Testing and editing a message template

Send an approved WhatsApp message template to a test recipient, or review and edit a rejected template.

Prerequisites

1. Create and submit the WhatsApp message template for approval.
2. Confirm its status in the Message Templates section: Approved to test it, or Rejected to review and edit it.
3. For testing, prepare the recipient phone number in international format, including the country code—for example, +1 234 567 8900.

Test an approved message template

1. Go to Message Templates.

2. Find the approved message template you want to test.

3. Click the View icon.

   

The template details, content, and test settings appear.

Review and complete the test fields

Complete or review the following fields before you send the message template:

1. Message Template Name: Identifies the template. You cannot edit this field.
2. Sender: Select the phone number or WhatsApp Business Account that sends the test message.
3. Language: Select the message language. If the template has multiple languages, choose one from the Language dropdown menu.
4. Recipient Number: Select the country code and enter the test recipient's number in international format—for example, +1 234 567 8900.
5. Header, Body, and Footer:
   • Header: Upload the required image, video, or document for a media header. For a text header, review the configured text. You can change multimedia header content for the test.
   • Body: Review the message content and variables. You cannot edit the body in this view.
   • Footer: Review the optional closing line, such as branding or contact details. You cannot edit the footer in this view.
   • Personalized fields: A field appears here for each placeholder used in the template's content. For example, if the Body includes the placeholder {{name}}, a Name field appears so you can enter a value for the test message. Enter a value for each field — these values replace the corresponding placeholders in the test message.
6. Buttons: Review the configuration created for each button. You cannot edit buttons in this view.

Test an approved Carousel message template

For a Carousel message template, the Test me! panel includes the same Sender, Language, Country, Recipient, and Personalized fields described above, plus a Carousel Cards section with one set of fields for each card in the template.

Review and complete the test fields

Complete or review the following fields before you send the carousel message template:

1. If the Carousel message template's Body includes personalized field(s), enter a value for each field before scrolling to the Carousel Cards section. A field appears here for each placeholder used in the Body — for example, if the Body includes the placeholder {{name}}, a Name field appears. These values replace the corresponding placeholders in the test message.

2. In the Carousel Cards section, use the card selector to choose which card to review. The selected card is highlighted.

3. Upload the media file configured for that card's header. Meta requires you to re-upload the media file for testing.

4. If the card's text includes a placeholder, enter a value for it under Personalized fields. This section only appears when the card's text includes a placeholder — for example, if the Card text includes {{date}}, a date field appears.

5. Review the Card text for that card. You cannot edit it in this view.

6. Review the Buttons configured for that card. You cannot edit buttons in this view:

   • For a Quick Reply button, review the Button text and optionally enter the Button payload value.
   • For a Call to Action - URL button, review the Button text, Format (Static or Dynamic), and Action Link.
   • For a Call to Action - Phone number button, review the Button text, Country/Region, and Phone number.

7. If a Call to Action - URL button is configured as Dynamic, its URL Suffix placeholder (for example, {{key}}) generates an additional field under Personalized Field Button. Enter a value for it — this value replaces the placeholder in the button's URL for the test message.

   

8. Repeat steps 2–7 for every card in the carousel.

Once every card has its required media and personalized fields completed, the Send icon becomes available. See Send the test message.

Send the test message

1. Confirm the sender, language, recipient number, and any required header media.
2. Click the Send icon to send the template to the recipient.

Optional: Edit a rejected message template

If the WhatsApp message template is Rejected, identify the rejection reason before making changes.

1. Click the Edit icon for the rejected template.

   

2. Click the Exclamation icon.
3. Review the dialog for the rejection reason.

See Notes and Policy for possible rejection reasons.

Troubleshooting