Meta Tech ProviderWhatsApp Business API Error Codes, Explained in Plain English
WhatsApp tells you why a message wasn't delivered — in a sentence written for engineers and a number in brackets. "This message was not delivered to maintain healthy ecosystem engagement (131049)" is accurate and almost useless to the person who sent the campaign.
This is the plain-English version. Every code below is WhatsApp's own, and the meanings follow Meta's error-code reference. The first question for any of them is whose problem it is — the person you messaged, your template, or your account — because the fixes have nothing in common.
On ThinnestAI you'll see WhatsApp's own message first, word for word with its code, and what it means underneath — so nothing here should be a surprise. This page is for looking a code up; each code also has its own page with causes, fixes and whether to retry.
The one you'll see most: 131049
WhatsApp limits how many marketing messages each person receives from all businesses combined, and holds back the rest. It isn't your account, your template or your provider — it happens on every platform. Wait at least 24 hours before sending that person marketing again; resending sooner can keep them blocked for longer. There's a full explanation of 131049, because it's the one that causes the most confusion.
About the person you're messaging
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 131049 | The person has reached WhatsApp's limit on marketing messages for now. | Wait 24+ hours before marketing to them again. |
| 131050 | The person turned off marketing messages from your business. | Don't send them marketing unless they turn it back on. |
| 130472 | WhatsApp held a marketing message back for its own experiment on this person's account. | Nothing to fix. |
| 131026 | The number can't receive the message — usually not on WhatsApp, terms not accepted, or a very old app version. | Check the number with them. |
| 131047 | More than 24 hours since they last messaged you, so only an approved template is allowed. | Send a template instead. |
| 131056 | Too many messages to the same person in a short time. | Wait a little, then send again. |
| 130403 | Your business has blocked this person. | Unblock them to message them. |
About your template
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 131053 | WhatsApp couldn't fetch or accept the picture, video or document. | Upload the file again, in a supported type and size. |
| 132001 | The template isn't approved, or doesn't exist in that language. | Check the template's status and language. |
| 132000 | The message didn't fill in every blank the template needs. | Fill in every variable. |
| 132012 | A variable or the header isn't in the format the template was approved with. | Match the values to the template. |
| 132015 | Meta paused the template because people blocked or reported it. | Edit it and resubmit. |
| 132016 | Meta permanently disabled the template after repeated pauses. | Create a new template with different content. |
| 132007 | Meta says the template breaks WhatsApp's policies. | Rewrite it within the policies. |
About your WhatsApp account
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 131042 | Meta couldn't charge your WhatsApp Business account's payment method. | Fix it in Meta Business Manager, Billing & payments. Sending resumes on its own. |
| 131048 | Messages are being restricted because recent ones were blocked or reported as spam. | Check your quality rating; send fewer, more relevant messages. |
| 131064 | Messaging was limited because some templates were in the wrong category. | It lifts on its own; check each template's category. |
| 131031 | Meta restricted the account — a policy violation, or verification details that don't match. | Check the account in WhatsApp Manager. |
| 368 | Meta restricted the account for a policy violation. | WhatsApp Manager shows the reason. |
| 131037 | The number doesn't have an approved display name yet. | Wait for Meta to approve it. |
| 133010 | The number isn't registered on WhatsApp's platform. | Reconnect the number. |
Temporary, or ours to look at
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 130429 | Messages went faster than WhatsApp allows. | Nothing — sending slows down and retries. |
| 131000, 131016, 133004 | Something went wrong on WhatsApp's side. | Try again; if it repeats, tell your provider. |
| 100, 131009 | Part of the message was in a form WhatsApp doesn't accept — often the phone number. | Check the number; if it's right, it's usually the platform's to fix. |
Two things worth knowing
- "Sent" isn't "delivered". WhatsApp accepting a message and the message reaching a phone are separate steps, and most of the codes above arrive after the first. If a report only shows "sent", it's hiding the answer. There's more on that in why a WhatsApp campaign says sent but not delivered.
- Undelivered messages aren't charged. Meta bills a message when it's delivered.