SMS notifications

You can give your customers the option of entering a phone number at checkout instead of an email address. If you have SMS notifications set up, then customers who enter a phone number instead of an email address will receive their order confirmation by SMS to their mobile phone, when your business address is in one of the following countries:

  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

However, customers won't receive shipping notifications by SMS.

You can select what contact method customers can use at checkout from the Checkout and accounts page in your Shopify admin.

Set up your customer’s SMS notification options

When a customer places an order using your store's checkout, they enter an email address by default. If you let customers check out using their phone number, then they can choose to enter either an email address or a phone number. If you have SMS notifications set up, then customers who enter a phone number instead of an email address will receive their order confirmation by SMS to their mobile phone, when your business address is in one of the following countries:

  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

When a customer enters a phone number, it's saved in their customer information. It's also used as the default shipping phone number. If you need your customers to enter an email addresses, then select the email-only option.

Steps:

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Checkout.
  2. In the Customer contact method section, select any of the following SMS settings:
    • To select phone or email check out, select Phone number or email.
    • To select email only, select Email.
  3. Click Save.

Deactivate Shopify SMS

If you're using a third-party app to send custom order SMS notifications to your customers, then you can deactivate Shopify SMS notifications in your Shopify admin to avoid sending duplicate messages.

Steps:

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Notifications.
  2. Click Customer notifications.
  3. In the Order processing section, click Order Confirmation.
  4. Click the SMS tab.
  5. In the Shopify order confirmation SMS section, click Deactivate.
  6. In the Deactivate Shopify SMS dialog, click Deactivate.

Frequently asked questions about SMS notifications

Can SMS notifications be disabled for an order after the order is placed?

Yes. You can turn off SMS notifications for an order by editing the order contact information in the Customers section of the order details page in Shopify. If you want to delete or edit the order contact information without changing the customer's information, then uncheck Update customer profile to save the changes only for that order.

Can customers checkout using their email and choose to get SMS updates?

No. If a customer checks out using their email address, then shipping updates will be delivered by email. Providing updates by SMS would result in customers receiving duplicate notifications.

Can customers check out without an email address?

Yes. If you allow customers to enter a phone number at checkout, then a customer who checks out with a phone number won't have an email address saved to their order. Customers can still choose to enter an email address on the order status page to receive email notifications for an order after the order is placed.

Can I make customers enter an email address at checkout?

Yes. You can disable the option to enter a phone number at checkout in your checkout settings. If you select Email, then customers will have to enter an email address at checkout.

Can a customer create an account by using a phone number instead of an email address?

No. Customers need to enter an email address to create an account.

Can a customer reply to an SMS notification?

No. Customers can't send a message to you in reply to an SMS notification.

Will I be charged for SMS notifications?

No. There is no cost to you. Standard message rates might still apply to your customers depending on their phone carrier.

Can I recover an abandoned checkout if the customer began checking out with a phone number?

No. You can't send a cart recovery SMS to a customer.

Can a customer who enters a phone number instead of an email address buy a digital download?

Yes. The link to the download will be available from the thank you page, which is linked to the order confirmation sent by SMS. However, because some digital downloads apps send separate emails, you should test yours.

Can a customer who enters a phone number instead of an email address buy a gift card?

Yes. The customer receives an SMS notification with a link to their gift card.

Can customers pay with Shop Pay when they check out using their phone number?

No. Customers cannot use a phone number to check out through Shop Pay at this time.

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