> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://omni.fireflo.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WhatsApp templates

> How to submit WhatsApp message templates for Meta's approval, edit and delete them, and use them to start conversations and send broadcasts.

A **template** is a message Meta has approved in advance. It is the only thing you can
send to someone outside the [24-hour window](/channels/whatsapp#conversations-and-the-24-hour-window)
— so every conversation you start, and every WhatsApp broadcast, uses one.

**WhatsApp → Templates** lists your templates, synced live from Meta. Search by name, or
filter by status and category.

<Frame caption="WhatsApp templates, synced live from Meta.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/fire-flo-omno/qMiP0VYTVwEeCAoo/images/channels/whatsapp-templates.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=qMiP0VYTVwEeCAoo&q=85&s=c720edb30ccdfdcce5f1e6cac2bbd4d8" alt="The WhatsApp message templates list with status badges" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/channels/whatsapp-templates.png" />
</Frame>

## Submit a template

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the form">
    In **WhatsApp → Templates**, choose **Submit template**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name, category and language">
    The **name** is lowercase with underscores, such as `order_shipped`. The
    **category** is Utility, Marketing or Authentication. The **language** is a code such as `en`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Header and footer (optional)">
    A **header** is either text, up to 60 characters, or an **image** — JPEG or PNG, up to
    4 MB — which replaces a text header. A **footer** is up to 60 characters.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Body">
    The message itself. Mark the parts that change with numbered variables: `{{1}}`,
    `{{2}}` and so on.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit for review">
    The template appears as **PENDING** while Meta reviews it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

```text theme={null}
Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} has shipped and arrives {{3}}.
```

## Its status

| Status | Meaning |
| :- | :- |
| **APPROVED** | Meta approved it. It can be sent. |
| **PENDING** | With Meta for review. It can't be sent yet. |
| **REJECTED** | Meta turned it down. You can edit it and send it back. |

Meta decides how long review takes.

## Edit or delete

**Edit** is offered on approved and rejected templates. You can change the body and
footer; the edit goes back to Meta, and the template returns to **PENDING** until it is
approved again.

**Delete** removes the template at Meta.

<Note>
  On a number FireFlo hosts for you, you see and use only the templates your account
  submitted, and only those can be changed or deleted from your account.
</Note>

## Send with a template

* **Send WhatsApp** offers approved templates only. Fill in each variable, then send to
  numbers, contacts or segments. See [Send WhatsApp](/channels/whatsapp#send-whatsapp).
* In a [broadcast](/using/broadcasts), fill each variable from a column of your
  recipient list (start typing `{{` or pick from the list), or type your own text. The
  preview shows the message as the first person will see it.
* For a template that opens your catalogue, a broadcast lets you choose the product
  shown on its card — or leave it empty to open the catalogue itself.

Some approved templates can't be sent from these screens yet, and are greyed out with
the reason: one with an image or other media header, one whose header has a variable,
and one with a button that needs its own value.

## From your own software

The OMNI API [lists](/api-reference/whatsapp/list-templates),
[submits](/api-reference/whatsapp/submit-template),
[edits](/api-reference/whatsapp/edit-template) and
[deletes](/api-reference/whatsapp/delete-template) WhatsApp templates, and its
[messages](/developers/messages-with-failover) send them.

## With AI Agents

With the [AI Agents](/batteries/ai-agents) battery, an agent that needs to write to
someone outside the window uses an approved template. When none fits, it drafts one and
submits it to WhatsApp — after a person approves it, if your policy says so.

## Who may

Submitting, editing and deleting templates needs the permission to **manage WhatsApp
message templates** — the **Owner** and **Admin** roles by default. Sending with a
template needs the permission to **send messages** (Owner, Admin and Support by default).


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.