---
layout: integration
title: Phone auth with MSG91
description: Deliver one-time passwords for phone authentication through MSG91
date: 2026-11-06
featured: false
isPartner: true
isNew: true
cover: /images/integrations/phone-auth-msg91/cover.avif
category: auth
product:
    vendor: MSG91
    description: "MSG91 is a cloud communication platform that provides SMS, WhatsApp, voice, and email APIs for businesses."
platform:
    - 'Self-hosted'
---

[MSG91](https://msg91.com) is a cloud communication platform from India that provides APIs for SMS, WhatsApp, voice, and email. It sends every SMS through a template that you create in the MSG91 dashboard.

# How does the integration work?

If you self-host Appwrite, you can use MSG91 to deliver the one-time passwords (OTPs) that Appwrite Auth sends by SMS. Appwrite uses the provider you configure for [phone (SMS) login](/docs/products/auth/phone-sms), phone number verification, SMS challenges for [multi-factor authentication](/docs/products/auth/mfa), and team invitations sent to a phone number.

Appwrite sends each message through MSG91's flow API with your sender ID and template. For every recipient, it passes the message text as the value of the `otp` and `content` variables. The message text is the one-time code, or the invitation link when you invite a team member by phone.

**Phone authentication on Appwrite Cloud**

Appwrite Cloud delivers phone authentication SMS for you, so there is no SMS provider to configure. Messages are billed per message, with [rates](/docs/advanced/billing/phone-otp#rates) that vary by country.

# How to implement

To implement the MSG91 provider for phone authentication, there are several steps you must complete:

## Step 1: Set up MSG91

First, [sign up for an MSG91 account](https://msg91.com/signup) and save the following information from the MSG91 dashboard:

| Field name | |
| --- | --- |
| Auth key | Open the username menu, select **Authkey**, verify your mobile number, and click **Create Authkey**. |
| Sender ID | Head to **SMS** > **Sender ID** and click **Create sender ID**. |
| Template ID | Create an SMS template for your one-time passwords that uses an `otp` variable where the code should appear, then copy its template ID. |

Messages to Indian numbers also need a sender ID and template approved under India's DLT regulations.

## Step 2: Add MSG91 to your Appwrite instance

For this step, you must [self-host Appwrite](/docs/advanced/self-hosting) if you haven't already.

Open the `.env` file of your Appwrite installation and update the following environment variables:

```bash
_APP_SMS_PROVIDER=sms://<SENDER_ID>:<AUTH_KEY>@msg91
_APP_SMS_FROM=<TEMPLATE_ID>
```

With MSG91, `_APP_SMS_FROM` holds your template ID rather than a phone number. URL-encode the values in `_APP_SMS_PROVIDER` if they contain characters other than letters and numbers. Appwrite only turns on SMS delivery when both variables are set.

Then recreate your Appwrite stack and confirm the variables were applied:

```bash
docker compose up -d
docker compose exec appwrite vars
```

## Step 3: Test the provider

To test the provider, [implement phone (SMS) login](/docs/products/auth/phone-sms) in a web or mobile app. Request a code for your phone number, then create a session with the code you receive:

```js
import { Client, Account, ID } from "appwrite";

const client = new Client()
    .setEndpoint('https://<APPWRITE_DOMAIN>/v1')
    .setProject('<PROJECT_ID>');

const account = new Account(client);

const token = await account.createPhoneToken({
    userId: ID.unique(),
    phone: '+14255550123'
});

const session = await account.createSession({
    userId: token.userId,
    secret: '<SECRET>'
});
```

After you sign in, the user appears on the **Auth** page of your project with their phone number as the identifier.

# Read more about MSG91 and Appwrite Auth

If you would like to learn more about phone authentication with MSG91 and Appwrite Auth, we have some resources that you should visit:

- [Find your MSG91 auth key](https://msg91.com/help/where-can-i-find-my-authentication-key)
- [SMS delivery for self-hosted Appwrite](/docs/advanced/self-hosting/configuration/sms)
- [Phone (SMS) login with Appwrite Auth](/docs/products/auth/phone-sms)
- [SMS with MSG91 in Appwrite Messaging](/integrations/sms-msg91)
- [Appwrite Account API reference](/docs/references/cloud/client-web/account)