On this page: Learn how to set up SMS subdomains in Adobe Journey Optimizer to shorten URLs in your messages, either by using an existing delegated subdomain or configuring a new one with a DNS record.
Get started with SMS subdomains gs-sms-mms-subdomains
To be able to shorten URLs added to your SMS/RCS/MMS messages, you must set up the subdomain you will select when creating an SMS configuration.
You can either use a subdomain that is already delegated to Adobe, or configure another subdomain. Learn more about delegating subdomains to Adobe in this section.
SMS subdomain configuration is shared between all environments. Therefore, any modification to a SMS subdomain also impacts other production sandboxes.
Use an existing subdomain sms-use-existing-subdomain
To use a subdomain that is already delegated to Adobe, follow the steps below.
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Browse to the Administration > Channels menu, and select SMS settings > SMS subdomains.
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Click Set up subdomain.
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Select Use delegated subdomain from the Configuration type section.
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Enter the prefix that will display in your SMS URL.
Only alpha-numeric characters and hyphens are allowed.
note caution CAUTION Do not use cdnordataprefixes as these are reserved for internal use. Other restricted or reserved prefixes such asdmarcorspfshould also be avoided. -
Select a delegated subdomain from the list.
You cannot select a subdomain that is already used as SMS subdomain.
note caution CAUTION If you select a domain that was delegated to Adobe using the CNAME method, you must create the DNS record on your hosting platform. To generate the DNS record, the process is the same as when you configure a new SMS subdomain. Learn how in this section. -
Click Submit.
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Once submitted, the subdomain displays in the list with the Processing status. For more on subdomains’ statuses, refer to this section.
Before being able to use that subdomain to send messages, you must wait until Adobe performs the required checks, which can take up to 4 hours.
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Once the checks are successful, the subdomain gets the Success status. It is ready to be used to create SMS channel configurations.
Configure a new subdomain sms-configure-new-subdomain
To configure a new subdomain, follow the steps below.
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Browse to the Administration > Channels menu, then select SMS settings > SMS subdomains.
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Click Set up subdomain.
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Select Add your own domain from the Configuration type section.
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Specify the subdomain to delegate.
note caution CAUTION -
You cannot use an existing SMS subdomain.
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Capital letters are not allowed in subdomains.
Delegating an invalid subdomain to Adobe is not allowed. Make sure you enter a valid subdomain which is owned by your organization, such as marketing.yourcompany.com.
Multi-level subdomains (of the same parent domain) are supported. For example, you can use ‘sms.marketing.yourcompany.com’.
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The record to be placed in your DNS servers displays. Copy this record, or download a CSV file, then navigate to your domain-hosting solution to generate the matching DNS record.
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Make sure that DNS record has been generated into your domain-hosting solution. If everything is configured properly, check the box “I confirm…”, then click Submit.
When you configure a new SMS subdomain, it always points to a CNAME record.
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Once the subdomain delegation has been submitted, the subdomain displays in the list with the Processing status. For more on subdomains’ statuses, refer to this section.
Before using a subdomain to send SMS messages, you must wait until Adobe performs the required checks, which can take up to 4 hours. Once the checks are successful, the subdomain gets the Success status. It is ready to be used to create SMS channel configurations.
Note that the subdomain will be marked as Failed if you fail to create the validation record on your hosting solution.
Guardrails guardrails
Currently, the Journey Optimizer user interface does not support the deletion or undelegation of SMS subdomains once they have been set up.
However, when testing features within Journey Optimizer, it may be necessary to create an SMS subdomain. Once the testing is complete, this can lead to cluttered environments with unnecessary configurations as the UI does not allow for removing or undelegating SMS subdomains.
Here are some recommended steps and considerations:
- As a best practice, maintain a tidy environment by only creating necessary components and configurations.
- In situations where there is a business impact, contact your Adobe representative who may be able to assist with the removal/undelegation of the SMS subdomain. Learn more
- If further assistance is required, reach out to Adobe for guidance on managing your instance effectively.
Undelegate a subdomain undelegate-subdomain
If you wish to undelegate a SMS subdomain, reach out to your Adobe representative with the subdomain you want to undelegate.
If the SMS subdomain points to a CNAME record, you can delete the CNAME DNS record that you created for the SMS subdomain from your hosting solution (but do not delete the original email subdomain if any).
After your request is handled by Adobe, the undelegated domain is no longer displayed on the subdomain inventory page.
This section contains structured knowledge intended to support interpretation, retrieval, and question answering related to this topic.
For complete understanding, this information should be combined with the documentation on this page. Neither source is intended to stand alone; the page describes the feature, while this section provides additional context that helps disambiguate terminology, intent, applicability, and constraints.
- TL;DR: This page explains how to set up SMS subdomains in Adobe Journey Optimizer to shorten URLs in messages, either by using a subdomain already delegated to Adobe or by configuring a new subdomain with a DNS record.
Intents:
- Set up an SMS subdomain used when creating an SMS configuration
- Use a subdomain that is already delegated to Adobe
- Configure a new subdomain by generating the matching DNS record
- Understand subdomain statuses and validation timing
- Undelegate an SMS subdomain through your Adobe representative
Glossary:
- SMS subdomain: The subdomain used to shorten URLs added to SMS, RCS, and MMS messages, selected when creating an SMS configuration (product-specific)
- Use delegated subdomain: Configuration type that reuses a subdomain already delegated to Adobe (product-specific)
- Add your own domain: Configuration type used to delegate and configure a new subdomain (product-specific)
- CNAME method: Delegation approach where the subdomain points to a CNAME record and a DNS record must be created on your hosting platform (product-specific)
- Manage SMS Subdomains permission: The permission required on the production sandbox to access and edit SMS subdomains (product-specific)
Guardrails:
- SMS subdomain configuration is shared between all environments, so any modification to an SMS subdomain also impacts other production sandbox.
- The Manage SMS Subdomains permission on the production sandbox is required to access and edit SMS subdomains.
- Subdomain prefixes may use only alpha-numeric characters and hyphens; the cdn and data prefixes are reserved for internal use, and prefixes such as dmarc or spf should be avoided.
- Capital letters are not allowed in subdomains.
- A subdomain that is already used as an SMS subdomain cannot be selected or reused.
- If you select a domain delegated using the CNAME method, you must create the DNS record on your hosting platform.
- Adobe performs required checks that can take up to 4 hours before a subdomain can be used to send messages.
- A new SMS subdomain always points to a CNAME record.
- The Journey Optimizer user interface does not support deletion or undelegation of SMS subdomains once they have been set up; contact your Adobe representative for removal or undelegation.
- Multi-level subdomains of the same parent domain are supported.
Terminology:
- Canonical name: SMS subdomain — Acronym: n/a — variants: SMS/RCS/MMS subdomain
- Do not confuse: “Use delegated subdomain” (reuse a subdomain already delegated to Adobe) ≠ “Add your own domain” (delegate and configure a new subdomain)
- Do not confuse: “Processing” (checks in progress) ≠ “Success” (checks successful, ready to create SMS channel configurations) ≠ “Failed” (validation record was not created on your hosting solution)
FAQ:
- Q: Why do I need an SMS subdomain? — You must set up the subdomain to shorten URLs added to your SMS, RCS, and MMS messages and to select it when creating an SMS configuration.
- Q: How long does subdomain validation take? — Adobe performs the required checks, which can take up to 4 hours, before the subdomain can be used to send messages.
- Q: Can I delete an SMS subdomain from the interface? — No. The user interface does not support deletion or undelegation once a subdomain has been set up; contact your Adobe representative for assistance.
- Q: Does a change to an SMS subdomain affect other sandboxes? — Yes. SMS subdomain configuration is shared between all environments, so any modification also impacts other production sandbox.
- Q: What does the Failed status mean? — The subdomain is marked as Failed if you fail to create the validation record on your hosting solution.