> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mountmonitor.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# SMS

> How MountMonitor texts clients about new jobs and stage updates

SMS in MountMonitor is for short client texts. The usual use is an automatic update when you create a job or move work to a new stage.

These texts are separate from the Client Portal. The portal is where clients look up jobs. SMS tells them something changed.

## Turn on shop-wide SMS

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Client Portal settings">
    Go to **Settings**, then **Client Portal**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Automated SMS">
    Turn on **Automatically SMS clients for new jobs & stage updates**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose which stages text clients">
    In the same settings, use your **Stages** cards. Enable automatic updates on the stages you want clients to hear about. Save **Portal Settings**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

You can also send emails from the same screen with **Automatically email clients for new jobs & stage updates**.

## Control SMS for one client

On the client record, **SMS Alerts** can be:

* **Global**: follow your shop setting
* **Always**: text this client even if shop-wide SMS is off
* **Never**: do not text this client

Use **Never** for clients who asked not to get texts.

## When a text cannot be sent

MountMonitor will not text a client when:

* **SMS Alerts** is **Never**, or the client has opted out
* The number is a landline or other untextable number (**Untextable**)
* The phone number is not one MountMonitor can text (US and Canada numbers that start with +1)

Email is not affected by those SMS limits.

If a client opted out, they can text **START** to the same number to subscribe again. Until they do, MountMonitor will not send job updates by SMS.

<Note>
  Keep a mobile number on the client. Update the number if it is a landline or if texts stop arriving.
</Note>

## Day-to-day use

Once automation is on, staff work as usual. Create the job or move a mount or part to the next stage. MountMonitor sends the stage text when that stage is set to notify.

You do not need a separate SMS app for these updates.

## Related guides

<Card title="Bookings" icon="calendar" href="/bookings">
  How new work arrives as a pending job before stage updates begin
</Card>