How to set up an auto reply on WhatsApp
Robert PoghosyanUpdated
To set up an auto reply on WhatsApp, use the free WhatsApp Business app. Open the Tools tab, tap Away message, turn on Send away message, edit the text, then choose a schedule and who receives it. For a first hello, use Greeting message in the same tab. Your phone needs an internet connection for either to send.
The two auto replies WhatsApp gives you
Both are features of the WhatsApp Business app, and they do different jobs.
- An away message tells people you're busy or away from your phone. You choose when it goes out and who gets it.
- A greeting message welcomes people. It only goes to customers who message you for the first time, or after 14 days of no contact.
You can run both: the greeting for people who haven't written in a while, and the away message for evenings and busy hours.
How to set up an away message
These are WhatsApp's steps for Android. On iPhone the path is the same, but the field is called Message and you tap Save instead of OK.
- From the Tools tab, tap Away message.
- Turn on Send away message.
- Under Away message, tap the message to edit it, then tap OK.
- Tap Schedule and choose Always send, Custom schedule or Outside of business hours.
- Tap Recipients and choose Everyone, Everyone not in address book, Everyone except, or Only send to.
- Tap Save.
Outside of business hours only appears once your hours are set in your business profile, so do that first. With that option, the message switches on and off by itself.
How to set up a greeting message
- From the Tools tab, tap Greeting message.
- Turn on Send greeting message.
- Edit the text and choose who receives it.
- Save.
A regular who wrote to you last week won't get it, but one who last wrote a month ago will, because of the 14-day rule. So don't write it as if every reader is new.
Messages you can copy
A good auto reply says when you'll answer and what the customer can do in the meantime. Change the details to match your business.
Thanks for your message. We're with clients right now and will reply by 7pm. To book, send the service and the day you'd like.
We're in the middle of service and can't reply right now. Send the date, time and number of people, and we'll confirm your table after service.
We're closed right now and will answer when we open. Our hours are on our profile.
Hi, thanks for contacting us. Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
What auto replies can't do
An auto reply sends the same text to everyone. That's fine for saying you're busy, but the customer still has to wait for you.
- It can't answer the question the customer asked.
- It can't show free times or take a booking.
- It can't collect details step by step.
- It only works while your phone has an internet connection, for greetings as well as away messages.
If most of your messages are the same few questions, or people asking for a time, the next step up is a chatbot. On Meerlume, a number can't stay on the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app. Use one that isn't on WhatsApp, such as a landline or spare SIM, or delete that account first and wait for it to clear. Either way, you then reply from the Meerlume inbox. WhatsApp on Meerlume starts on the Starter plan, and Meta charges for the replies a bot sends beyond the number's free monthly allowance.
Common questions
- Can I set an auto reply on regular WhatsApp?
- Away messages and greeting messages are features of the WhatsApp Business app. It's a separate free app, so to use them you'd move your number to it or use a second number.
- Why isn't my away message sending?
- WhatsApp says your device needs an active internet connection to send away messages. Also check the schedule, because Outside of business hours only works once your hours are set in your business profile, and check who you chose under Recipients.
- Why did a customer not get my greeting message?
- Greeting messages only go to customers who message you for the first time or after 14 days of no contact, so anyone who wrote in the last 14 days won't get one. Also check who you chose under Recipients. WhatsApp turns greeting messages off while Meta Business Agent is connected.
- What's the difference between an auto reply and a chatbot?
- An auto reply sends one fixed message. A chatbot follows a conversation: it can offer options, collect details and, on Meerlume, show free times and take a booking.