How to disable automated SMS responses in Twilio?

Question

In March I opened a website that provides people with temporary numbers to be used to receive SMS verifications etc.

I've just logged in to the account and realised that I've received a ton of charges for outbound SMS.

They appear to be a default automated response whenever any of my numbers receives a SMS.

I didn't enable this (seems as though it's some sort of money making thing on their side). How do I disable it?

Send a SMS to one of your numbers. What is the message you get back? — Alex Baban, Jun 06 '16 at 19:34

score 12 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 29 '18 at 09:49

Go to your project, open https://www.twilio.com/console/phone-numbers/incoming and select the number. In Messaging in A MESSAGE COMES IN select TwiML and click Plus button. Give it some name and paste

<?xml version='1.0' ?> <Response></Response>

there. Save

score 11 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 08 '16 at 21:19

11

Twilio evangelist here.

When you buy a Twilio phone number it comes configured with a default Message Request URL that uses the TwiML <Sms> verb to send a reply back to any incoming text message.

<Response>
    <Sms>Thanks for the message. Configure your number's SMS URL to change this message.Reply HELP for help.Reply STOP to unsubscribe.Msg&Data rates may apply.</Sms>
</Response>

If you want to prevent those replies you can change this default behavior by providing your own Message Request URL or by using our integrated TwiMLBin feature and returning an empty TwiML response to Twilio:

<Response />

Here is an article from our FAQ that has more info:

https://www.twilio.com/help/faq/sms/how-can-i-receive-sms-messages-without-responding

Hope that helps.

edited Jun 08 '16 at 21:19

Megan Speir

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answered Jun 07 '16 at 14:15

Devin Rader

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Can I just remove that URL so the box is blank? – user598200 Jun 07 '16 at 14:21
1

That will stop Twilio from both receiving and replying to messages for that phone number. – Devin Rader Jun 07 '16 at 20:32
4

this is crazy. such a simple thing gives such a headache. I still can't disable goddamn replies. Just do a ducking checkbox there already – Toolkit Aug 29 '18 at 09:33

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 09 '21 at 03:14

(2021 Update)

Few things were updated in Twilio / mainly their Admin Dashboard GUI but I'll try to simplify it for anyone reading this still. Trust me when I say I completely understand the frustration of the lack of simplicity when it comes to how they operate. The phrase "Work Smarter, Not Harder" doesn't exist in that company (lol):

Log into your Admin Dashboard Account: https://www.twilio.com/login
Go to your Active Phone Numbers: https://console.twilio.com/?frameUrl=/console/phone-numbers/
- If that URL changes, add Active Phone Numbers to your Develop dashboard first VIA
Develop Tab -> Explore Products -> CTRL + F "Phone Numbers" -> Click the Pin Button
- Then access your Active Phone Numbers VIA
Develop Tab -> Phone Numbers -> Manage -> Active Numbers -> Click Active (###) ###-####

Scroll down to Messaging -> Select Webhooks, TwiML Bins, Functions, Studio, or Proxy is selected for Configure With Other Handlers -> Select Function for When a Message Comes In -> Select Default for Service -> then leave the Function Path empty.

How to disable automated SMS responses in Twilio?

3 Answers3

(2021 Update)