AlfaChat | Help Center
ChannelsSMS

Connect SMS via Android

How to connect SMS to AlfaChat using an Android smartphone.

You can connect SMS to AlfaChat using a regular Android smartphone.

Once connected, you can send and receive SMS messages directly in AlfaChat using the phone number associated with the SIM card installed in your smartphone.

To connect, you will need an Android smartphone with an active SIM card, an internet connection, and the SMSGate app installed.

We recommend using a smartphone with a recent version of Android that allows apps to run in the background without restrictions.

SMS messages are charged according to your mobile operator's rates.

Installing SMSGate and setting up the connection

  1. Download and install the SMSGate app using this link.
  2. Open the SMSGate app on your smartphone.

Follow the instructions below to configure both SMSGate and AlfaChat.

SMSGateAlfaChat
  1. Go to Settings.

SMSGate app settings

  1. Go to Settings → Channels.

Channel settings in AlfaChat

  1. Open Cloud Server.

SMSGate cloud server settings

  1. Open the Connection Details tab.

SMS connection details in AlfaChat

  1. Copy the API URL and Private Token from AlfaChat and paste them into the corresponding fields in the SMSGate app.
  1. Go to the Home tab and enable Cloud Server.

Enabling the SMSGate cloud server

  1. Go to the Devices tab, click Refresh, and then select your SIM card.

Selecting a SIM card in AlfaChat

  1. Enable Autostart and tap Start.

Configuring SMSGate autostart

  1. Click Refresh again.

Refreshing the device list in AlfaChat

  1. If everything is configured correctly and your smartphone is connected to the internet, the Ready status will appear next to the connected device in AlfaChat.

Successfully connected SMS channel in AlfaChat

Once connected, your SMS channel is ready to use in AlfaChat.

Testing the connection

After setup, we recommend:

  • Sending a test SMS from AlfaChat.
  • Checking that incoming SMS messages are received.
  • Making sure both incoming and outgoing messages appear in AlfaChat.

SMS channel connected successfully. You can now send and receive SMS messages through AlfaChat.

Recommendations

For reliable SMSGate operation, we recommend:

  • Allowing the app to run in the background without restrictions.
  • Disabling battery optimization for SMSGate.
  • Keeping your smartphone connected to the internet.
  • Avoiding manually stopping the SMSGate app.

If your smartphone is turned off, disconnected from the internet, or Android restricts the app's background activity, SMS communication through AlfaChat may be temporarily unavailable.

We do not recommend using this connection method for bulk SMS campaigns, as your mobile operator may restrict message sending or block your phone number.

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Installing SMSGate and setting up the connectionTesting the connectionRecommendations