List cleaning watches the results of the text messages you send. When the results show that a number can't receive messages, mCommons cleans the profile: it stops sending to that number, but keeps the profile and its history.
There are two kinds of cleaning, based on the kind of failure. Each one follows the same steps below, so you can compare them.
Before cleaning starts
- List cleaning only runs in accounts where it's turned on. See Setting Up List Cleaning.
- Only messages sent after you turned it on count.
- Cleaning only uses your account's own messages. A number cleaned in one account isn't affected in any other account.
Hard bounce
- What triggers it: the carrier reports a permanent failure. For example, the number is deactivated, the line can't receive text messages, or the subscriber blocked your short code. See List Cleaning Error Codes.
- How many failures it takes: one.
- When it happens: profiles aren't cleaned the moment a message fails. Cleaning runs in the background on a schedule, so a newly cleaned profile can take some time to appear.
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What changes:
- The profile is left out of broadcasts, scheduled campaign messages and messages sent through the API.
- It appears on the Cleaned Profiles page with the reason HARD BOUNCE.
- Include Cleaned Profiles on a broadcast never reaches it.
- How it comes back: the subscriber texts you, or you restore it. If a later message fails again, the profile is cleaned again.
Soft bounce
- What triggers it: a temporary failure. For example, the phone was off or out of coverage, or the carrier couldn't deliver the message this time.
- How many failures it takes: your Bounce count in a row (3 to 8, default 3). A delivered message between failures starts the count over.
- When it happens: like hard bounce, cleaning runs in the background on a schedule.
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What changes:
- The profile is left out of broadcasts, scheduled campaign messages and messages sent through the API.
- It appears on the Cleaned Profiles page with the reason SOFT BOUNCE.
- You can still reach it by checking Include Cleaned Profiles on a broadcast.
- How it comes back: the subscriber texts you, a later message to them is delivered (including one sent with Include Cleaned Profiles), or you restore it.
What doesn't clean a profile
- Failed picture messages (MMS). An MMS failure doesn't show whether the number can still receive text messages.
- Messages flagged as spam. That's about the message content, not the number.
- A number that later received a message. If a message to the number is delivered after the failure, the profile isn't cleaned for that failure.
Cleaned is not the same as opted out
- Cleaned means the carrier says your messages can't be delivered to that number.
- Opted out means the subscriber asked you to stop.
Restoring a cleaned profile never undoes an opt-out. A subscriber who opted out stays opted out until they opt in again.
FAQ
Is a cleaned profile deleted?
No. The profile, its subscriptions and its history stay in your account.
Can I choose which error codes clean a profile?
No. Mobile Commons maintains the list of codes. See List Cleaning Error Codes.
What happens if I turn cleaning off?
No new profiles are cleaned, but profiles that are already cleaned stay out of broadcasts until they're restored. If you turn cleaning back on later, only messages sent from that point count.