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RCS Registration: Testing an RCS Sender

Before you submit an RCS sender for approval, send test messages to registered devices to confirm that your branding renders correctly and messages deliver as expected. This article explains how to add and manage test numbers and send test messages while your sender is in a pre-launch status.

# In this article

# About test numbers

Test numbers are phone numbers you register on the sender profile. Registered RCS-ready phone numbers can receive RCS from a sender before it is approved for production. Send test messages to confirm that your sender displays correctly and that messages deliver as expected. You will also use test sends to record your launch video.

If you change your sender profile while it's in a pre-launch status, test the sender again to confirm your updates.

# Add a test number

You can add a test number once the sender has finished syncing and the sender enters Draft status. Test number actions remain available while the sender is Pending or in Resubmission required, but become unavailable once the sender reaches Partially approved or any later launched state.

IMPORTANT

Complete and save your final launch video before your sender reaches Partially approved. If a reviewer requests a replacement video after test number actions become unavailable, contact your Iterable customer success manager.

  1. From your sender's detail page, find the Test Numbers section.

  2. Click Add Test Number.

  3. Select the country code and enter the phone number of the test device. Click Add Test Number.

    IMPORTANT

    Use a modern Android device or an iPhone on iOS 18 or later with RCS enabled.

  4. The test number appears with a Pending status and Google sends the test number a message asking for confirmation.

  5. The phone number's owner must accept the request before you can send test messages to that number.

    To accept the invitation, ask the tester to click Make me a tester in the message they receive.

  6. Click the refresh button in the Test numbers section to update the status.

    After the tester accepts, the status changes to Verified.

  7. With the number verified, select Send test message next to that number to send a test message from your sender.

  8. Monitor the test number status:

    • Pending — The invitation was sent and is waiting for the tester to accept it.
    • Verified — The tester accepted the invitation. You can send test messages to this number.
    • Failed — Registration failed, the tester declined, or the invitation expired. Add the number again or use a different test device.

# Send test messages

After a test number is Verified, send test messages to it using the Send test message button from the sender's detail page.

See RCS Registration: Creating an RCS Launch Video to learn how to use test sends when recording your launch video.

To send a test message for your sender:

  1. Go to your sender's detail page.

  2. Find a test number with Verified status.

  3. Click Send Test Message next to that number.

  4. In the modal, confirm the Test number (or select a different verified number if you have more than one).

  5. Select a Message type:

    • Sample Text Message — sends a short predefined message from Iterable so you can confirm your sender and branding display correctly without writing your own copy.
    • Custom Text Message — enter your own plain text (up to 2,500 characters). Handlebars expressions are not supported in sender test messages.

  6. Click Send Test Message.

# Next steps

After you verify your sender and message flow, record the experience required for destination approval. See RCS Registration: Creating an RCS Launch Video.

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