Skip to main content

WhatsApp API: Rejected Message Errors – Help Guide

WhatsApp may reject message delivery for many reasons. Common causes include:

  • Invalid phone numbers
  • Unapproved or mismatched message templates
  • Policy violations (e.g., too many marketing messages)
  • Recipient issues (phone offline, old app version, privacy policy not accepted)
  • Technical errors (wrong API parameters, authentication failures)

Below is a list of the most common “Rejected by WhatsApp” error codes, exact reasons, and actionable fixes.

Error CodeReasonSuggested Solution
131026Recipient number is not on WhatsApp OR user hasn't accepted latest ToS/Privacy Policy OR using outdated WhatsApp versionAsk the user (via SMS/email/call) to: • Confirm they can message your business number • Accept latest Terms (Settings → Help) • Update WhatsApp to: Android ≥ 2.21.15.15, iOS ≥ 2.21.170.4
131042Business account payment or eligibility issueGo to WhatsApp Manager → Check billing & payment method. Ensure credit line is active and not over limit. Verify WABA is not suspended/deleted. Set timezone & currency if missing
131049Meta blocked the message to protect ecosystem (usually marketing template limit)This is commonly caused by per-user marketing template limit. Wait at least 24 hours before retrying the same user. Do not resend immediately — it will fail again.
131056Pair rate limit: Too many messages sent from your number to the same recipient in a short timeWait a few minutes/hours before messaging the same user again. You can still message other users immediately. Recommended: Enable Rate Limit in Chakra → Campaign Step 4
131048Too many previous messages blocked/flagged as spam → Phone number quality rating droppedCheck your template quality & messaging limits in WhatsApp Manager. Improve quality rating before sending more marketing messages.
131051Unsupported message or template typeUse only supported message/template types (see WhatsApp documentation).
131052Media file could not be downloaded by WhatsAppAsk the user to resend the media via another channel or re-upload a smaller/correctly formatted file.