Glossary
What Is a A2P 10DLC in GoHighLevel?
By Marnix Geerkens. Published 2026-05-28. Updated 2026-05-28.
A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person, 10-Digit Long Code) is a US carrier program that requires businesses to register their brand and message campaigns before they can send business SMS through a standard 10-digit phone number.
In plain English
Before 2021, anyone could buy a 10-digit phone number and send SMS at scale with no registration. Carriers shut that down to reduce spam. Now if you are a business sending automated texts, you must register two things: your brand (who you are) and your campaign (what kind of messages you send).
GoHighLevel uses LC Phone, its built-in phone system, to process SMS. LC Phone sits on top of Twilio. Both Twilio and the US carriers require A2P 10DLC registration before they will deliver business SMS reliably. Without registration, your messages get filtered or blocked.
Registration is a one-time process per sub-account. You submit your business name, EIN (tax ID), website, and a description of the messages you plan to send. The carrier review takes a few business days. Once approved, your 10-digit numbers are cleared to send at normal throughput.
How it works
In GoHighLevel, you register for A2P 10DLC under the sub-account phone settings. You fill out the Brand registration form first, which identifies your business. Then you create a Campaign registration, which describes the type of messages you will send, such as customer care, marketing, or notifications.
After submission, GoHighLevel submits your registration to The Campaign Registry (TCR), which the US carriers use as the central clearinghouse. Once TCR and the carriers approve it, your registered numbers show a "verified" status and message delivery rates improve significantly.
Frequently asked questions
What is A2P 10DLC in GoHighLevel?
A2P 10DLC is the US carrier registration system for business SMS. GoHighLevel requires you to register your brand and message campaigns through this system before your 10-digit numbers can send automated texts reliably.
What happens if I send SMS without A2P 10DLC registration?
Without registration, carriers may filter or block your messages. Delivery rates drop and in some cases your number can be flagged for spam. Registration protects your deliverability.
Is A2P 10DLC registration required outside the US?
A2P 10DLC is a US carrier requirement. Canada, the UK, and other countries have their own rules. If your clients are outside the US, check the rules for their country.
How long does A2P 10DLC registration take?
Brand registration is usually approved in a few hours to one business day. Campaign registration can take two to five business days depending on the carrier review queue.