---
title: "11.16 Activity: Send WhatsApp Message"
description: Shown in the palette as Send WhatsApp. Needs a contact (on message triggers, put Add/Upsert Contact first). The contact must have a WhatsApp number and…
url: "https://peikly.com/docs/activity-send-whatsapp-message/"
updated: "2026-10-07"
category: Automation Workflows
tags:
  - Manual sync
---

# 11.16 Activity: Send WhatsApp Message

Shown in the palette as **Send WhatsApp**. Needs a contact (on message triggers, put **Add/Upsert Contact** first). The contact must have a WhatsApp number and must not be unsubscribed or marked invalid.

**Message type:**

- **Template:** pick an approved **WhatsApp template**, then use **Parameter mapping** to fill each `{{1}}`, `{{2}}` placeholder from contact data, the date/time, or trigger data. Templates can be sent at any time.
- **Plain text:** write the message yourself, up to 4,096 characters. WhatsApp formatting works: `*bold*`, `_italic_`, `~strikethrough~` and ````monospace````, with a live preview. **Insert placeholder** adds contact data such as `{FullName}` or trigger data such as `{Trigger.…}`.

**Channel:**

- **Auto** (recommended): plain text replies from the number the contact last wrote to. A template is sent from the number the message came in on when that number can send the template, otherwise from the template's own number.
- **Specific phone:** always send from the **Phone number** you choose.

**The 24-hour rule for Plain text:** WhatsApp only delivers free text within 24 hours of the contact's last message to that number. Outside that window the step fails with "Not sent: the WhatsApp customer service window is closed…".

- Plain text is right for **replies** on a **Message Received via WhatsApp** workflow, because the customer has just written.
- Use **Template** for anything that isn't a reply: other triggers, or steps after a long delay.
- Keep **Channel** on **Auto** for replies. **Specific phone** with a different number than the customer wrote to has no open window, so the message fails.

**Other failures:** "…has opted out of WhatsApp messages", "…marked as invalid", "Selected WhatsApp template was not found or not approved", "No active WhatsApp sending phone is available…".