WhatsApp Cloud API Error Codes

What it means

Your API credentials are invalid or the access token has expired.

How to fix it

Generate a new permanent access token from the Meta Business Suite. Make sure you're using the token from the correct WABA.

What it means

You're calling an API endpoint that doesn't exist or using the wrong HTTP method (e.g., GET instead of POST).

How to fix it

Double-check the API endpoint URL and HTTP method. Refer to Meta's Cloud API docs for the correct endpoints.

What it means

Your app doesn't have the necessary permissions for this action. Often means the whatsapp_business_messaging permission is missing.

How to fix it

Go to your Meta App settings → Permissions and make sure whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management are granted.

What it means

The access token you're using has expired.

How to fix it

Generate a new System User access token from Meta Business Suite → Business Settings → System Users. Use a token that never expires for production.

What it means

Your app lacks the required permission for this API call.

How to fix it

Review your App's permissions in Meta Business Suite. Ensure the System User has the right role (admin vs employee).

What it means

Meta has temporarily restricted your WhatsApp Business Account due to policy violations or low quality rating. You cannot send messages until the restriction lifts.

How to fix it

Check your WABA quality rating in Meta Business Suite → WhatsApp Manager. Review your templates for policy compliance. Wait for the restriction period to end — typically 1–7 days. Avoid sending to unresponsive contacts.

What it means

You've exceeded the API's rate limit — too many requests per second.

How to fix it

Slow down your send rate. Use exponential backoff. Meta allows ~80 messages/second for most accounts. Consider queuing messages.

What it means

A generic error occurred. Often transient.

How to fix it

Retry the message after a short delay (5–30 seconds). If it persists, check Meta's API status page.

What it means

Your access token doesn't have permission to send messages from this phone number.

How to fix it

Verify the phone number ID belongs to the WABA associated with your access token.

What it means

Your API request is missing a required field.

How to fix it

Check the request body against Meta's API docs. Common missing fields: messaging_product, to, type.

What it means

One of the parameters you sent has an invalid value — often the phone number format.

How to fix it

Phone numbers must be in international format without + or leading zeros: e.g., 919876543210 for India. Don't include spaces or dashes.

What it means

Your Meta WhatsApp credit balance is too low to send this message.

How to fix it

Add funds to your WhatsApp Business Account in Meta Business Suite → Billing. Set up auto-recharge to avoid interruptions.

What it means

Meta's WhatsApp Cloud API is temporarily down or overloaded.

How to fix it

Wait and retry with exponential backoff. Check Meta's status page: https://metastatus.com

What it means

The phone number you're sending to is not registered on WhatsApp.

How to fix it

Verify the recipient's number. This can also mean the number was recently deactivated. Remove these contacts from your list.

What it means

The message couldn't be delivered. The recipient may have an older app version, or the message has been pending too long.

How to fix it

This is often outside your control. Retry once. If it fails again, the recipient may need to update their WhatsApp app.

What it means

Your WABA is locked and cannot send or receive messages. This is more severe than a temporary restriction.

How to fix it

File an appeal through Meta Business Suite → WhatsApp Manager → Account Quality. Check your business verification status. This usually requires contacting Meta support.

What it means

Your business account doesn't meet the requirements to send this message type — often means you haven't completed business verification.

How to fix it

Complete your business verification in Meta Business Suite → Business Settings → Security Center.

What it means

You're on a test/development tier and can only send to pre-registered test numbers.

How to fix it

Add the recipient to your test phone numbers in WhatsApp Manager, or complete business verification to remove sending restrictions.

What it means

More than 24 hours have passed since the user last messaged you, and you're trying to send a non-template message.

How to fix it

You can only send template messages outside the 24-hour window. Use an approved marketing or utility template instead of a free-form message.

What it means

Your account has been rate-limited because too many recipients are reporting your messages as spam.

How to fix it

Immediately stop the current campaign. Review your contact list quality and opt-in process. Only send to contacts who explicitly opted in.

What it means

The specific template you're using has been flagged or paused due to quality issues. Different from 132007 because this error appears at send time.

How to fix it

Check the template status in WhatsApp Manager. If paused, edit and resubmit. If the quality rating is low, review your audience — stop sending to people who block or report you.

What it means

You're trying to send a message type that isn't supported for this recipient or business.

How to fix it

Check that the message type (text, image, template, etc.) is valid and that your WABA tier supports it.

What it means

The media file you tried to upload is invalid, too large, or in an unsupported format.

How to fix it

Supported formats: images (JPEG, PNG), videos (MP4), audio (AAC, MP3, OGG), documents (PDF, DOC). Check the file size limits.

What it means

Meta couldn't download the media file you referenced in the message.

How to fix it

Make sure the media URL is publicly accessible (no auth required), returns the correct MIME type, and is under Meta's size limits (16MB for media, 100MB for documents).

What it means

You're sending too many messages to the same recipient in a short time.

How to fix it

Limit how frequently you message individual contacts. Use the 24-hour conversation window efficiently — batch your messages within a single window.

What it means

Your WABA is being migrated or is under maintenance.

How to fix it

Wait until the migration completes. If you recently migrated your number, this can take up to 24 hours.

What it means

The number of parameter values you passed doesn't match the number of placeholders ({{1}}, {{2}}, etc.) in the template.

How to fix it

Count the template variables and make sure your API call includes exactly that many values in the parameters array.

What it means

The template name or language you specified doesn't match any approved template in your WABA.

How to fix it

Check the exact template name (case-sensitive) and language code in WhatsApp Manager. Make sure the template is in APPROVED status.

What it means

One or more template parameters contain invalid content — usually a URL that can't be resolved or media that can't be fetched.

How to fix it

Validate all parameter values. For header media, make sure the URL is publicly accessible and returns the correct content type.

What it means

This template has been paused because its quality rating dropped too low (too many blocks/reports from recipients).

How to fix it

Edit the template content to improve quality, then submit for re-approval. Consider who you're sending it to — are recipients expecting this message?

What it means

The template has been permanently disabled due to repeated quality issues.

How to fix it

Create a new template with different content. You cannot re-enable a disabled template.

What it means

Your template was rejected during Meta's review process.

How to fix it

Review Meta's template guidelines. Common rejection reasons: promotional content in utility templates, misleading content, or violating commerce policy. Edit and resubmit.