Meta Tech ProviderWhatsApp error 131047: More than 24 hours since they last messaged you
The recipient — not your account. What it means, how to fix it, and whether to retry.
WhatsApp error 131047 means more than 24 hours have passed since the person last messaged you, so WhatsApp will not deliver a free-form message. Outside that window, WhatsApp only carries approved templates. Send a template instead.
Why it happens
- You sent an ordinary (non-template) message after the 24-hour customer service window closed.
- The person last wrote to you more than a day ago, or never has.
How to fix error 131047
- Send an approved template instead.
- If you need a conversation, send a template that invites a reply — their reply reopens the 24-hour window.
Should you retry?
Not as a free-form message. Send a template.
How to prevent it
- Check the window before replying by hand — a good inbox shows how long is left.
- Keep a few approved templates ready for following up after the window closes.
Common questions
What is the WhatsApp 24-hour window?
When someone messages your business, you can reply freely for 24 hours. After that, only approved templates can be sent until they message you again.
How ThinnestAI shows it
On ThinnestAI every message WhatsApp doesn't deliver shows WhatsApp's own message first — word for word, with its code — and what it means underneath, on the broadcast and in the inbox. Undelivered messages aren't charged. See the WhatsApp Business API.