Objective
This article explains what each section of the General messaging settings tab controls, so you can confirm how your account handles alphanumeric sender IDs, MMS fallback, media authentication, redaction, and message record retention.
Product
Programmable Messaging
Environment
Twilio Console
Procedure
- In the Twilio Console, select Communications in the left sidebar.
- Select Messaging, then Settings.
- Select the General tab.
- Review the sections that apply to your account:
- Alphanumeric sender ID — shows whether one-way messages can be sent with a branded alphanumeric sender ID. Alphanumeric sender IDs are enabled automatically once you upgrade the account.
- MMS converter — when Enabled, a message sent with a media URL to a recipient whose carrier does not support MMS is delivered as an SMS with a shortened link to your media. When Disabled, that message is not sent and your application receives an HTTP 400 response.
- Compliance Toolkit — when Enabled, Twilio uses AI to help you manage certain local regulatory and compliance requirements for your messaging traffic.
- SMS Pumping Protection — when Enabled, Twilio automatically detects and blocks SMS pumping attempts on traffic sent through the Programmable Messaging API.
- HTTP Basic Authentication for media access — when Enabled, your Account SID and auth token or API key are required to fetch Voice and Messaging media files, so media is not publicly accessible. When Disabled, anyone with the media URL can open it.
- Phone Number Redaction — shows whether the last four digits of non-Twilio phone numbers are redacted before they are stored.
- Message Body Redaction — shows whether message bodies are withheld from the Twilio Console, the APIs, and internal support systems.
- Canada Traffic - Rogers — controls whether Twilio continues sending traffic to Rogers Wireless in Canada. When Enabled, the $0.006 carrier fee that Rogers imposes is assessed on that traffic. When Disabled, messages to Rogers Wireless in Canada fail with error code 20003.
- Message Records Data Access and Backup — how many days message records stay accessible, and whether long-term backup is kept.
Additional Information
Not every section appears on every account. Sections such as Canada Traffic - Rogers, Compliance Toolkit, and SMS Pumping Protection are shown only when they apply to your account.
The General tab is currently read-only, and a notice on the page tells you so. To change a setting while the tab is read-only, contact Twilio Support. Geo permissions, Log archives, and SMS Pumping Protection can be changed directly.
Phone Number Redaction and Message Body Redaction are access-controlled. If they are not already active on your account, the page shows a request form link instead of a status, and you submit that form to request more details and pricing information.
This content was generated by AI and reviewed, edited, and verified by a human.