Message templates
A template is a message Meta has approved in advance. You need one to start a conversation, or to reply after the 24-hour service window has closed.
Who can do this
- Owner
- Admin
- Agent
The Templates screen
Templates shows every template as a card with its name, category, language and status. Hover a name for a WhatsApp-style preview.
Filters across the top: search, category pills (All, Marketing, Utility, Authentication), a status dropdown, and sorting by Newest, Name A-Z or Status.
Three buttons top right:
| Button | Does |
|---|---|
| Sync from Meta | Pulls templates that already exist on your WhatsApp Business Account, and refreshes statuses |
| Browse library | Copies a ready-made template into your workspace as a draft |
| New Template | Opens the builder |
Statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Draft | Created here, not yet submitted to Meta |
| Pending | Submitted, waiting on Meta's review |
| Approved | Usable |
| Rejected | Meta refused it. Fix and resubmit. |
| Paused | Meta paused it, usually after poor recipient feedback |
| Disabled | Meta disabled it |
Only Approved templates can be sent, used in a campaign or picked in an automation.
Meta updates statuses on its own schedule. Sync from Meta pulls the current state.
Build a template
New Template walks through numbered steps.
1. General information
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Template Name | Lowercase letters, numbers and underscores only; the field enforces this as you type. Up to 512 characters. Choose something you will recognise later, for example order_confirmation_v2. |
| Category | Marketing, Utility or Authentication. Pick honestly; see approval. |
| Language | The language you are writing in. A template is per language. |
2. Header (optional)
One of None, Text, Image, Video or Document. A text header can carry a variable.
3. Body
The message itself. Insert variables as {{1}}, {{2}} and so on, in order. The
builder has a button to add the next one.
Every variable needs a sample value. Meta reviews your template against those
samples, so make them realistic: Priya, #1042, ₹1,299. A sample of xxx
gets templates rejected.
4. Footer (optional)
A short line under the body.
5. Buttons (optional)
| Type | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quick reply | 3 | The customer taps and their reply comes back to you. A tap reopens the 24-hour window and can trigger an automation. |
| Call to action | 2 | A URL button or a Phone number button |
Switching between quick-reply and call-to-action clears the buttons already configured, so the builder asks you to confirm.
A live WhatsApp preview updates as you type.
Submit for approval
Save and submit from the builder. The status goes to Pending. Approval is often minutes and sometimes hours.
While a template is pending or approved, its content is locked. To change an approved template, duplicate it, edit the copy and submit that.
Duplicate
The copy icon on a template card opens the builder pre-filled from that template.
This is how you version: order_confirmation_v2, _v3.
Template library
Browse library offers ready-made templates for common cases. Choosing one copies it into your workspace as a Draft and opens the editor, so you can adjust the wording before submitting it to Meta. Nothing is sent to Meta until you submit.
Delete
The bin icon. The confirmation is explicit: if the template exists on Meta, it is removed there too, and it cannot be undone.
Do not delete a template an automation still points at. The automation will fail at run time instead of at save time.
Sync from Meta
Use it when:
- You already had templates on your WhatsApp Business Account before connecting Boldally Chat.
- Something was created or edited in WhatsApp Manager directly.
- A template has been pending for a while and you want the current status.
The toast reports how many were synced, created and updated.
Related
- Getting templates approved
- Categories, what Meta rejects, and how to fix it.
- Campaigns
- Send an approved template to many contacts.
- Template variables reference
- How placeholders, samples and parameters fit together.