.com/assets/docs/integrations-sms.svg "SMS Documentation") A visual guide to the SMS documentation, covering the setup, configuration, and workflow details explained on this page. Documentation illustration for SMS. # SMS The SMS integration texts one or more phone numbers the moment a new lead reaches out. You don’t need to bring your own phone service - Auto-Respond sends the text for you. Add the numbers that should get alerts, turn the integration on, and you’re done. ⚠️ **This is an alert to your team, not a conversation with the lead.** It texts _you_ when a lead arrives. To text _the lead_ and carry on a two-way SMS conversation (with its own welcome, AI, and follow-ups), use [SMS Messaging](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/sms-messaging/) instead - that’s a separate feature with its own registration. ℹ️ The SMS card is on any source’s **Messaging Settings** → **Integrations** tab. SMS delivery is currently US-focused; numbers outside the US may not reliably receive alerts. ## What you’ll get - A text message to every number on the list whenever a new lead reaches out. - Lead’s name, phone number, and a snippet of the original inquiry in the message. - Optionally, the source name so the recipient can tell where the lead came from. ## Connecting SMS ### Open the integration In Auto-Respond, open the source → **Messaging Settings** → **Integrations** tab → **SMS** card. ### Add a phone number Click **Add number** and enter the phone number that should receive alerts. Use the full number including country code (e.g., `+1 555 123 4567`). Repeat to add more numbers - each one gets its own text for every lead. ### Remove numbers you don’t want Any number on the list can be removed individually with the remove button next to it. Removed numbers stop getting alerts immediately. ### Validate and save Click **Validate Connection** to send a test SMS to every number on the list. Check the phone(s) - if the test text arrived, you’re set. ### Turn on the Enable toggle The integration doesn’t send anything until **Enable** is on. ## Options ### Enable Turns the integration on or off for this source. Default: **off**. ### Inherit from parent Only shown on a location with a parent business. When **on**, the location uses the parent’s list of phone numbers. When **off**, this location has its own list. ### Phone numbers The list of numbers that will receive an SMS for every lead. Add as many as you need - each number on the list receives its own text every time. Use this to route alerts to multiple on-call people at once. 💡 For an on-call rotation, keep the list short and update it when the rotation changes. Everyone on the list gets every alert, so adding your whole team usually isn’t ideal. ### Notify on new lead When **on**, a SMS alert is sent as soon as a new lead comes in. When **off**, there is no new-lead alert; you still get an alert when a customer sends a message the AI doesn’t handle or when the AI hands the lead to a person, and when contact info arrives if **Messengers** is checked under **Trigger integrations:** in the source’s [Contact Info](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/contact-info/) tab. ### Notify only for MESSAGE type leads Shown only on Google Local Services sources. When **on**, phone-call and booking leads are not sent to this integration, only message leads. ### Include source name in messages Label: **Include source name in messages**. Default: off. When **on**, the source name is added to the SMS alert so you can tell sources apart. ### Validate Connection Sends a test SMS to every number currently on the list. ### Disconnect Clears the list and turns the integration off. Confirmation required. ## What the notification contains Each SMS includes: - Lead’s name (if shared) - A short preview of the inquiry - The source name (if **Include source name in messages** is on) SMS is a short format, so the message is kept short on purpose - open Auto-Respond to see the full conversation and history. ## Disconnecting Open the SMS card → click **Disconnect** → confirm. The list of numbers is cleared and no more alerts will be sent. ## Troubleshooting - **No texts arriving** - Check that **Enable** is on and that the number is on the list with the country code. If **Notify on new lead** is off, new leads don’t send a text. - **“Validation failed”** - At least one number on the list couldn’t receive a test SMS. Check the format (full international format with `+` and country code), and make sure the phone can receive texts from unknown senders. - **Texts are delayed** - Rare, but carriers can introduce delivery delays during high-volume periods. If it’s a consistent issue, contact support. - **Non-US number not getting alerts** - SMS delivery is US-focused. For teams outside the US, use [Telegram](https://auto-respond.com/docs/integrations/telegram/) or [Slack](https://auto-respond.com/docs/integrations/slack/) instead. *** Questions about the SMS integration? Email . Last updated: July 3, 2026