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Newcomer
January 12, 2023
Solved

SMS Character Limit

  • January 12, 2023
  • 7 replies
  • 42 views

Is there a setting to automatically split and send SMS messages that are over 160 characters?

    Best answer by FORE-Craig

    Hi again @Astrolabe 

     

    The message entry field show the number of characters exceeding the 500 character (including spaces) limit below. The message cannot be sent at all. See attached screen shot.

     

     

    7 replies

    FORE-Craig
    Specialist
    Specialist
    January 13, 2023

    Hi @Astrolabe 

     

    From the support article Frequently Asked Questions About SMS:

     

    When using Zoom desktop client or mobile app, each message can contain up to 500 characters.

    Note: Each SMS message can contain up to 160 characters as this is the standard SMS character limit. When sending a message longer than 160 characters, the Zoom desktop client or mobile app will automatically segment the message. You will see a single message on the Zoom desktop client and mobile app, but your recipient may see several messages.

     

     

    I hope that helps!

     

     

    AstrolabeAuthor
    Newcomer
    January 13, 2023

    What happens if the message is over 500 characters?

    FORE-Craig
    Specialist
    Specialist
    January 13, 2023

    Hi again @Astrolabe 

     

    The message entry field show the number of characters exceeding the 500 character (including spaces) limit below. The message cannot be sent at all. See attached screen shot.

     

     

    Newcomer
    March 29, 2023

    It's 2023, not 2003...why can't Zoom send a text that's longer than 160 characters from the Zoom app on our phones? At our business, we frequently need to send longer texts to team members and colleagues. In one of your responses, you said "When sending a message longer than 160 characters, the Zoom desktop client or mobile app will automatically segment the message." But then in a later response, you said "The message cannot be sent at all." The latter has been my experience. But again, in 2023, this limitation is pretty much inexcusable. Will they fix it? If not, we'll probably have to cancel and start over with a different company provider provider.

    Newcomer
    March 28, 2024

    I believe Zoom has integrations w other SMS/MMS carriers such that you can retain Zoom Phone but the SMS, etc is flowed through to another provider (at least I know I read something about that in a setup doc somewhere-

    Newcomer
    March 28, 2024

    I appreciate your reply and you taking the time. Still, in 2024 now, there’s really no excuse for this kind of limitation on a business solution (a paid service).

    Newcomer
    May 28, 2024

    Is there an answer for this or being worked on? We consistently run into the 500 character limit and makes the service not usable.

    Newcomer
    November 17, 2025

    2025 almost 2026 and still can't send over 500 characters.... 

    Newcomer
    January 7, 2026

    Now 2026 and still can't send over 500 characters. 🙄

    sparrow
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    January 22, 2026

    Based on the site settings, you can send/receive up to 1600 characters max. By default, it’s set to 500. Go to the site settings and under policy. Look for SMS settings and up the character limit. If you lock it, all users in the site will automatically inherit the character limit.