---
title: How do suggested replies and action buttons work in RCS templates?
description: "Suggestions are the tappable buttons (chips) shown below your message or card. Add them under **Suggested Actions / Reply Buttons** by clicking **Add Suggestion**. ## Available suggestion types | Type | What happens when tapped | | --- | ---…"
url: "https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/how-do-suggested-replies-and-action-buttons-work-in-rcs-templates/"
updated: "2026-09-18"
category: RCS Messaging / Templates
---

# How do suggested replies and action buttons work in RCS templates?

Suggestions are the tappable buttons (chips) shown below your message or card. Add them under **Suggested Actions / Reply Buttons** by clicking **Add Suggestion**.

## Available suggestion types

| Type | What happens when tapped |
| --- | --- |
| **Reply** | Sends the button text back to your bot as a reply. Use it for quick answers such as "Yes", "Track order" or "Talk to us". |
| **URL** | Opens a web link (up to 2,048 characters). |
| **Dialer** | Opens the phone dialer with your number filled in. |
| **View location** | Opens a map, either at a latitude/longitude with a label, or for a search query such as a store name. |
| **Share location** | Asks the recipient to share their current location with you. |
| **Calendar event** | Adds an event (title, description, start and end time) to the recipient's calendar. |

## Limits

- Up to **11 suggestions** on a text message.
- Up to **4 suggestions** per rich card or carousel card.
- Button text: up to **25 characters**.

## Postback tracking

Each suggestion has a **postback** value that is sent back to you when the recipient taps it. You edit only the first part. The system always adds a fixed `_[message_id]` suffix, which is filled in at send time, so every tap can be matched to the exact message that was sent. Taps and replies appear in **RCS Bot Incoming**, and click activity appears in your delivery reports.

## Using variables in buttons

You can use variables in the suggestion text, the editable part of the postback, and URLs. Each variable uses 10 characters of the field's limit. For URLs, keep the base URL fixed and add the variable at the end, for example `https://yourdomain.com/offers/[custom_param_1]`.

### More Related Articles

- [What do RCS template statuses mean, and how do I manage templates?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/what-do-rcs-template-statuses-mean-and-how-do-i-manage-templates/)
- [How do I use variables to personalise RCS templates?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/how-do-i-use-variables-to-personalise-rcs-templates/)
- [What are the media and layout requirements for RCS rich cards?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/what-are-the-media-and-layout-requirements-for-rcs-rich-cards/)

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