iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
A WhatsApp Business away message is an automatic reply that goes to customers when your business is busy or away. On Android, you turn it on from the Tools tab, then choose a schedule and a recipient group. A good away message does three things: it thanks the customer, says the team is unavailable, and gives one useful next step. It names a return time only when the team can actually meet it.
Set up the away message on Android
The steps below follow WhatsApp’s documented Android interface. Menu wording and locations can vary by app version or platform, so if your screen shows different labels, look for the same four settings: the on/off switch, the message text, the schedule, and the recipients.
- Open WhatsApp Business and tap the Tools tab.
- Tap Away message.
- Turn on Send away message.
- Tap the message field and write or paste your reply. The templates later in this article are built for this field.
- Choose a schedule: Always send, Custom schedule, or Outside of business hours. The schedule options are compared below.
- Choose recipients: Everyone, Everyone not in address book, Everyone except selected contacts, or Only send to selected contacts.
- Save. Expected result: a customer who messages the business within your chosen schedule and recipient group receives your reply automatically.
Before you turn the feature on, check these prerequisites:
- The phone running WhatsApp Business needs an active internet connection for away messages to send.
- If you plan to use Outside of business hours, your business hours must already be saved in the business profile.
- WhatsApp’s business guidance recommends keeping the profile current, including hours, what the business offers, location or delivery area, and how customers can book or order. Those details are what your away message should point customers toward.
Away message, greeting message, or broadcast: which to use
WhatsApp Business has several outbound and automatic features that look similar but do different jobs. Pick the one that matches the trigger you want.
#1 Best Overall
- ✅【Outstanding Noise cancelling Microphone】 The headphones with unidirectional boom 270°microphone that only picks up your voice and block out unwanted background noises. Also, you can wear it on the left or right ear as you like.
- ✅【All-Day Comfort for All Head Shape】 Eaglend always designed for all-day comfort using, there will be no restraint pressure, with the adjustable headbend fit adult and kids easily.The soft protein memory foam earpads is made of high-level breathable materials，ROHS certified materials prevent your ears from heat and sweat.
- ✅【Enhanced sound performance & 40mm audio driver】:Corded phone headset with built-in audio sound card, Eaglend sound lab tested thousands of times for your daily conversation/music/movie/gaming, bringing you extra clear and bass for pleasant experience.
- ✅【USB/3.5mm Connection】 The headphone is designed for multiple use, 3.5mm audio cable with USB In-line audio volume control (cord length 5+4 feet)，with mic mute &indicators /speaker mute.Compatible with PC/Tablet/Mac/iOS/laptop /Android phone and other devices."
- ✅【Global warranty &multi-purpose】24 months warranty by eaglend. Great ideal for online courses, Skype chat, call center, Webinars Presentations, Office, Business, Rosetta Stone, Dragon Speaking, Conference Calls and more.
| Feature | Purpose | What triggers it | Who receives it | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away message | Tells customers you are busy or away and gives a next step | The schedule you set: always, a custom period, or outside business hours | Set by the recipient option you choose | Internet connection on the device; business hours saved for the outside-hours option |
| Greeting message | Welcomes a customer | A customer’s first message, or a message after 14 days of inactivity in that chat | Set by its own recipient controls | Internet connection on the device |
| Marketing message or business broadcast | Sends an offer or update you choose to send | You send it; it is not an automatic reply | Customers who have given permission | Required disclosures, customer rights, opt-in permission, and honored opt-outs |
An away message should not be used to advertise. Promotions fall under the marketing-message rules in the table above, and customers who have not opted in should not receive them.
Choose a schedule mode
The schedule decides when the away message is sent. The three options work differently, and one of them depends on your business profile.
| Schedule mode | When the reply is sent | Setup requirement | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Always send | Whenever Send away message is on, including during opening hours | None stated in WhatsApp’s documentation | A business that is rarely reachable on this number, or one that switches the reply on and off by hand |
| Custom schedule | During the specific period you set | None stated in WhatsApp’s documentation | Planned closures, a fixed weekly window, or a temporary staffing gap |
| Outside of business hours | When the business is closed | Business hours must be set in the business profile first; the option is not available without them | Businesses with regular weekly opening hours |
Choose who receives the reply
Recipient scope is the setting most often misconfigured. A well-written message does nothing for a regular customer who is excluded by the option you chose.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11| Recipient option | Who gets the away message | Use it when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyone | Every customer who messages the business | Most of your inbound chats come from people who are not in your phone’s contacts, or you want one reply for all | Customers you are already serving personally also receive the automatic reply |
| Everyone not in address book | Only people who are not saved in your phone’s contacts | You want the reply aimed at new enquiries and leave saved contacts alone | A saved customer, including a regular one, gets no away message |
| Everyone except selected contacts | Everyone except the contacts you pick | A few clients should be handled personally while everyone else gets the automatic reply | The exclusion list needs updating when clients or staff change |
| Only send to selected contacts | Only the contacts you pick | A small, defined group needs the reply, such as a pilot list | Every other customer receives nothing |
What a useful away message contains
The WhatsApp for Business example for a closed shop reads:
“Thanks for reaching out! We’re currently closed but will reply first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s our menu/price list/booking link: catalog link”
Rank #2
Sale
Logitech H390 Wired Headset PC/Laptop Stereo Headphones, USB-A, Black
- Digital Stereo Sound: Fine-tuned drivers provide enhanced digital audio for music, calls, meetings and more
- Rotating Noise Canceling Mic: Minimizes unwanted background noise for clear conversations; the rotating boom arm can be tucked out of the way when you’re not using it
- Handy In-line Controls: Simple in-line controls on the headset cable let you adjust the volume or mute calls without disruption
- Plug-and-Play USB Computer Headset: Simply plug the USB-A connector into your computer and you’re ready to talk or listen without the need to install software
- Padded Comfort: Comfortable headphones with adjustable headband features swivel-mounted, leatherette ear cushions for hours of comfort and is easy to clean
That example contains the four parts a reusable away message needs:
- Acknowledgment: thank the customer for the message.
- Unavailability: state plainly that the team is closed or away.
- Expectation: name the next reply time only if the business can keep it. If no reliable time is known, say when the team is next scheduled to work.
- One next step: a menu, price list, booking link, order instruction, or information page. One link or action is easier to follow than several.
Ready-to-adapt templates
The four templates below are original examples built on the structure above. Replace each bracketed field before saving. Do not keep any field that the business cannot honor.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteClosed for the day
Thanks for messaging [Business]. We’re closed now and will reply during our business hours, [days and hours]. For [booking or order details], visit [link].Use it when: the team works set hours. Pair it with Outside of business hours so the reply sends only after your saved hours end.
After-hours support
Thanks for contacting [Business] Support. Our team is away until [time and time zone]. If this is about an existing order, send your order number and we’ll review it when we’re back.Use it when: a support line runs on set shifts. Asking for the order number up front lets the team start the review on return. Include the time zone with the return time so customers in other zones read it correctly.
High-volume periods
Thanks for reaching out. We’re helping other customers and expect to reply by [realistic time]. You can find [tracking, booking, or service information] here: [link].Use it when: the queue is long for a known period, such as a sale or a busy season. Use a time only if the team can reply by then. If you cannot commit to a time, delete the time and keep the link.
Rank #3
- Digital Stereo Sound: Fine-tuned drivers provide enhanced digital audio for calls, meetings, music, and more
- Rotating Noise-Canceling Mic: Minimizes unwanted background noise for clear conversations; the rotating boom arm can be tucked out of the way when not in use
- Handy Inline Controls: Simple inline controls on the headset cable let you adjust the volume or mute calls without disruption
- USB-C Plug-and-Play: Simply plug the USB-C cable into your computer, including MacBook Neo laptops, and you're ready to talk or listen without installing software.
- Padded Comfort: Comfortable USB C headphones with adjustable headband feature swivel-mounted, leatherette ear cushions for hours of comfort
Holiday closure
Thanks for your message. We’re closed for [holiday or date range] and will resume replies on [date]. For urgent [specific issue], use [appropriate channel, if staffed].Use it when: the business is closed on specific dates. Set Custom schedule to the closure dates so the message is sent only during the closure. Include the urgent-channel line only if someone monitors that channel during the closure.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a holiday or high-volume message live after the business has reopened.
- Naming an urgent channel that no one is watching during the away period.
- Using the away reply to advertise an offer, which breaks the marketing-message rules described above.
- Choosing Always send for a business that is staffed during opening hours, so customers receive an away reply while a person is available.
When customers say they got no reply
Work through these checks in order. Each one covers a condition that stops the away message from reaching a customer.
- No reply at all: confirm that Send away message is turned on, that the phone has an active internet connection, and that the customer falls within the selected recipient option. A saved contact will not receive a reply under Everyone not in address book.
- Reply sent at the wrong time: check the schedule mode. For Custom schedule, confirm the period. For Outside of business hours, confirm that your hours are saved in the business profile.
- Outside-hours option unavailable: the business hours have not been set in the business profile. Set them, then return to the schedule choice.
- Customer expected a welcome message: the customer may have needed the greeting message, which has its own trigger and settings. Check that feature instead of the away message.
Booking and order links for appointment businesses
Appointment-based businesses are a clear fit for the away message. Booksy’s help center documents using the WhatsApp Business away message to send customers an online booking link. The link should open directly to booking on a phone; a homepage link adds a step that most customers will not take in a chat. The same approach works for order links, catalog links, and price lists.
What WhatsApp’s documentation supports
WhatsApp’s Help Center describes the feature this way:
“When away messages are enabled, customers who message you will automatically receive a customizable message, indicating that you’re busy or away from your phone.”
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #4
Sale
Logitech H390 Wired Headset PC/Laptop Stereo Headphones, USB-A, Rose
- Digital Stereo Sound: Fine-tuned drivers provide enhanced digital audio for music, calls, meetings and more
- Rotating Noise Canceling Mic: Minimizes unwanted background noise for clear conversations; the rotating boom arm can be tucked out of the way when you’re not using it
- Handy In-line Controls: Simple in-line controls on the headset cable let you adjust the volume or mute calls without disruption
- Plug-and-Play USB Computer Headset: Simply plug the USB-A connector into your computer and you’re ready to talk or listen without the need to install software
- Padded Comfort: Comfortable headphones with adjustable headband features swivel-mounted, leatherette ear cushions for hours of comfort and is easy to clean
The WhatsApp Help Center and WhatsApp for Business materials reviewed for this guide, as of October 2026, do not publish figures for away-message response rates, customer satisfaction, or conversions. This article therefore makes no claim that a particular template improves those outcomes. The templates here follow WhatsApp’s documented example and the settings described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an away message replace a reply from my team?
No. It confirms that the message arrived and sets expectations, but it does not answer the question. The team still has to reply when it is back, which is why the after-hours template asks for an order number that the team can review on return.
Can I reuse these templates on Instagram or Messenger?
The settings described in this guide are WhatsApp Business features. The wording can be reused on other channels, but each platform has its own auto-reply settings, and this guide does not cover them.
How do I turn the away message off temporarily?
Open Tools, tap Away message, and turn off Send away message. Turn it back on when you need it. Customers who message while it is off receive no automatic reply.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
