---
title: "Message Creation: Preview (SMS)"
slug: "sms-message-preview-window"
updated: 2026-02-10T16:40:31Z
published: 2026-02-10T16:40:31Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/sms-message-preview-window"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Message Creation: Preview (SMS)

## ​Overview

The SMS Preview functionality lets users simulate how personalized SMS messages will appear to recipients. This helps ensure that placeholders, rules, and formatting are applied as intended before actual sendout. Users can also send a test SMS or download the preview.

---

## Navigation Path

When creating or editing a message, click **View.**

![](https://cdn.document360.io/554b9b98-6720-4d8b-9919-c7b203d72648/Images/Documentation/image-5N46HEQ1.png)

---

## Personalization​

| Setting | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **​Preview with Values​** | Defines the basis for the preview, either an existing contact, custom attribute values, or a random contact. - **Contact Profile Values**:​ Uses data from a selected Mapp Engage contact profile to show personalized content. - ​*Contact*: Select a contact from your system. Click the search icon to find one. - **​Custom Values**:​ Manually input attribute values to preview content variations. - ​*Attributes*:​ Displays all placeholders used in the SMS. You can enter values like `FirstName=Joe` to simulate personalization. - **Random Group Member**: Selects a random group member to simulate the message. |
| **​Personalization Rules​** | Controls whether content is filtered based on personalization logic. - ​**On**:​ Only displays content that matches personalization rules. - **Off**:​ Shows all possible content by disabling `insert-if` conditions. Use this mode to review all content variations at once. For example, if the message conditionally displays “Dear Mr.” or “Dear Ms.” based on the `Title` attribute, both phrases appear in the preview. This allows you to verify all personalization logic in a single view. |

---

## Settings​

These settings give you more ways to use message preview.

| Setting | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **​Group​** | Selects a Mapp Engage group to simulate group-specific content and message metadata in the preview. This includes the SMS header, such as the From Address, and any content elements that vary by group. This setting is only for group-related system messages (not global or system-only ones). |
| **​Show Images​** | Not applicable for SMS. |
| **​Recipient​** | Enter a mobile number to send a test SMS. Make sure to include the country code. |

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## Actions​

| Action | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **​Send​** | Sends the preview SMS to the number entered in *Recipient*. Useful for testing personalization display. |
| **​Update​** | Applies new attribute values or settings to refresh the message preview. |
| **Message Check​** | Not applicable for SMS. |
| **​Download​** | Downloads the message preview as an `.eml` file for viewing in an email client. |

## Related

- [Message Creation: Content (SMS)](/compose-sms.md)
- [Message Creation: Configuration (SMS)](/prepare-sms-sendout.md)