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Receiving Your First SMS

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- product:messaging # Receiving Your First SMS To [send your first SMS](../sending-your-first-sms/index.mdx), you needed a phone number, API credentials, and a REST API call. Receiving messages works a bit differently: when using the cXML API, you need to prepare an XML file with instructions on what to do after a message is received on a given phone number.

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Receiving text messages from users using cXML applications. 1) the user sends a message to a number in your SignalWire Space. 2) SignalWire fetches the XML bin URL associated with the destination number. 3) The contents of the XML bin are interpreted and executed. 4) Any response specified in the XML bin will reach the caller.
## cXML Applications Lets write our first XML bin. We will host this one on SignalWire (you can use your own server if you want, which even allows you to generate bins dynamically). You can create and manage bins from the LaML section of your Dashboard under the Bins tab.
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cXML applications tab of the LaML section
Create a new bin, and use the following lines as content: xml Hello from SignalWire! The bin above will reply with a fixed message to any incoming SMS. Find the full technical reference in the [Compatibility XML](compatibility-api/cxml/index.mdx) section. Copy the Request URL of the bin you just created, then read the next section to configure a number to handle messages using that bin. ## Configuring your number {#configuring-your-number} The last step is connecting a number to the bin. If you dont have a phone number yet, make sure to [buy one](guides/numbers-api/getting-started/buying-a-phone-number/index.mdx). You will need at least one number to receive messages. Then, open the settings for the number. Under Messaging Settings, choose to handle messages using LaML Webhooks, then paste the URL of the bin in the field below.
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Connecting a number to an XML bin. First select LaML Webhooks, then paste the URL of the bin.
Try sending a message to the configured phone number: after a few seconds youll receive an automated reply. :::info Ensuring message delivery If you are sending messages to the US from a 10DLC number, you _must_ register your traffic with the Campaign Registry. Otherwise, the carriers will not deliver your messages. Please see [**Campaign Registry - Everything You Need To Know**](/guides/campaign-registry-all-you-need-to-know) for more information. ::: ## Wrap up We have shown how to receive a text message and perform follow-up actions. This example used the [Compatibility API](/compatibility-api), and in particular [cXML](compatibility-api/cxml/index.mdx) bins, to receive a message. For more advanced, real-time applications, youll want to check out our [Realtime SDK](sdks/reference/realtime-sdk/relay-v3/00-realtime-sdk-reference.mdx).