---
title: "Send and receive messages"
slug: "send-and-receive-messages"
updated: 2026-07-23T10:06:50Z
published: 2026-07-23T10:06:50Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/send-and-receive-messages"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Send and receive messages

The 8x8 for Microsoft Teams app (8x8 Teams app) enables you to send and receive messages with your colleagues or with external contacts. Sending a message to an external number or a personal contact results in an SMS, which shows you whether the message has been successfully sent, but does not allow you to track the contact’s availability status or whether the message has been read. Do you want to make your messages more effective by attaching a file? 8x8 messaging allows you to share files via SMS.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> [SMS messaging](/support/docs/8x8-work-sms-faq) is currently available only for phone numbers in select markets.

You can send an SMS by writing a message to a new contact, or looking through your list of existing chats.

**To send a message:**

1. From the dashboard menu, go to **SMS**.
2. Look through your existing chats to resume one of them or click the **Chat** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-chat_19x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A50Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A50Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=iNlTd2gMMDYkOmtodsHU5wT0GKSd62W3Dxf%2BgyKXcjE%3D) icon to write a new message.
3. Enter the phone number to send the message to.
4. Write a message and press Enter. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/msteams-sms.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A50Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A50Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=iNlTd2gMMDYkOmtodsHU5wT0GKSd62W3Dxf%2BgyKXcjE%3D)
5. When you receive a message from your external contact, you are notified in the **Activity** tab. Click **View your SMS conversations** to open the specific message or go to **SMS** from the dashboard menu to view the new messages.