WhatsApp Business out of office: send an away message, samples and an alternative

How to set up an away message in WhatsApp Business

1. Open the WhatsApp Business app. On Android tap the three dots, then Business tools. On iPhone go to Settings, then Business tools.
2. Tap Away message and switch on Send away message.
3. Tap the message to edit the text (see the examples below).
4. Under Schedule choose Always send, Custom schedule (for example your holiday dates) or Outside of business hours. The last option uses the business hours in your business profile, so fill those in first.
5. Under Recipients choose everyone, only people not in your address book, everyone except selected contacts, or only selected contacts. Then save.

Out of office on regular WhatsApp

The regular WhatsApp app has no away message or out of office reply. You have two honest options: switch the number to the free WhatsApp Business app (your chats can come along when you move to it on the same phone), or put a short note such as "Back on 2 June" in your About text. The About text is only seen by people who open your profile, so it is not an automatic reply.

WhatsApp Business away message samples you can copy

• Outside business hours: "Thanks for your message. We are closed right now and open again tomorrow at 8:00. We will reply as soon as we are back."
• Holiday: "We are on holiday until Monday 2 June. Your message is saved and we will answer it when we are back. For urgent matters call [phone number]."
• Busy on site: "We are on a job right now and cannot reply straight away. Send your question and a photo if you have one, and we will get back to you today."
• Weekend: "Thanks for getting in touch. We do not answer messages at the weekend. You will hear from us on Monday morning."

Good away messages are short, say when the customer can expect an answer and ask for the information you need (a photo, an address, an order number), so the reply can be quick later.

WhatsApp Business away message not working? Check these five things

1. The switch. Open Business tools, then Away message, and check that Send away message is on. Saving a text alone does not switch it on.
2. The schedule. Outside of business hours only works when business hours are filled in under your business profile. With a custom schedule, check the start and end date and time.
3. The recipients. If you chose only people not in your address book, saved contacts get nothing. Testing from a second phone that is saved as a contact then looks like a fault.
4. The phone. The away message is sent by the app on your phone, so the phone needs an internet connection. A phone that is switched off or in flight mode sends nothing.
5. The test. WhatsApp does not repeat the away message on every message in an ongoing chat. Test with a number that has not written to you recently, and update the app if it still fails.

What the away message does not do

The away message is free, takes a minute and is fine when you are genuinely closed and the customer only needs to know when you will be back.

What it does not do: answer the question. The customer gets a standard text and the message stays on your phone until you open it. For an urgent question, a quote request or "is my car ready?", that means waiting, or the customer messaging a competitor.

Away message or a coworker who replies

When the away message is enough

• Your business is really closed, for example between Christmas and New Year, and nobody can or needs to reply.
• You receive few messages and customers do not mind waiting a day.
• You work alone and there is nobody to hand over to.

Use both

You can keep an away message for nights and weekends, and use InBetween during working hours when you are on site or with a customer. With Pause you switch forwarding off in the evening. Going on holiday? See holiday coverage for your business WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions