WhatsApp Greeting & Away Message Examples
A customer messages your business at 9:47 PM. You're closed. They get nothing back — no acknowledgement, no "we'll reply tomorrow," just silence. By morning, half of them have messaged a competitor who answered. The fix isn't staffing the chat at midnight. It's a good away message — and a warm greeting for the ones who arrive during hours.
This guide gives you 20+ copy-paste WhatsApp away message examples and greeting templates, organised by situation: after-hours, lunch breaks, holidays, first-touch greetings and more. Steal them, swap in your details, and never leave an enquiry hanging again. At the end, we'll show how to automate them so the right message fires on its own.
What makes a good away or greeting message
Front-load three things and you're done. A working auto-message answers the only questions a waiting customer actually has:
- Acknowledge them. "We got your message" beats silence every time.
- Set a real expectation. When will they hear back — "within 2 hours," "by 10 AM tomorrow," "Monday"? Vague hope ("we'll get to you soon") just breeds a follow-up nudge.
- Give them a next step. A link, a menu, an urgent-line number, a catalogue — something to do while they wait.
Keep it short (2–4 lines on a phone screen), human, and on-brand. Skip the corporate throat- clearing. The examples below all follow this shape — copy, paste, personalise the [bracketed] bits.
Greeting message examples (first touch)
A greeting fires when someone messages you for the first time, or after a gap. It sets the tone and, ideally, routes them. Use it to feel responsive even before a human shows up — the same instinct that makes WhatsApp such a strong customer-service channel in the first place.
1. Simple and warm
Hi! 👋 Thanks for messaging [Business Name]. A team member will be with you shortly. In the meantime, how can we help today?
2. With a quick menu
Welcome to [Business Name]! Reply with a number so we can point you the right way: 1️⃣ New order 2️⃣ Order status 3️⃣ Something else
3. Sales-led
Hey, thanks for reaching out to [Business Name] 🙌 Tell us what you're looking for and we'll share options + pricing right away.
4. Setting the response expectation up front
Hi there! Thanks for your message. We typically reply within [15 minutes] during business hours ([Mon–Sat, 10 AM–7 PM]). Sit tight — we're on it.
5. New-customer welcome
Welcome aboard! 🎉 You're now chatting with [Business Name]. Save this number so you can reach us anytime. What brings you in today?
After-hours away message examples
The most-used auto-reply by a mile. The job: acknowledge, give a return time, offer a self-serve option for the impatient. If you haven't pinned down your trading hours yet, sort that first — our guide to setting WhatsApp business hours covers how to schedule them so the away message knows exactly when to fire.
6. Standard after-hours
Thanks for messaging [Business Name]! We're currently closed and will reply when we reopen at [10 AM tomorrow]. We've got your message and will be in touch first thing.
7. With business hours stated
Hi! You've reached us outside our hours ([Mon–Fri, 9 AM–6 PM]). We'll respond on the next working day. For anything urgent, [call us on +XX XXXXX XXXXX].
8. Self-serve nudge
We're away right now, but we don't want to keep you waiting. Browse [our catalogue / FAQs: link] and we'll personally follow up by [9 AM]. 🙏
9. Friendly and brief
Out for the evening! 🌙 Drop your question here and we'll reply the moment we're back, by [tomorrow morning].
10. E-commerce flavour
Thanks for shopping with [Store Name]! Our team's offline, but your message is safe with us. We reply to all chats by [11 AM IST]. Want to track an order? Send your order number.
Lunch break & short-absence messages
For the 30–60 minute gaps. Set a tighter, specific return time so nobody assumes you've vanished.
11. Lunch break
We've stepped away for lunch and will be back at [2 PM]. Leave your question here — we'll reply as soon as we return. 🍽️
12. In a meeting / busy
Thanks for your message! The team's tied up at the moment but will get back to you within [the hour]. Appreciate your patience.
13. High-volume day
We're getting more messages than usual today and replies may be a little slower than normal. We're working through every one — yours included. Thanks for bearing with us. 🙏
Holiday & extended-leave away messages
Longer absences need a clear reopen date so expectations don't drift.
14. Public holiday
Happy [Diwali] from all of us at [Business Name]! ✨ We're closed for the holiday and will reopen on [date]. We'll reply to your message then — thanks for your patience.
15. Weekend
Thanks for reaching out! Our team's off for the weekend and back on [Monday]. We'll respond first thing. For urgent matters, [email us at hello@business.com].
16. Extended closure / annual break
[Business Name] is closed from [date] to [date] for our year-end break. We'll reply to all messages when we're back on [reopen date]. Wishing you a great holiday season! 🎄
17. Staff on leave (specific person)
Hi! [Name] is on leave until [date]. For anything that can't wait, [Colleague] is covering and you can reach the team right here — we'll make sure it's handled.
Industry-specific examples
A few tuned to common WhatsApp-first businesses. Adapt the tone to yours.
18. Real estate / brokerage
Thanks for your interest in [Project / Property]! Our team's away right now and will share details, pricing and site-visit slots by [9 AM tomorrow]. What's your preferred location and budget?
19. Clinic / healthcare
Thank you for contacting [Clinic Name]. We're currently closed (hours: [Mon–Sat, 9 AM–8 PM]). For appointments, reply here and we'll confirm in the morning. For emergencies, please call [number] or visit your nearest hospital.
20. Restaurant / café
Thanks for messaging [Café Name]! We're closed for the night. For reservations or orders, drop the details and we'll confirm when we open at [11 AM]. Hungry now? Order on [delivery link].
21. Agency / B2B services
Thanks for reaching out to [Agency]. The team's offline but we read every message. We'll get back to you with next steps within [one business day]. Mind sharing a quick line on what you need?
22. Coaching / education
Hi! Thanks for your message about [Course / Programme]. We're away at the moment and will reply with full details and enrolment steps by [tomorrow]. Want the syllabus now? Here you go: [link].
Where Tenashi fits
Templates only help if the right one actually fires — at 9 PM, on a holiday, the moment someone new messages. The free WhatsApp Business app does have a basic away message and greeting, but it's one message, one number, one phone, with no logic beyond on/off hours. The instant you have a team, or want different replies for different situations, you've outgrown it. (We dig into that limit in is the WhatsApp Business app enough for teams?.)
Tenashi is the WhatsApp workspace for teams. You link your existing number with a QR scan — no new SIM, no porting — and your whole team works one shared inbox. On top of that, automations fire greetings and away messages based on real conditions: business hours, first-contact, keywords, or when a chat goes unanswered. Pair them with canned replies your agents can drop into live chats, so the menus and FAQ answers above are one tap away. And unlike the official API route, there are no template approvals and no per-message fees — your auto-replies just send.
On Growth & Scale, AI can also draft suggested replies in your tone for the messages that need a real answer, so an auto-reply buys time and a person closes the loop. Every send is ban-protected — human-paced, with duplicate and burst guards — to keep your number safe (risk reduction, not a guarantee).
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FAQ
How do I set an away message on WhatsApp Business?
In the free WhatsApp Business app, go to Settings → Business tools → Away message, toggle it on, write your text and choose a schedule (always, outside hours, or custom). It's one fixed message per number. For different replies by situation or a team, use a workspace like Tenashi to automate greetings and away messages with real conditions.
What should a WhatsApp away message say?
Three things: acknowledge you got the message, set a clear return time ("we'll reply by 10 AM"), and offer a next step — a link, a menu, or an urgent-line number. Keep it to two to four short lines, write like a human, and personalise the bracketed details to your business.
Can I send different away messages for different situations?
Not with the basic WhatsApp Business app — it allows one away message at a time. A WhatsApp workspace lets you automate several: a first-touch greeting, an after-hours reply, a holiday notice and keyword-triggered responses, each firing on its own conditions instead of a single on/off schedule.
Is an away message the same as a greeting message?
No. A greeting fires when someone messages you for the first time (or after a long gap) and sets the tone. An away message fires when you're unavailable — after hours, on a break or on holiday — to acknowledge the customer and set expectations. Most businesses use both.
Do auto-replies risk getting my WhatsApp number banned?
Auto-replies themselves are normal business behaviour. Bans usually come from blasting unsolicited messages at speed, not from answering people who messaged you. Tenashi paces every send like a human and guards against duplicate or burst patterns, which reduces risk — though no tool can guarantee against WhatsApp's policies.
Stop losing after-hours enquiries to silence. Start a free trial and let the right greeting or away message fire automatically — then have a person pick up where it left off.