2 min read Video included

WhatsApp Business API error: template rejected

Meta rejected your message template, so the automations using it stop. Why templates get rejected and how to get them approved.

Templates are the pre-approved formats required for any message your business initiates. When one is rejected you cannot use it โ€” and every automation that depends on it stops sending.

Why templates get rejected

  • Commerce Policy breach โ€” prohibited items (weapons, drugs, counterfeits) or services not allowed on the platform.
  • Promotional or spammy language โ€” "Buy now!", "Limited offer!" without prior opt-in, or a bare link with no context.
  • Formatting problems โ€” broken variables like {{1}} with no sample, or links that look unrelated to the message.
  • Misleading content โ€” the message does not match its stated purpose, or the content does not match the chosen category (marketing vs utility).

How to get it approved

  • Open WhatsApp Manager โ†’ Message Templates and read the rejection reason Meta gives.
  • Rewrite the body so it states plainly what the message is for; keep it factual rather than salesy.
  • Give every variable a realistic sample value.
  • Choose the right category โ€” an order update is utility, a promotion is marketing.
  • Resubmit. Review is usually under 24 hours.
Good to know: A rejected template can be edited and resubmitted โ€” you do not have to create a new one. But repeated rejections lower your account quality, so fix the cause rather than resubmitting the same text.

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