If you create chat automations or chatbots on WhatsApp, you need to comply with the WhatsApp message rules.
Because if you don’t, you might get blocked by WhatsApp.
In this tutorial, I will cover the WhatsApp policies. I will explain the 24-hour window and how to send messages while staying compliant!
Let’s dive in!
What is the 24-hour rule on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp uses a 24-hour rule to protect users from spam and unwanted messages.
The 24-hour WhatsApp rule is this: You can only freely message a user for 24 hours after they message you first.
But when those 24 hours are up, you can’t just send messages anymore. You’ll need to follow WhatsApp’s official messaging rules from that point forward.
However, if a user sends another message, the “24-hour window” resets.
Let’s look at a simple example:
- User sends a message to your WhatsApp chatbot: the 24-hour window opens
- 10 hours go by without any new messages: you have 14 hours left to reply
- User sends another message: the 24-hour window resets, and you get a fresh 24 hours to continue the conversation
When does the 24-hour window open on WhatsApp?
The 24-hour window opens (or resets) any time a user sends a message to your business on WhatsApp.
That can include:
- Typing and sending a message
- Clicking a Quick Reply or Button that sends a message
- Starting a new conversation
But not every click opens the window.
If a user clicks on a button in WhatsApp that redirects them to a website (without sending a message), the 24-hour window does not open.
So if your chatbot includes buttons like “Visit Website” or “Buy Now”, then a new window is not triggered.
How can I message users after 24 hours on WhatsApp?
To message a user after 24 hours on WhatsApp or start a conversation as a business, you need to use a WhatsApp Message Template.
This is a special type of WhatsApp message that is:
- Reviewed and approved by WhatsApp before you can use them
- Used to start new chats or continue old ones
- Paid (yes, you need to pay for sending WhatsApp Message Templates)
You’ve probably seen these before. They’re often used for things like reminders, order updates, or promotional messages.
Here’s how it works: First, you need to get approved for the WhatsApp Business API. Check out this post to learn how:
Then, you create a Message Template and submit it for approval. Once approved, you can send that template to users even if they haven’t messaged you in days or weeks.
Take a look at this detailed tutorial on WhatsApp Message Templates:
Can I still send broadcasts via WhatsApp?
Yes, you can!
But you can’t just send them to anyone. You can only broadcast to two types of users:
- Users who messaged you in the last 24 hours
- Users who opted in for Marketing Messages
Your Next Steps
And that’s it! Now you know how to stay compliant with WhatsApp message rules. This will help you avoid getting blocked or restricted.
The next step is to create your own WhatsApp chatbot.
You can check out this tutorial to learn how:
Or, if you’d like to learn more about WhatsApp broadcasts, you can learn all about them here:
