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Create a reusable WhatsApp Cloud API message template for reminders, promotions, or updates. Add variables to personalize each message. The template builder is a two-step wizard: first Template setup, then Message content.
1

Open the template dashboard

Go to the WhatsApp API Campaign template dashboard, then click Create new template.Image
2

Complete Template setup

The first step of the wizard is Template setup. Fill in:
  • Template name — required. The Next button stays disabled until you enter a name.
  • Languages
  • Message category — see below.
  • Template type — see below. Template setup step showing the unsubscribe info panel, Template name, Languages, Message category, and Template type fields with a disabled Next button

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Select a Message category

In the Message Category dropdown, choose the category that best describes your template:
  • Marketing (default) — Promotional messages such as offers, announcements, or product updates.
  • Utility — Transactional messages such as order confirmations, shipping updates, or account alerts. Template setup form with the Message category dropdown highlighted and set to Marketing, alongside the Template name, Languages, and Template type fields
If Meta has already reviewed and reclassified your template’s category, the Message Category field is disabled and shows the helper text: “Category set by Meta. Cannot be changed.” To change it, you must appeal through Meta Business Support.

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Choose a Template type

Pick one of three template types. The phone preview updates to match your choice.
  • Standard — a text-based template, with optional header, footer, and buttons.
  • Carousel — a scrollable set of cards, each with its own media and buttons.
  • Catalog — showcases products from your catalog. Template type selector highlighting the Standard, Carousel, and Catalog options
If you set the Message category to Utility, the template type is locked to Standard and the type options are hidden.
The unsubscribe info panel appears in this Template setup step, so you can review opt-out behavior before adding your content. For details on how unsubscribe works, see Understanding the Unsubscribe Option for Messages.When you’re done, click Next to move to Message content.
3

Add your Message content

The second step of the wizard is Message content. The fields available here depend on the template type you chose.Message content step showing the Header type dropdown, Message body with Add variable, Footer, and Add button options

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Message body and variables

Enter your message content, then add dynamic variables by clicking “Add Variable +” and selecting “Variable” from the dropdown. Read How to Use Dynamic Variables in Automation Messages for more details about using variables.You can add a Header and Footer to give your message more structure. Both fields are optional.Choose one of four header types from the Header dropdown:Header type dropdown showing No header, Text, Image, Video, and Document optionsEnter a short line of text to appear below the message body. Maximum 60 characters.Footer (Optional) field highlighted in the template builder, with placeholder text "Type STOP to unsubscribe" and a 0/60 character counter, above the Add button option
If you are on the Free plan, the footer is locked and shows “Powered by bitbybit studio” branding. Upgrade to a Starter plan or above on bitChat or bitCRM to remove the branding and fully customize your footer.
Locked footer field on Free plan showing "Powered by bitbybit studio" and an upgrade prompt

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Availability by template type

Buttons: If your template includes a reply button, WhatsApp Form, call-to-action, or copy offer code button, the header and footer remain visible.

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Buttons (optional)

Add interactive buttons to your message by clicking Add button. Buttons are now added directly through this action — there is no separate switcher to enable them.You can add:
  • Reply button — lets recipients respond with a quick, predefined reply.
  • Call-to-action — links to a web URL, product, or collection.
  • WhatsApp Form — collects structured responses from recipients.
  • Copy voucher action — lets recipients copy an offer code with one tap (Campaign templates only).
You can combine these button types on one template, up to 10 buttons in total.For a full walkthrough of each button kind and its settings, see How to Create a Campaign with Button Options. To set up a promo code, see How to send a voucher code with a Copy code button.
A Catalog template showcases products directly from your connected WhatsApp catalog, so recipients can browse your items inside the message. Configure the catalog content in the Message content step. To set which catalog your products come from, see How to Choose Your WhatsApp Catalog Source.
4

Preview your message

Preview your message on the right sidebar as you build it.
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5

Submit to Meta

Click Save template to submit it to Meta for review.
Template builder showing the message body, footer, and button section with the "Save template" button highlighted
Once your message template is created, test your campaign to ensure it succeeds, or see How to Create a New WhatsApp Cloud API Campaign to learn more.Meta review typically takes up to 24 hours. For the full timeline and what each review status means, see Understand WhatsApp Template Approval Time.