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Message Templates

Create and manage WhatsApp message templates. Templates must be approved by Meta before they can be used for outbound messaging.

On this page
  1. 1. What Are Templates
  2. 2. Creating a Template
  3. 3. Template Variables
  4. 4. Template Approval
  5. 5. Using Templates

What Are Templates

WhatsApp message templates are pre-approved message formats required by Meta for initiating conversations outside the 24-hour customer service window. They ensure messages follow Meta's policies and can include dynamic variables like customer names or order numbers.

Info
Templates are required for broadcast campaigns and for messaging contacts who have not messaged you in the last 24 hours.

Creating a Template

1
Go to WhatsApp → Templates
Navigate to the Templates page from the sidebar.
2
Click "Create Template"
Click the "Create Template" button to open the template editor.
3
Choose a category
Select the template category: Marketing, Utility, or Authentication. This affects approval criteria and pricing.
4
Write your message
Enter the template name, language, and message body. Use the preview panel on the right to see how the message will look.
5
Submit for approval
Click "Submit" to send the template to Meta for review. Approval typically takes a few minutes to 24 hours.

Template Variables

Variables let you personalize templates with dynamic content. Use double curly braces to define variables:

Hello {{1}}, your order {{2}} has been shipped!

When sending the template, you will be prompted to fill in each variable with the actual value (e.g., customer name, order ID).

Template Approval

After submitting, your template will have one of these statuses:

  • • Pending — Under review by Meta
  • • Approved — Ready to use
  • • Rejected — Did not meet Meta's guidelines. Edit and resubmit.
Warning
Common rejection reasons: promotional content in utility templates, missing opt-out instructions in marketing templates, or overly generic content.

Using Templates

Approved templates can be used in the Inbox (click the template icon in the message input), in Broadcast campaigns, and via the API. See the Broadcast and API Reference sections for more details.

ContactsBroadcast