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How to Install/Provision an IP Phone

Admin
Updated on September 30, 2026

2 min read

Provisioning an IP Phone to 3CX can be done using a few different methods depending on where the phone is located (on the local network or remote). The most common and easiest methods are using PnP (Plug and Play) for a local network, or manually entering the Provisioning URL if the device is outside the office / using a cloud system.

Here are the detailed steps for provisioning an IP Phone to a 3CX system: #

Initial Preparation
    1. Perform a Factory Reset on your IP Phone (usually by pressing and holding the OK button for 5-10 seconds until a reset confirmation appears).
    2. Note down the MAC Address printed on the sticker on the back of the IP Phone, or via the status menu on the phone’s screen.
    3. Make sure your IP Phone firmware has been updated to the latest version supported by 3CX.

IP Phone Provisioning Method 1: Via the 3CX Admin Console (RPS / Cloud Method) #

This is the standard method for recent 3CX versions (such as V18 or V20):
    1. Log in to the 3CX Admin Console.
    2. Open the Users menu and select the extension you want to pair with the IP Phone.
    3. Click the IP Phone tab, then click Configure a phone (or Add Phone).
    4. Select your IP Phone’s Brand and Model from the dropdown menu.
    5. Enter the phone’s MAC Address without dashes or colons (example: 001565AABBCC), then click Add Phone.
    6. For the connection option, choose your network method:
        • Local LAN: If the phone is on the same network as the server.
        • 3CX SBC / Router Phone: If the phone is at a remote office/home.

    7. Copy the Provisioning URL that 3CX generates automatically.

IP Phone Provisioning Method 2: Manually Entering the URL in the Phone’s Web GUI #

If the phone doesn’t pull the configuration automatically (especially for cloud/remote systems), you’ll need to enter the URL manually:
    1. Find your phone’s IP Address via the status menu on the phone’s physical screen.
    2. Open a web browser on your computer, type in that IP address, then log in to the phone’s Web UI (the factory default username & password is usually admin / admin).
    3. Find the Auto Provision menu (on Yealink/Fanvil phones, this is usually under the Settings or System tab).
    4. Paste the Provisioning URL you copied from 3CX into the Server URL or Server Address field.
    5. Change the Protocol Type to HTTPS if needed.
    6. Click Apply or Save, then click the Autoprovision Now / Reboot button.
    7. The phone will restart a few times to download its configuration from the 3CX server.

IP Phone Provisioning Method 3: Plug and Play (PnP) for a Local Network (LAN) #

If the 3CX server and the IP Phone are on the same local network:
    1. Connect the factory-reset IP Phone to the LAN.
    2. The phone will send a multicast signal to the network.
    3. Log in to the 3CX Admin Console, then open the Phones menu.
    4. You’ll see the name of the new IP Phone shown in Bold / Red in the list.
    5. Click on that phone, choose the Assign Extension option, then select the matching user.
    6. Click OK, and the phone will automatically reboot and configure itself.
Once the process is complete, your IP Phone’s indicator light or screen will show the extension number and user name, and its status on the 3CX dashboard will turn Green (Active).
If you run into any trouble following the steps above, let us know the brand & model of the IP Phone you’re using, and whether your 3CX server is on-premise or cloud-based, so we can give you a more specific solution.

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