---
title: "How to Create WhatsApp Templates"
description: "If you want to message your contacts after the 24-hour messaging window has closed, you need to create a template."
canonical_url: https://chatfuel.com/docs/whatsapp/how-to-create-whatsapp-templates
markdown_url: https://chatfuel.com/docs/whatsapp/how-to-create-whatsapp-templates.md
last_updated: 2026-03-02
lang: en
site: https://chatfuel.com/docs
llms_txt: https://chatfuel.com/llms.txt
---

# How to Create WhatsApp Templates

If you want to message your contacts after the 24-hour messaging window has closed, you need to create a template.

## Overview [#overview]

If you want to message your contacts after the [24-hour messaging window](https://chatfuel.com/docs/whatsapp/24-hour-messaging-window) has closed, you need to create a template. Templates are required for starting [business-initiated conversations](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/conversation-types) on WhatsApp and can include customer care messages, appointment reminders, payment updates, shipping notifications, and more.

### Types of message templates [#types-of-message-templates]

* **Marketing** — promotional offers and product announcements
* **Authentication** — secure account access codes
* **Utility** — important information like account updates and alerts

***

## Creating a template [#creating-a-template]

1. Open [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/wa/manage/home). Go to **…** → **Manage message templates**. You'll be redirected to the message templates page.

2. Click **Create Template**.

3. Choose a category for your template: Marketing, Utility, or Authentication.

4. Give the template a unique name and select the language, then click **Continue**.

5. Add content to your template. Only the **Body** section is required.

6. **Header** — can contain text or media (image, video, document) and supports one variable.

7. **Body** — supports basic formatting and multiple variables (depending on text length).

8. **Footer** — supports text only, no variables.

9. **Buttons** — for Marketing templates, you can add interactive buttons. Two call-to-action button types are available:

   * Call Phone Number
   * Visit Website (static or dynamic)

   You can also add up to 3 Quick Reply buttons.

10. Click **Submit** to send your template for Meta's approval. The Meta team will review it within 24 hours. You can check the status in your templates list.

***

## Important notes [#important-notes]

### Template categories and opt-out [#template-categories-and-opt-out]

Only Marketing templates can include an Opt-out button. Utility and Authentication templates don't support this feature — your contacts can only unsubscribe from Marketing messages.

### Template status notifications [#template-status-notifications]

To get updates on whether your template was approved or rejected:

1. Open [Business settings](https://business.facebook.com/settings/preferences) in Meta Business Suite.
2. Go to the **Notifications** tab.
3. Switch the toggles on under **WhatsApp accounts**.

### Missing templates [#missing-templates]

If your template isn't appearing in your list, check if it contains only supported button types:

* Call Phone Number
* Visit Website

Templates with unsupported button types won't appear in your available templates list.