What SMS Ready and Pending mean on a phone number
Last updated: Aug 24, 2026
The SMS Status column on Phone System → Numbers tells you whether each number can send texts. Ready means the number is fully registered and sending; Pending 10DLC means it's waiting on carrier confirmation of its 10DLC campaign assignment. A number can receive texts and calls the whole time — these statuses gate outbound texting only.
The statuses, decoded
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Ready | The number is registered to a 10DLC campaign and verified against your messaging profile. It can send and receive. | Nothing — you're live. |
| Pending 10DLC | "Voice is live. SMS is waiting for 10DLC carrier confirmation — this can take a few minutes." | Usually nothing: "No action needed. We'll auto-update when the carrier confirms." If it lingers, click Retry. |
| Blocked | The carrier refused or removed the campaign assignment — for example "SMS is blocked for this number — it is assigned to a different 10DLC campaign." The exact reason is in the red popover next to the pill. | Click Retry. If it stays blocked, the row offers Delete so you can provision a replacement. |
| No campaign space | Every 10DLC campaign is at its 49-number cap. "All 10DLC campaigns are full" — calls and incoming texts keep working; only outbound is off. | Add a campaign in Phone System → 10DLC Verification — assignment resumes automatically once there's room. |
| Voice only | A toll-free number that hasn't been submitted for texting: "SMS is not enabled for toll-free numbers." | Submit it for Toll-Free Verification if you want it to text. |
| Verification pending | A toll-free number in review: "Toll-Free Verification in progress — usually 1–3 business days." | Wait — it flips to Ready on approval. |
Reading the rest of the row
- Call Status — voice readiness, separate from SMS. Ready means the line can make and take calls; a red popover explains any not-ready state.
- Lifecycle — a three-ring Voice / SMS / Flow checklist. All three filled means the number is live AND routed. A hollow Flow ring on an otherwise-ready number means "Voice and SMS are live, but no call flow is assigned — inbound calls won't be routed yet." — that's the Awaiting flow state.
- Needs Attention — numbers that aren't fully live collect in this panel above the table, each with quick actions (Retry, Retry SMS, a flow picker).
Why "Ready" is trustworthy
Dispatch Bros marks a number Ready only after two independent checks pass: the carrier confirms the campaign assignment, and a live read confirms the number is actually bound to your messaging profile. If the binding ever drifts, the status honestly drops back to pending while it auto-repairs — the column never claims a number can send when it can't.
Troubleshooting
- Everything says Pending 10DLC — your business registration probably isn't approved yet. Finish 10DLC verification first; numbers register automatically after approval.
- Bulk fixing — select multiple rows and use Retry 10DLC in the selection bar to re-run SMS setup for every selected number that isn't ready yet.
- "No campaign space" keeps coming back — each campaign holds up to 49 numbers. Add another campaign in Phone System → 10DLC Verification; the banner there confirms: numbers not registered to a campaign flow into a new one the moment it's approved.
- A toll-free number reads Voice only forever — that's by design until you submit it for verification. See toll-free numbers.
FAQ
How long does Pending 10DLC last?
Usually a few minutes once your 10DLC registration is approved — the carrier has to confirm the number's campaign assignment. If your business registration itself is still in review, the number waits until that finishes (typically 1-3 business days).
Why does Dispatch Bros say Ready only sometimes right after approval?
Ready is a verified state: the carrier must confirm the campaign assignment AND a live check must confirm the number is bound to your messaging profile. The status never claims more than what's actually working.
My number says Blocked. Is it dead?
It depends on the reason shown in the red popover. If every campaign is full the number itself is fine — add a campaign. If the carrier rejected the assignment, use Retry; if it stays blocked, delete the number and provision a replacement.
Can a number receive texts while SMS is Pending?
Yes — inbound texts and voice keep working. Pending and Blocked gate outbound sending only.