Saved replies and WhatsApp templates
These two are easy to confuse, so it is worth being clear about the difference.
Inside WhatsApp’s 24 hour customer service window, a saved reply sends like any other message. Once that window closes, WhatsApp no longer accepts free text, and an approved template is the only way to reach the guest.
A saved reply is a shortcut for your team. A template is a permission from WhatsApp.
Adding a saved reply
- Open the Saved Replies tab for the inbox
- Select Add reply
- Give it a Name, for example
Early Check-In. This is what your team sees when they pick the reply, so make it something recognisable at a glance - Enter the Reply text that gets inserted into the conversation
- Select Create reply
Editing and deleting a saved reply
Each saved reply in the list has a menu on the right with two options:- Edit reopens the reply so you can change its name or text
- Delete removes it from the inbox
Frequently asked questions
Do saved replies work on WhatsApp?
Do saved replies work on WhatsApp?
Inside the 24 hour customer service window, yes. A saved reply is ordinary message text, so it sends like any other reply while the window is open. Outside that window WhatsApp requires an approved template instead. See Connect WhatsApp and WhatsApp templates.
Do saved replies need approval from Meta?
Do saved replies need approval from Meta?
No. That requirement applies only to WhatsApp templates. Saved replies are created and changed by your team with no external approval.
Can a saved reply be edited before it is sent?
Can a saved reply be edited before it is sent?
A saved reply drops text into the composer, so treat it as a starting point rather than a finished message and adjust it to the conversation before sending.
Should this be a saved reply or an agent answer?
Should this be a saved reply or an agent answer?
If your team sends it by hand and the wording rarely changes, a saved reply is the right home. If the answer should be given without anyone stepping in, it belongs in your knowledge base or agent instructions so the agent can use it.