How do I add a new desk phone to my phone system?

Add a VoIP desk phone in four steps - enter the MAC address, choose the model, assign an extension, and connect it to the network to self-configure.

Where do I find the MAC address on a Polycom or Yealink phone?

Add a VoIP desk phone in four steps - enter the MAC address, choose the model, assign an extension, and connect it to the network to self-configure.

Support Center / General

How to Add and Provision a Desk Phone

Adding a desk phone takes one portal entry and a network cable: record the phone's MAC address and model, assign it to an extension and location, then connect the phone. It downloads its configuration and registers within a few minutes, with no manual programming.

Where to find the MAC address

The MAC address is a 12-character code (letters A–F and digits) on the barcode label on the underside of the phone — for example 0004f2c8419e. On Polycom phones it is also shown under Settings → Status → Platform.

Add the device

Go to Devices → Phones → Create New.
Enter the MAC address. Case and separators don't matter; Signal normalizes them.
Select the manufacturer and model exactly (a VVX 400 and VVX 401 use different templates).
Assign the extension this phone should ring and the location where it physically sits — the location drives E911 dispatch.
Leave transport on TLS (encrypted signaling and media) unless you have a specific legacy requirement.
Save.

Connect and verify

Plug the phone into a PoE network port (or use its power adapter).
Allow 2–4 minutes for boot, download, and registration. Some models restart once to apply firmware.
In the portal, the device now shows Last Seen with a recent timestamp, and the phone's screen shows the extension label.
Place an internal test call in each direction.

Note: phones previously used with another provider may have a locked provisioning URL. Factory-reset the phone first (varies by model — see its page in the Device Library) so it accepts Signal's configuration.

Moving or swapping phones

To replace a broken phone: create the new device with its MAC and the same extension, and unassign the old one. To move a phone between desks or offices, edit its extension and location — never leave the location stale, because E911 dispatch follows it.

Last reviewed August 6, 2026. Still stuck? Contact Signal Support from your portal — include what you expected, what happened instead, and one example phone number or extension.