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Message Templates Overview

What are Message Templates?​

WhatsApp requires all business-initiated messages to use pre-approved templates. Templates are message formats that you create and submit to Meta (Facebook) for review. Once approved, you can use them to send campaigns and automated messages through Waplify.

How to use it​

Viewing your templates​

  1. Go to Templates from the sidebar
  1. You will see all your synced templates with their:
    • Name — the template identifier
    • Category — Marketing, Utility, or Authentication
    • Language — the language of the template
    • Status — whether it is synced and approved

Creating a template on Meta​

  1. From the Templates page, click Create on Meta — this opens Meta's Template Manager in a new tab
  1. Choose a template category based on what you want to send:
    • Marketing — use this for promotions, discount offers, product announcements, newsletters, or seasonal greetings
    • Utility — use this for order confirmations, shipping updates, appointment reminders, or account notifications
    • Authentication — use this for one-time passwords or login verification codes (most small businesses don't need this)
  2. Write your message content, add any media or buttons
  3. Submit the template for review
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Template approval time varies. Verified businesses usually get approved within a few hours. New businesses may wait up to 24 hours.

Syncing templates to Waplify​

  1. After your template is approved on Meta, go back to the Templates page in Waplify
  2. Click Sync Templates
  1. Waplify will pull all your approved templates from Meta and display them in the list
  2. Your templates are now ready to use in campaigns

Deleting a template​

  1. Find the template you want to remove in the list
  2. Click the delete icon next to the template
  3. Confirm the deletion — this removes the template from both Waplify and Meta

Tips & best practices​

  • Use lowercase names with underscores for template names (e.g., welcome_offer, order_update)
  • Include an opt-out option in marketing templates (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe") — this improves approval chances
  • Keep your message clear and concise — WhatsApp may reject vague or misleading content
  • Click Sync Templates regularly to keep Waplify in sync with any templates you create or edit on Meta
  • You can create templates with variables (like customer name) that get filled in when you send a campaign — see Template Variables & Media

Frequently asked questions​

Why do templates need to be approved?​

WhatsApp requires approval to prevent spam and ensure businesses send useful, relevant messages. This protects both you and your customers.

How long does template approval take?​

For verified businesses, approval usually takes a few hours. For unverified businesses, it can take up to 24 hours. Some templates may be rejected if they violate WhatsApp's policies.

What if my template is rejected?​

Check the rejection reason in Meta's Template Manager. Common reasons include unclear messaging, missing opt-out for marketing, or policy violations. Fix the issue and resubmit.

Can I edit an approved template?​

No. Once a template is approved, it cannot be edited. You need to create a new template with the changes and submit it for approval again.

What is the difference between Marketing, Utility, and Authentication templates?​

  • Marketing: Promotional messages, offers, newsletters
  • Utility: Transactional messages like order updates, appointment reminders
  • Authentication: One-time passwords and verification codes

Each category has different pricing and approval criteria.