Azure Communication Service SMS don't work

Question

Hello, I'm a software developer.

I purchased a number from Communication Service to test SMS sending for my solutions.

I've been waiting for several weeks now, and not even the service's message sending test is working.

I don't want to change SMS sending providers, as I use other Azure tools, but I can't get this service to work.

Thanks

Jorge

Answer 1

Hi Carlos Leyva,

SMS sending via ACS may not work due to a few reasons. The phone number used might not support SMS, or it could be restricted by region. Configuration issues, such as incorrect settings or permissions in Azure, can also cause problems. Additionally, if you're in trial mode or haven't set up billing, SMS might be limited.

• Please check SMS Enablement by going to Azure Portal -> Communication Services -> Phone Numbers -> Select your purchased number -> Ensure SMS is listed under Capabilities to confirm SMS support.
• Verify Phone Number Status by going to Azure Portal → Communication Services → Phone Numbers → Ensure your number is Active and, if toll-free, has completed toll-free verification to avoid SMS blocking in US and CA.
• Ensure your phone number supports SMS in the region or country you're sending messages to, as functionality may vary.
• Check Service Health by going to the Azure Service Health portal to see if there are any issues affecting Azure Communication Services.
• To test with Azure CLI, try sending a test message through Azure CLI to bypass any potential UI issues.

az communication sms send --resource-group <your-resource-group> --communication-services-name <your-service-name> --from <your-phone-number> --to <recipient-number> --message "Test message"

Send an SMS message - Azure Communication Services | Microsoft Learn

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/communication-services/concepts/numbers/number-types

Troubleshooting in Azure Communication Services | Microsoft Learn

Answer 2

Hello Carlos Leyva,

Thanks for the update. Since the number has been in “pending verification” status for over a month, that’s likely the reason SMS sending isn’t working. For toll-free numbers in the US, verification is mandatory before you can send SMS unverified numbers are blocked by carriers to prevent spam. 

Here’s what you can do next:

1. Check if your documentation submission was complete – make sure the consent forms and screenshots clearly show opt-in and follow the toll-free verification guidelines.
2. Optionally, consider testing with a regular long code number instead of toll-free, as those don’t need prior verification in most cases.