# WhatsApp Business auto reply: how do you set it up?

> In the WhatsApp Business app, open the Tools tab, then Away message or Greeting message: turn it on, write the text, choose when it goes out and to whom, then save. The phone must stay connected to the internet. To go further (button menus, follow-ups, replies shared by a team), connect your number to the WhatsApp API and to WYP.chat.

Key points

- Away message: Tools › Away message. It goes out at all times, on a custom schedule or outside the business hours in your profile.
- Greeting message: Tools › Greeting message. It goes out on a customer’s first message, then again after 14 days without contact.
- Both are sent from the phone, which must be online. One text per type, the same for every recipient you choose.
- With the WhatsApp Business API and WYP.chat: ready-made scenarios, replies based on your opening hours, team quick replies. After 24 hours without a customer message, only templates approved by Meta can be sent.

## Setting up an away message in WhatsApp Business

An away message replies on its own to customers who write when you are not available: in the evening, at weekends, on a job or on holiday. The steps are the same on Android and iPhone.

### Step by step

1. Open WhatsApp Business and go to the Tools tab.
2. Tap Away message, then turn on Send away message.
3. Tap the message to write your text, then confirm.
4. Tap Schedule and choose when it goes out (see below).
5. Tap Recipients and choose who gets it.
6. Tap Save.

### When it goes out

- **Always send**: On every incoming message, at any time.
- **Custom schedule**: Only during the period you set, such as your holidays.
- **Outside of business hours**: Only when you are closed. The option appears only if your hours are set in your business profile.

### Who gets it

Four options: everyone, everyone not in your address book, everyone except selected contacts, or only selected contacts. “Not in address book” stops your away message reaching friends, family and regular customers.

One condition, as WhatsApp Help points out: the phone needs an active internet connection for the message to be sent.

## Setting up a greeting message

A greeting message goes out automatically when a customer writes to you for the first time, and again when they come back after 14 days without contact. Use it to say thank you, explain what you do and ask for the details you need.

1. In the Tools tab, tap Greeting message.
2. Turn on Send greeting message.
3. Tap the message to edit it, then confirm.
4. Tap Recipients: everyone, not in address book, everyone except some contacts, or only some.
5. Tap Save.

According to WhatsApp Help, greeting messages are turned off automatically when Meta Business Agent, Meta’s AI agent inside the app, is connected. The phone also needs to be online.

## Quick replies: save time without automating everything

A quick reply is not sent on its own: it is a shortcut to a text you send often (prices, address, lead times, bank details). You can save up to 50, with photos or videos if needed.

1. In the Tools tab, tap Quick replies, then +.
2. Write the message.
3. Pick a shortcut, such as “quote” or “hours”.
4. Tap Save.

In a chat, type “/”: your quick replies appear, you pick one, adjust it and send. The app also creates some from your business profile, such as your hours and address. Media in quick replies is not supported on WhatsApp Web or Desktop.

## 10 auto reply examples by industry

Copy them, replace what is in brackets and keep the text short. A good auto reply says when you will answer and asks for what you need to answer.

- **Tradesperson on a job (away)**: Hi, I’m on a job and can’t reply right now. Send me the address, a photo of the problem and when you’re available: I’ll call you back before \[6 pm\].
- **Tradesperson, quote request (greeting)**: Hi, and thanks for your message! For a quote, send one or two photos, the address and when you need the work done. I’ll get back to you within \[2\] working days.
- **Restaurant, closed (away, outside business hours)**: Thanks for your message! We’re closed right now. We’re open \[Tuesday to Saturday, 12 to 2 pm and 7 to 10 pm\]. To book, tell us the day, time and number of guests: we’ll confirm when we open.
- **Local shop (greeting)**: Hi, and welcome to \[shop name\]! Tell us what you’re looking for: we’ll check stock and can put the item aside for \[48 hours\].
- **Online shop, weekend (away)**: Hi, our customer service team replies \[Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm\]. If it’s about an order, include the order number: we’ll reply first thing \[Monday\].
- **Clinic or practice (away)**: Hi, the practice is closed. This number does not handle emergencies: if it’s urgent, call your local emergency number. To book, leave your name and availability and we’ll reply when we reopen.
- **Estate agent (greeting)**: Hi, thanks for your interest! To help us reply quickly, give us the property reference, whether you want to buy or rent, and when you could view.
- **Garage (away)**: Hi, the workshop is closed. To book, send your registration, the model and the problem. We’ll offer you a slot as soon as we open at \[8 am\].
- **Wholesaler or B2B supplier (greeting)**: Hi, thanks for your message. To order, send product codes and quantities before \[4 pm\] for \[next-day\] delivery. A sales rep will confirm prices and timing.
- **Hair or beauty salon, holidays (away)**: Hi, the salon is closed for holidays until \[date\]. We’ll take bookings again as soon as we’re back. Thanks for your patience, see you soon!

Avoid promises you can’t keep (“reply within 5 minutes”) and long paragraphs: customers read this on their phone.

## The limits of the app’s automatic messages

These tools are free and enough for many businesses. But they are basic, and it shows as soon as messages pile up.

- The phone must be online: the messages are sent from it.
- One away message and one greeting message, the same text for everyone: no reply based on the question asked or a keyword.
- No next step: the message goes out, then nothing happens until someone replies. No follow-up, no booking, no review request.
- The greeting message only goes out again after 14 days without contact with that customer.
- Nobody is alerted or put in charge of the conversation, and the app runs on 5 devices at most (the phone and 4 linked devices).

- [Using WhatsApp Business as a team](https://wyp.chat/en/guides/whatsapp-business-multiple-users)

## Going further with the WhatsApp Business API and WYP.chat

Meta’s WhatsApp Business API connects your number to software such as WYP.chat. Automatic replies are then sent from the server: no need for a phone that stays on, and the whole team sees what was sent.

### Ready-made scenarios

A scenario is a sequence: a trigger (new conversation, keyword, ad, inactivity), then messages, button questions, waits and a handover to the team. The WYP.chat gallery offers ready-made ones to install and adapt:

- **Welcome and routing**: New conversation: a button question, then the right team.
- **Missed call**: Missed call on your phone system: a WhatsApp message invites the customer to write.
- **Outside opening hours**: Instant reply with the reopening time, reminder to the team at opening.
- **Follow-up without reply**: The customer has not replied for 24 h: one follow-up, then close.
- **Review after resolution**: A rating from 1 to 5; Google listing link if 4 or 5.
- **Appointment booking**: Keyword “appointment”: link to your free slots (Google Calendar, Calendly or Cal.com).
- **Appointment reminder**: The day before at 6 pm, with “I confirm” and “Change” (Calendly, Cal.com).
- **Welcome after an ad**: Contact who came from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad.
- **Marketing consent**: Consent request with buttons, answer recorded in the history.
- **Inactive customer**: 60 days without contact: a re-engagement message.

Gallery scenarios, building from scratch and marketing scenarios are open on every plan: included from Solo, 2 credits per automated message on the Free plan. A scenario stops as soon as a team member writes to the customer, unless you change that setting.

### Opening hours and response times

You set your hours day by day, in your workspace’s time zone. The “Outside opening hours” scenario only replies when you are closed, once a day per contact, then hands the conversation back to the team. During opening hours, WYP.chat flags conversations that have been waiting too long.

### Quick replies for the whole team

WYP.chat quick replies can be personal, shared by a team or shared by the whole workspace: a new colleague has the same texts as you from day one.

### Automatic messages

An [approved template](https://wyp.chat/en/glossary#modele) goes to a contact when you add a tag or move them to a stage, straight away or after a delay of up to 7 days, once per contact. For example, a quote follow-up three days after sending it. This is included from the Solo plan; on the Free plan, each message costs 2 credits.

### What about AI?

The WYP.chat AI agent replies on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and your website chat, using your FAQ, your website pages and your PDF documents, and hands over to the team as soon as it is unsure. On messaging apps it starts in draft mode: it suggests, the team approves, then you move it to automatic, outside opening hours by default. AI replies are included in the plans.

- [WhatsApp campaigns and automatic messages](https://wyp.chat/en/features/whatsapp-campaigns)
- [WYP.chat AI agents on WhatsApp](https://wyp.chat/en/ai-agents)
- [WYP.chat for trades and small businesses](https://wyp.chat/en/industries/trades)

## The 24-hour rule and approved templates

With the API, every customer message opens a [24-hour window](https://wyp.chat/en/glossary#fenetre-24h). Inside it, you reply freely, by hand or automatically. Once the window closes, only message templates approved by Meta can be sent.

An away or greeting reply goes out right after the customer’s message, so it is always inside the window. A follow-up sent two days later is not. In a scenario, every send step plans for this: send an approved template, send nothing, or hand the conversation to the team.

On pricing, incoming messages are free. Since 1 October 2026, replies inside the window have been free up to 1,000 per month per number, then charged at the country’s utility rate. Meta charges templates by category and by the recipient’s country.

- [WhatsApp Business message pricing by country](https://wyp.chat/en/guides/whatsapp-message-pricing)

## App or WYP.chat: which to choose?

|  | WhatsApp Business app | API + WYP.chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | From €0, then €29 per month excl. VAT. Messages charged by Meta separately |
| Away message | One text: always, on a schedule or outside hours | “Outside opening hours” scenario, editable |
| Greeting message | On the first message, then after 14 days | On every new conversation, with buttons if needed |
| Phone on and online | Required | Not needed |
| Automatic next steps (follow-up, booking, review) | No | Yes, with scenarios |
| Quick replies | 50, on the account | Personal, team or workspace |
| Several people | 5 devices at most | Unlimited users |
| Writing after 24 h without a customer message | Free to write | Templates approved by Meta |

*Sources: WhatsApp Help and Meta documentation, accessed 10 October 2026.*

- You reply on your own and just want to say when you are away: the free app is enough.
- You want a button welcome, a follow-up or automatic booking without keeping a phone on: the API with WYP.chat.
- Several people reply: the API with WYP.chat, so you know who is answering what.

- [WYP.chat pricing](https://wyp.chat/en/pricing)

## Sources

1. WhatsApp Help Center, How to use away messages: [faq.whatsapp.com/2565868990219715](https://faq.whatsapp.com/2565868990219715)
2. WhatsApp Help Center, How to use greeting messages: [faq.whatsapp.com/501866148528310](https://faq.whatsapp.com/501866148528310)
3. WhatsApp Help Center, How to use quick replies: [faq.whatsapp.com/1791149784551042](https://faq.whatsapp.com/1791149784551042)
4. WhatsApp Help Center, About linked devices on the WhatsApp Business app: [faq.whatsapp.com/647349420360876](https://faq.whatsapp.com/647349420360876)
5. Meta, Pricing on the WhatsApp Business Platform: [developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/pricing](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/pricing)

Pages accessed on 10 October 2026.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I set an away message in WhatsApp Business?

In the Tools tab, tap Away message and turn on Send away message. Write the text, choose under Schedule when it goes out (always, on a custom schedule or outside business hours), then the recipients, and save.

### Why is my away message not being sent?

The phone must be online, and the “Outside of business hours” option needs hours set in your business profile. Check the recipients too: with “Everyone not in address book”, saved contacts do not get it.

### What is the difference between a greeting message and an away message?

A greeting message goes out on a customer’s first message, then after 14 days without contact. An away message goes out when you are not available, based on the schedule you choose.

### Can I set an auto reply on regular WhatsApp?

No. Away messages, greeting messages and quick replies are tools of the WhatsApp Business app, in the Tools tab.

### Can I reply automatically based on the customer’s question?

Not with the app, which sends the same text to everyone. With the API and WYP.chat, a scenario can start on a keyword, such as “appointment”, or offer a button menu.

### Do automatic messages cost anything?

In the app, no. With the API, a reply within 24 hours of the customer’s message has been free up to 1,000 per month per number since 1 October 2026; beyond that, Meta charges for it.

## Read next

- [Automate WhatsApp Business with scenarios](https://wyp.chat/en/features/workflows)
- [WhatsApp for tradespeople](https://wyp.chat/en/industries/trades)
- [WYP.chat pricing](https://wyp.chat/en/pricing)

---

Source: https://wyp.chat/en/guides/whatsapp-business-auto-reply · Updated on 16 October 2026