# "How to Connect an Android Phone to On-Chat"

> "On-Chat supports connecting an Android phone with a local SIM card as a messaging channel, letting you send and receive real SMS messages without an enterprise SMS provider."

URL: https://on-chat.live/guides/how-to-connect-an-android-phone-to-on-chat/
Last updated: 2026-11-13

## Introduction
An Android phone with a local SIM card is the simplest way to send and receive SMS messages through On-Chat. No enterprise SMS account is required — just a compatible phone and a local SIM for your country.

## Step 1: Prepare your Android phone
Get an Android smartphone (Android 5.0 or higher). Insert a local SIM card for your target country and ensure the phone has an active internet connection. SMS functionality must be enabled on the SIM.

## Step 2: Install the On-Chat companion app
Download the On-Chat Android companion app onto your phone using the link provided in your workspace. This app bridges your phone's SMS inbox to the On-Chat platform.

## Step 3: Add the Android Phone channel in On-Chat
In your On-Chat workspace go to **Settings → Channels** and click **Add Channel**. Select **Android Phone** from the list of channel types.

## Step 4: Pair your phone
Follow the on-screen pairing instructions — typically scanning a QR code from your phone's companion app to authenticate the connection.

## Step 5: Send a test message
From your On-Chat inbox send a test message to verify that outgoing and incoming SMS are flowing correctly through the connected phone.

## Step 6: Scale by country
If your volume exceeds one phone's capacity, you can connect additional Android phones. On-Chat recommends one phone per country to match local SMS regulations and delivery rates.

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