Manage multiple phone numbers

A growing practice usually ends up with more than one number — and FrontDesk makes that easy as long as you label things clearly.

Where to manage numbers

Settings → Phone Numbers

You'll see a table of every number on your account with its label, assigned location, monthly cost, and SMS readiness.

Common multi-number setups

Setup	Why
One main + one tracking	Track which ad campaign drives calls without switching CRMs.
One per location	Each branch keeps its own area code and AI greeting.
One main + one Spanish line	Spanish callers dial a dedicated number that uses the Spanish-language AI configuration.
One main + one after-hours	Different number printed for emergency/on-call.
One main + one staff-only callback	Outbound staff calls use a dedicated number so patients don't return them to the AI.

Assign a number to a location

Settings → Phone Numbers
Click the number in the list.
Pick a location from the Assigned location dropdown.
Save.

The change is live within a few seconds. Existing calls in progress aren't affected.

Label a number for internal use

Labels are for your staff only — patients never see them. Use clear names:

Main — Downtown
Marketing — Google Ads
Tracking — Yelp profile
Spanish line
Staff callback

Set the label in the same edit modal.

Reassign a number

Same edit modal — change the Assigned location and save. The old location loses inbound routing on that number; the new location picks it up immediately. If the old location had only that one number and you have an active subscription tied to a number count, you may need to add or release a number to stay in sync.

Release a number

⚠️ Releasing is not reversible — the carrier may give it to another customer.

Settings → Phone Numbers → click the number.
Click Release.
Confirm the warning.

The number is gone from your account within seconds and you stop being billed for it on your next cycle.

If you might want the number back later, leave it on your account. The cost ($2–3/month) is much less than the cost of losing a number patients have memorized.

SMS readiness per number

Each number tracks its own SMS registration status:

Status	Meaning
Ready	Can send and receive SMS at full volume.
Voice only	Voice works, SMS blocked. Local numbers need A2P 10DLC; toll-free numbers need toll-free verification.
Pending	Registration submitted, awaiting carrier approval.
Rejected	Approval failed — open the number to see the reason and resubmit.

What's next

Frequently asked questions

How many numbers can I have?

No limit. Each is billed monthly (local $2, toll-free $3). Most multi-location practices have 3–8 numbers.

Can two locations share a number?

Not directly — a number routes to one location's AI configuration. If you want a single number for a multi-location brand, use a main number that asks the caller which location they want, then transfers.

What happens when I release a number?

It returns to the carrier pool. You may not be able to reclaim it — if you're unsure, keep paying the $2–3/month instead of releasing.