---
title: "WhatsApp Business API 24-Hour Window and Error 131047 | ConfirmX"
description: "How the WhatsApp Business 24-hour window works: when you can send free-form messages, when you need an approved template, what error 131047 means, and how flows open the window."
url: https://confirmx.net/en/guides/whatsapp-24-hour-window/
lang: en
last_updated: 2026-11-02
---

# WhatsApp’s 24-hour rule: when you can reply freely and when you need a template

Meta allows free-form messages within **24 hours** of the customer’s last message. After that you need an **approved template**. Understanding this prevents most sending errors.

ConfirmX team · 2 November 2026 · 3 min read

## The rule

- **The customer wrote or tapped a button**: the window opens for 24 hours and you can send anything.
- **The window closed, or they never replied**: approved templates only.
- **Any new reply** opens a new window.

## How it appears in the inbox

| You see | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Can Reply** with time left | The window is open | Send what you like |
| **Awaiting Reply** | The customer hasn’t replied yet | Send a template and wait |
| **Window Expired** | 24 hours have passed | Use Send Template |

## If you send outside the window

Meta rejects the message with error **131047**, which ConfirmX shows on the message as “Outside the 24-hour window”. The fix is to send a template. See [the error code guide](https://confirmx.net/en/guides/whatsapp-error-codes/).

## In automation flows

- **The first message in a flow** must be Send Template, because the customer hasn’t written to you.
- **After a button tap** you can use a normal Send Message.
- **The AI agent** sends free-form messages, so place it after a customer reply.
- **A long Delay** can let the window close before the next message.

## Cost

Meta sets message prices by type and country and has changed its rules several times, so take the number from [Meta’s official pricing page](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing), not from any article, including this one.

## Questions

### Does a button tap open the window?

Yes. A tap is a reply from the customer and opens the window.

### Do campaigns have to use templates?

Yes. Campaigns in ConfirmX are sent with approved templates.

### Are replies inside the window free?

That is Meta’s decision and it changes. Check its official pricing page.

## Read next

- [WhatsApp Business API error codes: 131026, 131049, 133010 and more](https://confirmx.net/en/guides/whatsapp-error-codes/)
- [How to set up WhatsApp order confirmation, step by step](https://confirmx.net/en/guides/whatsapp-order-confirmation-setup/)