SMS / WhatsApp Messages

We send invites, reminders, and blasts with SMS / WhatsApp

You can link your phone number to Luma at luma.com/settings or within the iOS or Android app.

We send event invites, reminders, blasts, sign-in codes, and other messages via SMS or WhatsApp if you have your phone number linked.

For some sensitive actions, you may also see SMS or WhatsApp as an option to confirm your identity. A newly linked phone number can’t be used for this for the first few days — a security waiting period — so use another available confirmation method in the meantime.

If you’d like to opt out of these messages, you can update your Notification Settings or reply to the message. There are two ways to opt out by replying, and they do different things:

Reply X (offered on invite and blast texts): stops messages from that specific host or calendar. This unsubscribes you from them entirely — you won’t get their emails anymore either, just like using the Unsubscribe link in one of their emails. Other Luma texts keep working.
Reply STOP: turns off all Luma texts to your number, from every host — including verification codes. Email isn’t affected. See “How to Reactivate Messages” below.

If you are an event host and you send out a blast, we will automatically detect who has their phone number linked and text them where texts are available for that message type — see “Message Availability” below. Guests have control over how they receive communications for email so as a host, you cannot turn off email / SMS for a specific communication.

SMS vs WhatsApp vs Telegram

We choose the messaging channel based on the country your phone number is registered in. We use SMS for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, and the Cayman Islands. Most other countries receive messages via WhatsApp. This list can change over time.

In some countries where Telegram is the most popular messenger, we send sign-in codes via Telegram instead. Telegram is only used for verification codes; we don’t send invites, reminders, or blasts there.

Message Availability

Sign-in codes and the codes used to confirm your identity are sent everywhere we support SMS, WhatsApp, or Telegram. If your number can receive Luma messages at all, it will receive these.

Other message types — event invites, reminders, and blasts — are subject to availability. Whether we can send these over SMS or WhatsApp depends on the country your number is registered in, so they may not arrive even when your sign-in codes do. Availability can also differ between message types for the same event, so a reminder may arrive while a blast does not. This isn’t something you or the event host can change in settings.

To make sure you get every event update regardless of country, download the Luma app for push notifications, or keep email enabled in your Notification Settings.

How to Reactivate Messages

If you’ve previously opted out, SMS is blocked for your number — including verification codes. You won’t be able to sign in with your phone number or link it to your account until you reactivate.

To start receiving messages again, text START back to the same Luma number you texted STOP to. The reply has to come from the phone number that opted out and go to the same number — texting START to a different number won’t reactivate you.

For SMS (US, Canada, Australia, and other SMS countries):

Open your most recent Luma SMS thread and reply START.
In the US, we send SMS from a few different numbers (a 5-digit short code or a toll-free number), so use whichever thread you have. In other SMS countries, our messages come from a single number.
If you no longer have the thread, contact support — we can look up which number sent you the last message.

Message and data rates may apply, depending on your mobile carrier and plan.

For WhatsApp:

Send a message with START, REACTIVATE, or SUBSCRIBE to +1 (415) 212-6297
If you have an existing conversation with Luma, you can reply to that conversation instead
The message must contain only one of these words (spaces before or after are okay)
For example, “START” or “REACTIVATE” will work, but “Can I START receiving messages?” will not

Troubleshooting

If you’re still not receiving WhatsApp messages after reactivating:

Update WhatsApp: Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed from the App Store or Google Play Store
Accept WhatsApp Terms: If WhatsApp shows you a prompt to accept updated Terms of Service when you open the app, make sure to accept them. You cannot receive messages until you accept the latest terms.
Check Privacy Settings: Verify that your WhatsApp privacy settings allow messages from unknown numbers

Telegram Verification Codes

In Telegram countries, your sign-in code arrives as a Telegram message from Telegram’s official verification service — check the Telegram app on any device where you’re signed in.

Your phone number must have a Telegram account to receive codes. If it doesn’t, sign in with your email instead.
Telegram codes don’t use STOP/START opt-outs — we only send verification codes there, never marketing or reminders.