Message labels help you classify and organize incoming and outgoing messages. Labels make it easier to review conversations, filter and analyze message activity, and understand trends when exporting data. You can apply labels manually in the Messages tab or automatically within a flow.
Exporting messages lets you download incoming and outgoing message data as a spreadsheet for reporting, audits, analysis, or sharing externally. You can export all messages across folders, or only messages from the folder you’re currently viewing. Optional filters (date range, contact field, group) help you limit the export to a specific period or audience. When the export is ready, you download it from the Notifications panel in the bottom-left of your workspace.
In the Messages tab, incoming messages are organized into folders. The two most common are Inbox and Handled (Flows). Knowing the difference helps your team respond correctly—either manually (Inbox) or by letting automation proceed (Handled).
In RapidPro, messages must be archived before they can be deleted. Only incoming messages can be deleted—outgoing messages are always retained to preserve delivery history and verify message origin. This guide shows how to delete messages from the Archived folder (and, if applicable, from the Delete folder). Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
You can attach a publicly accessible PDF link to a message in RapidPro so contacts can open documents directly from the message, which is useful for sharing guides, forms, policies, and other resources without uploading files.
