Troubleshooting guide

Google Sheets SMS Troubleshooting: Why Did My Text Not Send?

Find the cause of a failed, pending, or unexpected SMS send from Google Sheets. Use this checklist for SENDSMS, SCHEDULESMS, SENDSMSWITHSENDER, and dashboard messages.

Install Sheet SMS Open Dashboard

Quick answer

=SENDSMS(A2, B2)

Use the formula with cell references for repeatable spreadsheet workflows. Test one opted-in recipient first, then expand the workflow after the result is correct.

Step-by-step setup

  1. 1Read the exact error returned in the cell or dashboard.
  2. 2Check the phone number, country code, and recipient consent.
  3. 3Check credits and whether the message already appears in history.
  4. 4For scheduled messages, verify the spreadsheet timezone and date/time.
  5. 5Retry only after correcting the cause, so you do not create duplicates.

Examples you can copy

Invalid number

Use + followed by the country code and subscriber number.

No credits

Top up the authenticated Sheet SMS account before retrying.

Custom sender pending

Wait for sender approval or use the standard phone-number sender.

The phone number is invalid

Most number failures come from missing country codes, formatting characters, truncated values, or a phone number that cannot be verified. Use a dedicated phone-number column and validate a small sample before sending a large list.

The account has no SMS credits

SMS sends use account credits. A failed balance check should be resolved by topping up the account; do not repeatedly re-enter the formula while the balance is unavailable.

The custom sender is pending or unsupported

Custom sender IDs are country-dependent and may require approval. Use the custom sender guide and supported-country list. If recipients need to reply, use a phone-number sender instead.

The scheduled message fired at the wrong time

SCHEDULESMS uses the Google Sheet timezone. Open File > Settings and verify the timezone before creating more schedules.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my formula appear stuck?

Refresh the sheet, confirm the add-on is enabled, and check the returned cell value and account message history. Avoid repeatedly editing a formula that may already be processing.

How can I tell whether an SMS was sent?

Check the result in the formula cell and the authenticated dashboard message history.