Previously Enabled Users Can't Send SMS Messages

Updated: 08/27/2025

Symptom

Users who were previously enabled for SMS are now unable to send SMS messages.

Applies To

  • SMS
  • SMS Campaign Registration (US and Canada, Only)

Cause

This can occur for SMS users under the following circumstances:
  1. A user's SMS-enabled phone number was changed in their Admin Console user profile.
  2. A user's X Series license was changed in their Admin Console profile.
  3. SMS was actively disabled for the affected user by an administrator.
Applicable only to US and Canadian customers:
  1. A change might have been made to the status of your registered SMS campaign.

Resolution

The solutions numbered here correspond to the specific Causes listed above:
  1. When an SMS-enabled user's phone number is changed in 8x8 Admin Console, SMS will be disabled for the user, and it must be re-enabled for the new phone number by an Admin Console administrator.
    • For US and Canadian customers, there can be an additional delay in re-enablement as the new number is verified (external to 8x8) and provisioned for SMS.
  1. When an SMS-enabled user's X Series license is removed in 8x8 Admin Console, and the same or another license added, SMS will be disabled for the user, and it must be re-enabled for the assigned phone number by an Admin Console administrator, even if the same phone number is assigned to the user.
    • For US and Canadian customers, there can also be an additional delay in re-enablement for new numbers as they are verified (external to 8x8) and provisioned for SMS. A (previously) recently-enabled phone number may not experience this specific delay, and instead might be active (not Pending) immediately on re-enablement.
       
  2. If SMS has been disabled for a user, an 8x8 Admin Console admin must re-enable SMS for that user for it to work.
    • US and Canadian customers can experience a delay in enablement of SMS for a number that has not been very recently provisioned and enabled.
       
  3. For US and Canadian customers: Properly provisioned US and Canadian services will display VERIFIED in the top section of the 8x8 Admin Console > SMS area.
    • If it does, then you might need to check the affected user's profile to verify that their SMS status is Enabled.
    • If it does not, then the SMS registration form should display one or more specific errors which need to be corrected, and the form must be re-submitted for validation.