---
title: Adding test devices to your RCS bot
slug: messaging-apis/adding-test-devices-to-your-rcs-bot
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-10-03T07:11:13.585Z
---

## Prerequisites

Before adding test devices, ensure that you have:

- Completed the RCS onboarding process.
- Created RCS message templates.

## Overview

Once your RCS bot is successfully created, it will be in the **“Staging”** state. In this state, you can:

- Create and test RCS templates.
- Experiment with Exotel’s **RCS omnichannel APIs**.

However, in the staging state, you can **only send messages to test devices**. You can add up to **10 test devices** per bot to test RCS functionalities.

## How to Add Test Devices

Currently, test devices are added manually. To request the addition of test devices, send an email to your **Account Manager (AM)** or **hello\@exotel.com** using the format below.

**Note:** Ensure that the phone numbers provided are **RCS-enabled**. You do not need to add devices to test fallback functionalities.

### Email Format

**Subject:** \{​URGENT}: Adding Test Devices to My RCS Bot | **\<Bot Name>**

**Email Body:**

Hi Team,&#x20;

Please add the following test devices to our RCS bot:&#x20;

**Devices:** \<List up to 10 phone numbers>&#x20;

**Bot Name:** \<Enter your bot’s name>&#x20;

Thank you.&#x20;

## Approval Process

Once the test devices are added, the registered phone numbers will receive a **notification** requesting approval.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/SK2urIgCC2ml99YyqWOSl/Un3to_AMp0nTI2FDzN0gX-20260729-062214.png?1739862346)

The user must select the **“Make me a tester”** option to successfully register as a test device.