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Explorer
Jan 12, 2023 11:12 PM UTC
Solved

SMS Character Limit

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

    FORE-Craig
    Expert
    Jan 13, 2023 6:07 PM UTC

    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.

     

     

    12 replies

    FORE-Craig
    Expert
    Expert
    Jan 13, 2023 1:10 AM UTC

    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!

     

     

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    AstrolabeAuthor
    Explorer
    Jan 13, 2023 5:22 PM UTC

    What happens if the message is over 500 characters?

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    FORE-Craig
    Expert
    Expert
    Jan 13, 2023 6:07 PM UTC

    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.

     

     

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    Newcomer
    Mar 29, 2023 12:05 PM UTC

    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.

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    Explorer
    Mar 28, 2024 9:36 PM UTC

    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-

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    Newcomer
    Mar 28, 2024 10:17 PM UTC

    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).

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    Newcomer
    May 28, 2024 1:58 PM UTC

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

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    Newcomer
    Nov 17, 2025 9:06 PM UTC

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

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    Newcomer
    Jan 7, 2026 6:56 PM UTC

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

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    sparrow
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    Jan 22, 2026 5:26 PM UTC

    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. 

     

     

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    Newcomer
    Sep 12, 2026 6:02 PM UTC

    hey, how to get to that place? the way you explain aint working, I cant find the place.

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    sparrow
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    Sep 14, 2026 4:12 PM UTC

    ​@Donnie Harris Sounds like you’re not using sites and this where you would configure the limit. Alternatively, you can manage that at the account level. Account management => Account Settings => Zoom Phone. Scroll down to SMS and you’ll see it (Character limit per user) If you want all users to have a limit above the default, change it and lock the settings. If you don’t like that approach and want different users to have different values? Then manage that per user which is under the users Zoom Phone policy. 

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