How do I set an away message for after hours?
Updated 30 September 2026
Turn on the Away message in the WhatsApp Business app and set it to send outside of business hours. That option needs your business hours to be set first.
- Choose when it sends: always, on a custom schedule, or outside of business hours.
- Choose who gets it: everyone, people not in your address book, everyone except some contacts, or only some contacts.
- A greeting message is separate. It is sent when a customer first messages you and after 14 days of inactivity.
- Say when you reopen and where to find your menu, so the customer isn't left waiting.
- Your phone needs an active internet connection to send away messages, so keep it online after closing.
Let customers order ahead instead of waiting
Menuthere's ordering page takes scheduled orders and pre-orders, so a customer can order ahead for a later time instead of waiting on a reply. Each order waits in your dashboard.
Next questions
Sources (3)
- How to use away messages, WhatsApp Help Center, read 30 September 2026
- How to use greeting messages, WhatsApp Help Center, read 30 September 2026
- About your business profile, WhatsApp Help Center, read 30 September 2026
