Using the SMS Composer

  • Updated on Jun 17, 2025
  • Published on Dec 26, 2024
  • 5 minute(s) read
Prev Next

The SMS Connector App enables the Microsoft Teams client to send and receive SMS/MMS messages.

This articles shows how you, as a Teams User configured to use the ConnecttoTeams app, can use the smart SMS Composer interface with your SMS/MMS communication.

Introduction

The SMS Composer is a convenient interface with advanced control for sending SMS from within the Microsoft Teams client. This is particularly useful if you prefer not to navigate away from the native Teams chat environment.

In this article, we’ll cover the following topics:

  1. Using the SMS Composer: Learn how to use this handy composer.

  2. Methods for Easier SMS Sending from within Microsoft Teams:

  • Via “Respond to Message” Button: Discover how to invoke the SMS Composer from Activity Feed and Teams Channel

  • Via MS Teams Chat “Actions and apps”: Explore another way to launch the SMS Composer.

  • Via “Compose SMS” from Chat Actions: Find out how to use this option to launch the SMS Composer.

  • Via App Tagging in a Teams Channel: Learn about tagging the app to quickly send SMS

  1. Deleting SMS Messages : Understand how to delete SMS messages directly from within Microsoft Teams.

Before You Begin

The SMS Composer

The SMS Composer is a handy interface with advanced control on sending SMS from within the Teams client.

  1. Select the desired SMS CallerID (FROM number) from the drop-down menu of the SMS Composer. If there is only one number enabled for  your user, then this list will only have one option for FROM number.

  2. Select from the Select Recipient drop-down box the contact name (if available) or type the full mobile number of the target recipient.

Contacts

To know more about saving contacts, refer to Working with Contacts.

It is possible to broadcast SMS to multiple recipients by pressing the enter key or comma key. Note that the maximum number of recipients is 10.


Note: The SMS Composer does not currently support initiating group texts. For instructions on starting a group text using the SMS app, refer to the Group Text Message guide.

  1. Compose your message text and/or add attachments, then click Send button.

When sending MMS, be aware that there are limitations imposed by carriers. It’s essential to understand these MMS limitations before using MMS.

Note: You can only send SMS to recipients with the same country code as that of your Enterprise’s Home Country in the Microsoft Admin Center.

1. Using the Respond to Message Button

The SMS Composer can be invoked by clicking the Respond to Message button which can be seen the following places within Microsoft Teams.

i. The Respond to Message button can be seen in the notification card which corresponds to a received SMS from a remote party in the Microsoft Teams activity feed screen.



Clicking on the Respond to Message button invokes the SMS Composer.

ii. The Respond to Message button can also be seen in the Teams Channel associated to the remote party (either a single mobile number or a group text).


Both options (Widget and Respond to Message button) launch the SMS composer with the sender and recipient already selected based on the conversation history.

  • When the sender is a single number, the Respond to Message button launches the SMS Composer with the recipient box pre-filled with the sender's number or contact name.

  • When the channel is for a group text, the Respond to Message button launches the SMS Composer with the recipient box pre-filled with all members of the group text.

Note: From the Teams channel, you can only reply to group texts; initiating a new group text is not possible. To start a new group text, the SMS app can be used. For more information, see the Group Text Message documentation.


2. Using Microsoft Teams Chat “Actions and apps”

To launch the Actions and apps menu in the Microsoft Teams native chat composer area, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the “+” or “…” icon (whichever is available).

  2. Search for the SMS app and select it.

Please note that the app’s name or logo may have been modified during deployment. Ensure that you use the correct app as directed by your ConnecttoTeamsprovider.



3. Using “Compose SMS” from Chat Actions

Select any message from MS Teams Chat screen and click on the ellipsis icon (…) to launch More actions menu. Click on the Compose SMS action added by the ConnecttoTeams SMS app.

The app may have been renamed and rebranded upon deployment. Make sure to use the action having the right logo as directed by your ConnecttoTeams provider.

MS Teams also allows invoking the Chat Actions menu by right-clicking anywhere in any conversation pane.

4. Tagging the App

App tagging is used to quickly send singular SMS messages from a Channel associated to a singular remote party. App tagging cannot be used to support sending MMS.

This can only be done in the Channel associated with the other party’s SMS phone number.

The app tagging method cannot be used to initiate or reply to group texts.

  1. Select the teams that correspond to your desired SMS CallerID number. Then select a Channel underneath this team that corresponds to remote party. Click Reply and command the SMS app by using the @ sign. For example, @sms


  2. . Simply enter the desired message after the app tag then click send.


  3. Depending on your Teams Channel notification settings, you will get a confirmation message in the banner and in the feed.



NOTE: The Reply option below the card is Microsoft's framework reply. When used, the reply is a regular MS Teams chat message and will NOT be sent as an SMS message.

Deleting SMS from Teams Channel

  1. Look for the recipient's number or the channel in Microsoft Teams.



  2. Select the message you want to delete by clicking the trash icon to the right.


  3. Click Delete from the pop-up window.

Note: Messages deleted from the Teams Channel will also be deleted in the embedded SMS App.

Related articles