GoHighLevel SMS Delivery Guide

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GoHighLevel SMS Delivery Troubleshooting Guide

If you use ClickUp to manage tasks and GoHighLevel to run marketing campaigns, reliable SMS delivery is critical. This how-to guide explains practical steps to investigate and fix SMS delivery issues inside GoHighLevel so your messages reach the right contacts at the right time.

The instructions below are based on the official SMS troubleshooting information and walk you through message status types, common failure reasons, and how to resolve problems for specific contacts or entire campaigns.

Understanding GoHighLevel SMS Status Codes

Before you start troubleshooting, you need to know what each message status means inside GoHighLevel. Status codes help you quickly identify where the issue occurred and what to check next.

  • Queued – The SMS is waiting in line to be processed and sent.
  • Sent – GoHighLevel has accepted the message and passed it to the carrier for delivery.
  • Delivered – The carrier reports that the SMS reached the recipient’s device.
  • Failed – The message could not be delivered. This typically requires investigation.
  • Undelivered – The carrier received the SMS but was unable to complete delivery to the final handset.

Monitoring these statuses in your conversation view or bulk actions area inside GoHighLevel will guide your troubleshooting steps.

Step 1: Check SMS Status in GoHighLevel Conversations

When a contact reports not receiving a text, start with their conversation thread inside GoHighLevel.

  1. Open the contact record in your sub-account.
  2. Go to the Conversations section.
  3. Locate the relevant SMS message.
  4. Check the status icon or label (for example, Sent, Delivered, Failed, or Undelivered).

If the status is Delivered but the contact still claims they did not receive the message, ask them to:

  • Restart their phone.
  • Check signal strength and network availability.
  • Review spam or blocked message folders.

If the status is Failed or Undelivered, continue with the next troubleshooting steps inside GoHighLevel.

Step 2: Confirm the Phone Number Format in GoHighLevel

Incorrect or incomplete phone numbers are a common cause of SMS failure in GoHighLevel. Make sure the number conforms to proper international formatting.

  1. From the contact record, verify the phone number field.
  2. Ensure it includes the correct country code (for example, +1 for the U.S. and Canada).
  3. Remove extra symbols, spaces, or leading zeros beyond what the carrier requires.
  4. Save the contact and resend a test SMS from GoHighLevel.

If the corrected number now shows a Delivered status, the issue was likely related to formatting.

Step 3: Review Carrier Error Codes in GoHighLevel

For Failed or Undelivered messages, GoHighLevel often exposes a carrier error code or short description that points to the underlying reason.

  1. Open the specific SMS inside the conversation thread.
  2. Look for additional error details beneath the message bubble or in the message log.
  3. Note any numeric error codes or text such as Message blocked, Unknown destination, or Carrier violation.

Common carrier-related issues include:

  • Recipient’s number is inactive or disconnected.
  • Recipient’s inbox is full.
  • Recipient has blocked messages from your number or short code.
  • Carrier has filtered or blocked traffic that appears promotional without consent.

Use these clues to decide whether to contact the recipient, adjust your message content, or escalate to support.

Step 4: Verify Opt-In and Compliance for GoHighLevel SMS

Carriers may block or filter messages if they suspect spam or if the contact has not provided proper consent. Using GoHighLevel correctly in line with compliance rules is essential.

  • Confirm that the contact opted in to receive SMS from your business.
  • Use clear language in your first message about who you are and what you’ll send.
  • Include instructions for opting out (for example, “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”).
  • Avoid prohibited content and extremely high send frequencies.

If carriers detect non-compliant sending behavior from your GoHighLevel number, they may temporarily block or heavily filter future messages.

Step 5: Check GoHighLevel Number Configuration

Your sending number inside GoHighLevel must be properly configured and capable of sending SMS to the region you are targeting.

  1. In your GoHighLevel sub-account, navigate to the phone numbers section (usually under Settings > Phone Numbers).
  2. Confirm that the number is Active and associated with the correct sub-account.
  3. Verify that the number type (local, toll-free, or short code) is supported for your use case.
  4. Check that any required registrations or verifications (such as A2P 10DLC for U.S. numbers) are completed and approved.

If your number is suspended, unverified, or misconfigured, GoHighLevel will not be able to send SMS reliably.

Step 6: Inspect Bulk Actions and Campaigns in GoHighLevel

When multiple recipients fail to receive messages from a single campaign, you should analyze the sending behavior of your bulk actions inside GoHighLevel.

  1. Go to the Bulk Actions or Campaigns area.
  2. Open the specific SMS campaign or workflow.
  3. Review the delivery report to see how many messages were Sent, Delivered, Failed, or Queued.
  4. Check for patterns: for example, failures concentrated in one country or carrier.

If an entire batch shows failures, double-check that:

  • Your GoHighLevel number is in good standing.
  • The message content does not trigger carrier filters.
  • Send rates are not excessively high, which can lead to temporary throttling.

Step 7: Use GoHighLevel Logs to Pinpoint Issues

Detailed logs provide additional visibility into how SMS messages move through the system.

  1. Within GoHighLevel, open any available logs or reporting modules related to SMS.
  2. Filter logs by date, campaign, or number to focus on the problematic time frame.
  3. Compare successful and failed messages to identify what changed (content, routing, or audience).

Consistent patterns in the logs can help you refine your sending strategy and avoid repeated delivery issues in GoHighLevel.

Escalating Persistent SMS Problems in GoHighLevel

If you continue to experience SMS delivery failures after trying the steps above, you may need deeper technical help.

  1. Document specific examples with timestamps, numbers, and error codes.
  2. Collect screenshots from GoHighLevel conversations and bulk action reports.
  3. Review the official SMS troubleshooting article here: GoHighLevel SMS delivery troubleshooting.
  4. Contact support with your documented examples so they can investigate carrier-level routing or account-specific restrictions.

Providing detailed information helps support trace the path of each message through GoHighLevel and the carrier network.

Best Practices to Improve GoHighLevel SMS Deliverability

To minimize future issues and keep SMS campaigns performing well, follow these simple practices inside GoHighLevel:

  • Maintain clean lists by regularly removing invalid or bounced numbers.
  • Collect explicit SMS consent and record it in GoHighLevel.
  • Use recognizable sender names in your messages so contacts know who is texting them.
  • Test new campaigns with a small segment before full-scale sending.
  • Monitor delivery and response rates, then adjust message timing and frequency.

Improving your reputation with carriers over time leads to more consistent SMS delivery from GoHighLevel.

Where to Learn More About Optimizing GoHighLevel

Beyond technical troubleshooting, refining your overall CRM and automation strategy will help you get the most from GoHighLevel SMS features.

  • For consulting, training, and implementation resources, visit Consultevo for expert guidance.
  • Review official documentation and updates in the GoHighLevel help center to stay current on SMS policies and requirements.

By combining accurate configuration, compliant messaging, and ongoing monitoring, you can keep SMS delivery stable and effective inside GoHighLevel for all your marketing and communication workflows.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your GHL , work with ConsultEvo — trusted GoHighLevel Partners.

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