Reply after the 24h window expires

On Official API, send a Pre-Approved Template when WhatsApp 24h window shows Expired.

In this tutorial, you will send a Pre-Approved Template when the Official 24-hour window is closed.

Time needed: 10 minutes

Before you start

Make sure:

This conversation uses an Official API account.
The header shows Expired, or the composer shows WhatsApp 24h window expired.
You already have at least one approved template for this WhatsApp Business account.

This step is for Official API only. Unofficial API does not lock the composer behind a 24-hour window.

You cannot type a free reply while the window is expired. A template is the way back in.

On the left menu, click Live Chat.

Open a thread whose header shows Expired.

Screenshot example Expired in the header Clean UI. No real names, emails, or chats.

In the composer, read WhatsApp 24h window expired.

Click Send Template.

Screenshot example Send Template Clean UI. No real names, emails, or chats.

The Send Pre-Approved Template dialog opens.

Click the template you want to send.

If the template has variables, fill every field.

Screenshot example Send Pre-Approved Template Clean UI. No real names, emails, or chats.

Click Send Template.

Screenshot example Send Template Clean UI. No real names, emails, or chats.

The template message appears in the thread.

Your test phone receives the approved template on WhatsApp.

If the customer replies, the header no longer shows Expired.

This account is not Official, or the customer wrote in the last 24 hours. Use Reply to a conversation instead.

Approve a template in Meta first, then open Send Pre-Approved Template again.

A variable is empty, or the account balance is not enough. Fill every field, then try again.

Send a later follow-up in Schedule a message.