Register your numbers for texting (10DLC and toll-free)

US carriers only deliver business texts from numbers that are registered with them. A local number (ten digits, such as 415 555 0123) needs A2P 10DLC registration. A toll-free number (800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 or 888) needs toll-free verification instead. Until a number is registered, your replies to US phones may be blocked. Calls are not affected.

You fill in the form in the helpdesk. Growth Dept reviews it, tells you if anything needs changing, then sends it to the carriers on your behalf. Growth Dept pays every registration fee; nothing is billed to you.

Only admins can start or change a registration. Everyone else can see its status.

Before you start#

Have these ready:

• The IRS letter that gave you your EIN (form CP-575 or 147C). The legal name, EIN and address you enter must match it exactly, including "Inc." or "LLC". A difference here is the most common reason a registration fails.

• A contact person: someone at your company with their own email and US phone number. Carriers do not accept a shared inbox such as support@.

• Your privacy policy and terms of service pages. Shopify stores have them at /policies/privacy-policy and /policies/terms-of-service.

• For toll-free verification, a screenshot of where customers find your number or agree to texts, such as your contact page, saved somewhere with an https link.

Fill in the form#

1. Open Settings > SMS > Carrier registration.

2. Click Register local numbers (10DLC) or Verify toll-free numbers. The form opens with what the helpdesk already knows: your name, website, the organization owner as contact, your store's address if a Shopify store is connected, and suggested wording for a support line.

3. Add your legal company name and EIN, and check the address against the IRS letter. The helpdesk never fills these in for you.

4. Check the numbers to register. Every active number of the right kind is ticked to start with.

5. Read How customers agree to texts and replace the part in double brackets with where customers really see your number.

6. Read the sample texts. Each one must name your brand, and at least one must say how to stop texts (Reply STOP to opt out). Put the parts that change in brackets, such as [first name] or [order number].

7. Click Send to Growth Dept. The form marks any field that still needs fixing; Save draft keeps your work until you are ready.

The suggested wording fits a support line where customers text you first, or ask for texts on a call or in a form. If you also send order updates or offers from these numbers, choose Mixed as the use case and tick each kind of text. Carriers compare the registration with what you actually send.

What happens next#

10DLC registration usually takes 10 to 14 days in all, because several parties check it in turn. Toll-free verification usually takes one to two weeks. The page shows the latest step under the status, and History lists every step with its date.

If it is turned down#

The page shows the carriers' reasons, and marks the fields they point at when they say which. Change those details and click Send to Growth Dept again. Growth Dept reviews it once more before it goes back to the carriers, and pays any new fee.

If you decide not to register, Withdraw a draft or a turned-down registration. You can start a new one later.

Adding numbers later#

• A new local number joins your approved 10DLC registration. Open the registration, tick the number under Add numbers to this registration and click Add. It is usually added within minutes, without another review.

• A new toll-free number needs its own verification: click Verify toll-free numbers again. One verification covers up to five numbers.

Fees#

Growth Dept pays these. They are listed so you know what registration involves; you are never charged.

These are the fees Telnyx published when we checked in November 2026.

Questions#

Do I need this if I only take calls? No. Registration is only for texts. If you plan to text later, you can register now so the numbers are ready.

Can a demo helpdesk register? No. Demo helpdesks never text anyone or reach the carriers.