WhatsApp Error Codes Guide

When sending messages through the indigitall platform, our advanced reporting allows you to track delivery success in real time. To help you achieve peak communication efficiency, we identify and surface specific error codes generated by Meta. By helping you understand these signals, indigitall empowers you to refine your strategy, resolve issues faster, and ensure your messages always hit the mark.

Sending and Delivery Errors

These errors occur when a message fails to reach the final recipient.

Error 131026: Message Undeliverable

Description: The message could not be delivered. According to Meta, common reasons include the recipient not having a WhatsApp account, blocking your business number, or failing to accept the latest WhatsApp Terms of Service.

Recommended Action: Verify the phone number is correct or contact the customer through an alternative channel to ensure their app is active.

Error 131047: Outside the 24-Hour Window

Description: You are trying to send a free-form session message to a user who has not interacted with your business in the last 24 hours.

Recommended Action: Use an approved Message Template to re-engage the customer and reopen the conversation window.

Error 131051: Unsupported Message Type

Description: The message format sent is not compatible with the recipient's device or the current API version.

Error 131053: Media Download Failure

Description: Meta was unable to download the media file (image, video, or document) from the provided URL.

Proactive Solution: At indigitall, we help you optimize your delivery speed. We have found that adjusting and decreasing the "slicing" (batching) of your sends resolves this issue almost entirely by preventing server timeouts and ensuring Meta can reliably fetch your content.

Recommended Action: Ensure your media URL is publicly accessible and verify your server's capacity. If the error persists, contact us to fine-tune your slicing settings for maximum efficiency.

Template Errors

Related to the configuration and status of your pre-approved messages.

Error 132001: Template Does Not Exist

Description: The system is attempting to send a template that hasn't been created or doesn't exist for the selected language.

Recommended Action: Check your WhatsApp Manager to ensure the template name and language code (e.g., en_US) match your request exactly.

Error 132015: Template Paused

Description: Meta has temporarily paused the template due to low quality ratings (e.g., high user report/block rates).

Recommended Action: Review the template content for relevance and wait for the status to change, or create a higher-quality version.

Rate Limits and Restrictions

Error 131048: Spam Rate Limit Hit

Description: Too many messages were sent in a short period, and Meta has throttled the delivery to protect the network.

Recommended Action: Reduce your sending frequency and ensure your content is not being perceived as unsolicited.

Error 131049: Per-User Marketing Limit

Description: The specific user has reached the maximum number of marketing messages they can receive within a certain timeframe.

Recommended Action: Do not retry immediately. Meta recommends waiting at least 24 hours before attempting to resend.

Authentication and Permissions

Error 190: Access Token Expired

Description: The access credentials have expired or have been invalidated.

Recommended Action: Generate a new access token from the Meta for Developers portal.

Error 131031: Account Locked or Restricted

Description: The WhatsApp Business Account has been restricted for violating Meta’s Commerce or Messaging Policies.

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Note: If you encounter an error not listed here or need further assistance, please contact our Support Department. Our team is ready to help you resolve any issues and optimize your messaging performance.

WhatsApp Delivery Troubleshooting Checklist

If you notice a drop in delivery rates or encounter the errors mentioned above, use this quick checklist to diagnose and resolve the issue instantly.

1. Validate Your Content & Templates

Template Status: Is the template currently "Approved" in the Meta Business Manager? (Avoid using "Paused" or "Rejected" templates).
Language Codes: Does the language code (e.g., en_US) exactly match the approved version of the template?
Variable Mapping: Are all parameters correctly filled and within the character limits?

2. Verify Media & Links

Public Accessibility: Can you open your media URL (images/PDFs) in an "Incognito" browser window? If it requires a login, Meta won't be able to download it.
File Size & Format: Does your file comply with Meta’s size limits? (e.g., Max 5MB for most images, 16MB for videos).

3. Check Recipient & Compliance

The 24-Hour Window: If sending a free-form message, has the user replied to you within the last 24 hours
Phone Formatting: Are phone numbers in full international format (e.g., +1 for USA) without extra zeros or spaces?
Opt-in Status: Ensure the user hasn't revoked their consent, as high block rates lead to Error 132015 (Template Paused).