Paused, disabled and rejected templates

Only an Active template can be sent. When WhatsApp pauses, disables or rejects one, its card tells you why, and you can fix most of them from the same page.

What you see on the card

A template that cannot be sent has a line under its name, in the colour of its status.

Line on the card	What it means
Paused by WhatsApp until 4:30 PM	WhatsApp paused the template for a few hours. It works again after the time shown.
Paused by WhatsApp	The template is paused and WhatsApp did not say for how long.
Disabled by WhatsApp	WhatsApp switched the template off for good.
Rejected: the format is not valid	WhatsApp reviewed the template and did not approve it. The reason is in the line.

Click the line to open a box with the full story: what the status means, what stops, the reason, and WhatsApp's own note when it sent one.

When any template is paused or disabled, a bar at the top of the page says how many, for example 2 templates cannot be sent right now. Click Show to see only those. You can also pick Paused or Disabled in the Status list.

Paused templates

WhatsApp pauses a template when too many people block it or report it.

Pause	How long
First pause	3 hours
Second pause	6 hours
Third time	The template is disabled

You do not have to do anything to end a pause. When the time is over the template is Active again. If the card still says paused after the time shown, open it and click Refresh status.

Before a paused template is edited, we check with WhatsApp that it is still paused. If the pause is already over you see This template is active again. No edit is needed. and the template is left as it is.

A pause is a warning

A paused template is one step from being disabled. Before you use it again, send it only to people who asked to hear from you, and make the message clearer about who you are and why you are writing.

Disabled templates

A disabled template cannot be switched on again. Click Duplicate in its menu, change the message, give it a new name and submit it for review.

What stops while a template is paused or disabled

A new broadcast with that template cannot be created.
A scheduled broadcast is checked when its time comes. If the template still cannot be sent, the broadcast is not sent and you get a notice with the reason.
A broadcast that is running stops. The people it did not reach are not charged.
Automations, chatbot steps, drip steps and API sends that use the template are not sent.

Nothing is charged for a message that was not sent. The box of a template also tells you how many scheduled broadcasts use it.

Rejected templates

The card shows the reason in a few words. The box shows it in full.

Reason	What to check
The format is not valid	Variables such as `{{1}}`, their sample values, and the buttons.
The content reads as promotion	An offer or a sale in a Utility template. Change the category to Marketing, or remove the offer.
The content does not match the category or language	The category you chose, and that the text is in the language you chose.
The content may be abusive or threatening	The wording of the message.
It looks like a scam	Requests for card numbers, passwords or other private details.
WhatsApp did not give a reason	Compare your template with WhatsApp's template rules and try again.

When WhatsApp sent its own note, you see it under WhatsApp says:.

Edit and resubmit

You can change a rejected or a paused template and send it for review again, without making a new one.

Click Edit and resubmit
On a rejected card, click Edit and resubmit under the reason. For a paused template, open the three dots menu and click Edit and resubmit.
Fix the template
The template opens with everything filled in and the reason at the top. Change what WhatsApp named.
- The name and the language are locked. WhatsApp does not allow them to change.
- You can change the category of a rejected template. The category of a paused template is locked.
- If the template has a picture, a video or a document at the top, choose the file again.
Click Resubmit for review
You see Sent to WhatsApp for review and the card shows Pending. Most templates are reviewed within 24 hours.

If WhatsApp does not accept the changes, a line under the form says why. Fix it and click Resubmit for review again.

What you see	What it means
This template is active again. No edit is needed.	The pause ended. The template works, so there is nothing to fix.
This template cannot be edited here. Use Duplicate to make a corrected copy.	WhatsApp does not let this template be changed from the app. Click Duplicate, correct the copy and submit it under a new name.
This template belongs to a WhatsApp account that is no longer connected here.	The template was made on a WhatsApp account you no longer use in this app. Click Sync Templates to load the templates of the account you use now.
WhatsApp could not be reached. Please try again.	Nothing was changed. Try again in a moment.

When you see Duplicate and fix instead

Some templates cannot be edited in place: carousel templates, limited time offers, authentication templates, and templates with a catalog or flow button. For these the button says Duplicate and fix. It opens a copy with every field filled in. Correct it, give it a new name and submit it.

Good to know

Only rejected and paused templates can be edited this way. An active template stays as it is.
Refresh status checks WhatsApp for the latest status of one template. Use it when a status looks out of date.
Want to be sure a template works before a broadcast? Send a test to your own number.