--- title: "How to Create a WhatsApp Message Template in Karobar | Karobar" url: https://karobar.io/help/create-a-whatsapp-template language: en description: "Create a WhatsApp message template in Karobar: name, category, header, body with placeholders and buttons, then send it to Meta for review. Step by step." --- [Help center](https://karobar.io/support) · WhatsApp # Create a WhatsApp message template Write a template, add placeholders and buttons, and send it to Meta for approval. Updated 14 October 2026 A message template is a message you write in advance and Meta approves. You need one for every broadcast, and to message a customer whose 24-hour window has closed. Why WhatsApp works this way is explained in [WhatsApp auto replies and the 24-hour window](https://karobar.io/guides/whatsapp-auto-reply-24-hour-window); this page is only the steps. ## 1. Open the template editor 1. In Karobar, go to **Marketing → WhatsApp** and open the **Templates** tab. 2. Choose the WhatsApp number the template is for. Each number has its own templates. 3. Click **Create Template**. The **Presets** tab has ready-made templates you can filter by industry. Pick one to start from it, or stay on **Custom** to write your own. ## 2. Fill in the details | Field | What to put in it | | --- | --- | | Template Name | A short name only you and Meta see, such as order_shipped. Karobar turns it into lowercase with underscores. | | Category | **Marketing** for offers, launches and reminders to buy. **Utility** for updates about something the customer already has, such as an order or a booking. | | Language | The language the message is written in. | | Header (optional) | A short title in text, or a photo, video or document. Enter the template name first: Meta ties the upload to it. | | Body | The message itself, up to 1,024 characters. | | Footer (optional) | A small line under the message, for example "Reply STOP to unsubscribe". | | Buttons (optional) | **Call to Action**: a button that opens a link, plus a call button if you add a phone number. **Quick Reply**: buttons the customer taps to answer, typed with commas between them, such as "Yes, No". | ## 3. Add placeholders for the parts that change Write **{{1}}**, **{{2}}** and so on where a detail changes for each customer, such as a name or an order number. For example: "Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} is on its way." Karobar then asks for a sample value for each placeholder. Give a realistic example, such as "Ayesha" and "#1042": Meta reviews the template against these samples. ## 4. Check the preview and submit The preview beside the form shows the message the way a customer will see it. When it reads well, click **Save Template**. Karobar sends it to Meta for review, and it shows as pending until Meta decides. ## After Meta reviews it - **Approved:** the template appears when you create a broadcast, when you message a customer whose window has closed, and when you notify a customer about an order. - **Rejected or paused:** Karobar will not send it. Change the wording and submit it again as a new template. Choose the honest category Putting an offer in a Utility template breaks Meta's rules. It leads to rejected templates and can lower your number's quality, which limits how many people you can message. Ready to send one? See [WhatsApp broadcasts and templates: a practical guide for shops](https://karobar.io/guides/whatsapp-broadcast-campaigns). ## Background reading - [WhatsApp broadcasts and templates: a practical guide for shops](https://karobar.io/guides/whatsapp-broadcast-campaigns) - [WhatsApp auto replies and the 24-hour window, explained](https://karobar.io/guides/whatsapp-auto-reply-24-hour-window) FAQ ## Questions? Answers. Any other questions? [Ask support](https://karobar.io/support). ### Can I use templates I already made in Meta? Yes. Templates you made elsewhere for the same WhatsApp Business Account can be synced into Karobar from Meta. ### Can I edit a template after it is approved? Treat approved templates as fixed. If you need different wording, create a new template and send that one for review. ### Why does my template need a sample value? Meta checks what the finished message will look like. Without realistic samples for {{1}} and the other placeholders, it cannot judge the template. ## More help: WhatsApp - [WhatsApp broadcast not sending: what each status means What Queued, Daily limit reached, Blocked and the other statuses mean, and how to fix them. Read](https://karobar.io/help/whatsapp-broadcast-not-sending) - [Move your WhatsApp chats from WATI or respond.io Import past conversations from WATI or respond.io, and export your history from Karobar. Read](https://karobar.io/help/import-whatsapp-chats-from-wati-or-respond-io) Keep going ## What to look at next [WhatsApp broadcasts that bring cold leads back Meta-approved broadcasts: template campaigns from a CSV upload or your CRM leads. Reach past the 24-hour windo… Learn more](https://karobar.io/features/whatsapp-marketing)[One social media inbox for every customer message Instagram, TikTok, Messenger and WhatsApp in one list. Every thread becomes a lead, save a phone number and ad… Learn more](https://karobar.io/features/unified-inbox)