---
title: 📘 How to Set Up Auto Reply in the SMS Portal
description: "## Overview DataPhone provides its customers with an SMS portal where they can send and receive messages seamlessly. One of the powerful features available in the portal is **Auto Reply**, which allows you to set automated SMS responses based on…"
url: "https://www.dataphone.cloud/docs/how-to-set-up-auto-reply-in-the-sms-portal/"
updated: "2025-10-10"
category: Docs
---

# 📘 How to Set Up Auto Reply in the SMS Portal

## Overview

DataPhone provides its customers with an SMS portal where they can send and receive messages seamlessly. One of the powerful features available in the portal is **Auto Reply**, which allows you to set automated SMS responses based on time-based conditions.

This guide walks you through setting up an Auto Reply message.

---

## 🔐 Step 1: Login to the SMS Portal

1. Go to the DataPhone SMS Portal.
2. Log in with your provided credentials.

---

## 📝 Step 2: Create an SMS Template

Before setting an auto reply, you must first create a template for the message you want to send automatically.

### To create a template:

1. Navigate to **Templates** in the sidebar.
2. Click **Add Template**.
3. Fill in the following:
   - **Template Name** – Give your template a clear and unique name.
   - **Description** – Briefly describe the purpose of this template.
   - **Body** – Enter the actual message content that will be sent as the auto reply.
   - **Visibility** – Choose who can use this template:
     - **Public** – Anyone can use/view this template.
     - **Number** – Only specific numbers can use this template.
     - **User** – Only selected users will have access.
     - **Private** – Only you (the creator) can use it.
4. Click **Save**.

---

## 📱 Step 3: Assign Auto Reply to a Number

1. Navigate to **Numbers** in the portal.
2. Find the number for which you want to set up auto replies.
3. Next to the desired number, click the ***Auto Reply Rules*** button to manage auto reply settings for that number.
4. Click **Add Rule**.

---

## ⚙️ Step 4: Configure Auto Reply Rule

When creating a new rule, provide the following:

- **Name** – A title for your rule.
- **Template** – Select the template you created earlier.
- **Weight** – Set the priority of the rule (lower value = higher priority).
- ***Note: The weight should always be greater than 0***

Then, click **Add Condition** to define when the auto reply should trigger. You can use one or more of the following conditions:

### Available Conditions:

1. **Date and Time Range** – Auto reply is active between specific start and end dates/times.
2. **Day of the Week** – Auto reply works only on specific days (e.g., Monday to Friday).
3. **Time of the Day** – Auto reply is active during specific hours (e.g., 12:00 AM – 9:00 AM).

### Example Use Case:

To set this up:

You want to send an auto-reply from **Monday to Friday**, between **12:00 AM to 9:00 AM**, for the next 3 months.

- **Condition 1**: Set a **Date and Time Range** starting from the current month date and ending after 3rd Month last date.
- **Condition 2**: Add **Day of the Week** and select **Monday through Friday** to exclude weekends.
- **Condition 3** (Optional): Use **Time of the Day** to specify the 12:00 AM – 9:00 AM window.

Each condition acts as a filter, so the message will only be sent when **all conditions are met**.

1. Click **Save** to finalize the rule.

---

## ✅ Result

Once the rule is active, any incoming SMS during the specified time and conditions will automatically receive your pre-set message as a reply.

---

### 🧠 Understanding Weight (Priority)

When creating auto reply rules, the **Weight** field determines the **priority** of each rule. The system checks rules in **ascending order of weight** — meaning **lower weight = higher priority**.

#### 🧪 Example Use Case:

- You’ve created a general rule to send an auto reply **Monday to Friday** with a weight of **2**.
- However, you want to send a **different message specifically on Wednesdays**.
- To achieve this:
  - Create a **second rule** with a **Day of the Week condition set to Wednesday only**.
  - Assign this rule a **lower weight**, such as **1**.

In this case:

- On **Wednesdays**, the system will match the **Wednesday-specific rule first** (weight 1) and send that message.
- On **other weekdays**, it will fall back to the general Monday–Friday rule (weight 2).

This priority mechanism ensures **more specific rules override general ones** when their conditions overlap.

## 🛠 Need Help?

If you need assistance configuring auto replies or managing templates, please contact the **DataPhone Support Team** at help@dataphone.cloud.