---
"@context": https://schema.org
"@type": TechArticle
"@id": https://www.twilio.com/docs/phone-numbers/default-sender-id#article
headline: Configure your default Sender ID
description: Learn about default Sender IDs for destinations that require Sender ID registration, including how they work, when to use them, and how to configure them
url: https://www.twilio.com/docs/phone-numbers/default-sender-id
inLanguage: en
dateModified: 2026-10-05T16:09:11.000Z
author:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio Developer Education Team
publisher:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio
---

# Configure your default Sender ID

A default Sender ID is the Sender ID Twilio uses to send a message when the `From` value in your API request doesn't match any of your registered Sender IDs for a destination that requires Sender ID registration. This guide explains how default Sender IDs work, when to use them, and how to check, change, and remove them.

> \[!NOTE]
>
> Twilio introduced default Sender IDs for destinations that require Sender ID registration on July 10, 2024. If you had only one Sender ID registered in a country at that time, Twilio set it as the default. Twilio doesn't set Sender IDs registered afterward as default. You can set or change the default Sender ID at any time.

## What's a default Sender ID?

You can set a default Sender ID for any country where you've registered one or more Sender IDs. It's usually an Alphanumeric Sender ID, but it can be a short code or long code phone number.

If you have a default Sender ID and the `From` value in your API request doesn't match any of your registered Sender IDs, Twilio replaces it. Twilio uses the default Sender ID instead when sending the message.

A default Sender ID helps ensure that your messages sent to a specific destination comply with local regulations when Sender ID registration is required. This prevents carriers from dropping or blocking messages if you accidentally use a long code or other non-compliant Sender ID as the From value of your API request. Default Sender IDs don't apply in every country. To learn more, see [Exceptions](#exceptions).

If you don't have a default Sender ID or you remove it, Twilio tries to send your messages using the `From` value you provide. If this value doesn't comply with SMS guidelines, carriers could block your messages or they could fail to deliver.

### Example scenario

Let's say you registered two Alphanumeric Sender IDs in both Colombia and Mexico: "Owl Inc" and "Hoot Hoot." In this example, "Hoot Hoot" is set as the default Sender ID for Colombia, but there's no Default Sender ID in Mexico.

**When sending messages to Colombia**:

* **From: "Owl Inc"**—Message sent with "Owl Inc" (registered Sender ID)
* **From: "Hoot Hoot"**—Message sent with "Hoot Hoot" (registered Sender ID)
* **From: "+15551234567"**—Message sent with "Hoot Hoot" (Default Sender ID)
* **From: "Other Corp"**—Message sent with "Hoot Hoot" (Default Sender ID)

**When sending messages to Mexico**:

* **From: "Owl Inc"**—Message sent with "Owl Inc" (registered Sender ID)
* **From: "Hoot Hoot"**—Message sent with "Hoot Hoot" (registered Sender ID)
* **From: "+15551234567"**—Message sent with "+15551234567" (no Default Sender ID)
* **From: "Other Corp"**—Message sent with "Other Corp" (no Default Sender ID)

### Is the check for registered Sender IDs case sensitive?

Yes. In the scenario above, if your From parameter was "hoot hoot", it would not match the registered Sender ID "Hoot Hoot." In Colombia, Twilio uses the Default Sender "Hoot Hoot" to send the message. In Mexico, Twilio uses the original "hoot hoot" to send the message.

### Can you have more than one default Sender ID in a single country?

No, you can only have one default Sender ID per country. If you need to use two different Sender IDs in a single country, remove the default Sender ID. Then provide the appropriate Sender ID in the From value of your API request.

## Exceptions

A default Sender ID doesn't protect your traffic in every country. Some destinations have additional restrictions that a default Sender ID can't override.

### Austria

Austria blocks messages sent from international long codes (LCs). If you send messages to Austria using an international long code as the `From` value, those messages are blocked, even if you've set a default Sender ID for Austria.

To deliver messages to Austria, stop using international long codes as the `From` value and use one of your registered Sender IDs instead.

For example, if you've registered "Owl Inc" and set it as your default Sender ID for Austria, a message sent with From: "Owl Inc" is delivered using "Owl Inc." A message sent with From: "+15551234567" (an international long code) is blocked, and the default Sender ID doesn't apply.

> \[!WARNING]
>
> If you continue to use an international long code as the `From` value, your messages to Austria are still blocked, even if you set a default Sender ID. To deliver messages to Austria, only use a default Sender ID.

## Check your default Sender ID

To check if you've configured a default Sender ID in a specific country:

## Twilio Console

1. In the Twilio Console, go to **Communications** > **Numbers & senders** > **Alphanumeric sender IDs (legacy)**.
2. Check the list of registered Sender IDs in the **Sender ID list** tab.
3. If you set a default sender, you will see a **Default Sender ID** badge under the sender name and a blue tick beside the country where that sender is set as default.

## Legacy Console

1. In the Twilio Console, go to **Phone numbers** > **Alphanumeric Sender IDs**.
2. Check the list of registered Sender IDs in the **Sender ID list** tab.
3. If you set a default sender, you will see a **Default Sender ID** badge under the sender name and a blue tick beside the country where that sender is set as default.

If a sender isn't set as default, there will be no badge under that sender.

## Change the default Sender ID for a country

To change the default Sender ID for a country:

## Twilio Console

1. In the Twilio Console, go to **Communications** > **Numbers & senders** > **Alphanumeric sender IDs (legacy)**.
2. In the **Sender ID list** tab, expand the **Default Sender ID settings** section.
3. Click **Configure Default Sender ID**.
4. In the modal, use the dropdown menus to select which countries you want each Sender ID to be the default.
5. Click **Save**.

## Legacy Console

1. In the Twilio Console, go to **Phone numbers** > **Alphanumeric Sender IDs**.
2. In the **Sender ID list** tab, expand the **Default Sender ID settings** section.

{/* ![Default Sender ID configuration example](@images/default-sender-id-3.png) */}

3. Click **Configure default Sender ID**.
4. In the modal, use the dropdown menus to select which countries you want each Sender ID to be the default.
5. Click **Save**.

{/* ![Configure default Sender ID configuration](@images/configure-default-sender-id.png) */}

## Remove the default Sender ID for a specific country

> \[!WARNING]
>
> If you remove the Default Sender ID, make sure the From value you use for future messages to that destination follows SMS Guidelines and matches one of your registered Sender IDs for that country. Otherwise, your messages might be filtered or blocked.

To remove the default Sender ID for a country:

## Twilio console

1. In the Twilio Console, go to **Communications** > **Numbers & senders** > **Alphanumeric senders IDs (legacy)**.
2. In the **Sender ID list** tab, expand the **Default Sender ID settings** section.
3. Click **Configure Default Sender ID**.
4. In the modal, select the country or countries associated with the corresponding Sender ID.
5. Click **Save** for the changes to take effect.

## Legacy console

1. In the Twilio Console, go to **Phone numbers** > **Alphanumeric Sender IDs**.
2. In the **Sender ID list** tab, expand the **Default Sender ID settings** section.

{/* ![Default Sender ID configuration example](@images/default-sender-id-3.png) */}

3. Click **Configure default Sender ID**.
4. In the modal, click the **X** next to the country name associated with the corresponding Sender ID.
5. Click **Save** for the changes to take effect.

{/* ![Configure default Sender ID removal](@images/configure-default-sender-id-2.png) */}