---
title: "Why is my SMS split into multiple messages?"
description: "Why is my SMS split into multiple messages? Learn the 160/153 GSM-7 and 70/67 Unicode limits, the hidden characters that trigger splits, and how to fix them."
canonical: "https://omnichannels.ai/answers/why-sms-split-into-parts/"
language: "en"
updated: "2026-10-10"
publisher: "BroadNet Technologies"
brand: "OmniChannels.ai"
---

# Why is my SMS split into multiple messages?

Canonical: https://omnichannels.ai/answers/why-sms-split-into-parts/
Language: en
Publisher: OmniChannels.ai by BroadNet Technologies

**Short answer:** An SMS is split into multiple messages when the text exceeds one segment: 160 GSM-7 characters or 70 Unicode (UCS-2) characters. Long messages are sent as linked segments of 153 or 67 characters, because each carries a header for reassembly. One Arabic letter, emoji or curly quote switches the whole message to Unicode.

## What are the segment limits?

3GPP TS 23.040 limits each SMS to 140 octets of user data. When a message is longer, a User Data Header of 6 octets goes into every part so the phone can rejoin them, which reduces the space per segment.

| Encoding | Used for | Single SMS | Per segment in a long SMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 | Basic Latin letters, digits, common punctuation | 160 characters | 153 characters |
| UCS-2 | Arabic, emoji, other non-GSM characters | 70 characters | 67 characters |

## What hidden characters cause unexpected splits?

- Curly quotes, long dashes or non-breaking spaces pasted from a word processor force UCS-2 and cut the limit from 160 to 70.
- Characters in the GSM-7 extension table, such as € { } [ ] ~ | ^ and \, count as two characters each.
- Emoji force UCS-2, and most take two of the 70 slots.
- Personalisation variables can push a message over the limit for recipients with long names.

## How do I stop my SMS from splitting?

1. Paste the final text, with the longest variable values, into a character counter.
2. Replace smart quotes and dashes with plain ones to keep GSM-7.
3. Shorten links and remove filler words.
4. Send English and Arabic as separate messages.
5. Re-check segments before every large send.

## Does a split message still arrive as one?

Yes, on most handsets the parts are reassembled and shown as one message. Each part is usually billed separately and can have its own delivery receipt, so a 161-character GSM-7 message costs two SMS.

## Official sources

- [3GPP TS 23.040 — Technical realization of the Short Message Service (SMS)](https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=747)
- [3GPP TS 23.038 — Alphabets and language-specific information](https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=745)

## Related questions

- https://omnichannels.ai/answers/arabic-sms-character-limit/
- https://omnichannels.ai/answers/bulk-sms-cost/
- https://omnichannels.ai/answers/sms-delivery-report-statuses/

Updated: 2026-10-10