Message Template Undeliverable: Reasons and Solutions [2025 Updates]

▶️ Chinese Version

When a WhatsApp Message Template is undelivered ⚠️, it means the message fails to reach its intended recipient, leading to gaps in communication, whether it’s an authentication code, an important update, or a promotional message.

Message Undelivered Button on iSlash

Common Reasons for Undelivered Messages and Solutions

1. Message Undeliverable (Error Code: 131019 / 131026)

Unable to deliver message reasons can include:

(i) Recipient’s Phone Number Is Not a WhatsApp Number

If the recipient’s phone number isn’t registered on WhatsApp, the message won’t be delivered.

Solution: Verify the recipient’s phone number is correct and registered with WhatsApp. If they aren’t on WhatsApp, try reaching out via SMS or email to encourage them to register on the platform.

(ii) Recipient Has Not Accepted the Updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

If the recipient has not accepted WhatsApp’s updated Terms of Service or Privacy Policy, messages will not be delivered.

Solution: Using a non-WhatsApp communication method, ask the WhatsApp user to:

• Confirm that they can send a message to your WhatsApp business phone number.

• Confirm they’ve accepted the latest Terms of Service by going to Settings > Help or Settings > Application Information, which will prompt them to accept the terms if they haven’t already done so.

(iii) Recipient Using an Outdated WhatsApp Version

If the recipient is using an outdated version of WhatsApp, they won’t receive messages. The minimum required versions are:

• Android: 2.21.15.15 or later

• iOS: 2.21.170.4 or later

• SMBA: 2.21.15.15 or later

• SMBI: 2.21.170.4 or later

• KaiOS: 2.2130.10 or later

• Web: 2.2132.6 or later

• Solution: Ask the recipient to update their WhatsApp.

(iv) Sending Authentication Templates to Users in India

WhatsApp currently restricts the sending of authentication templates to users with the +91 (India) country code.

Solution: Use alternative methods like SMS or email-based authentication, for Indian users until this restriction is lifted.

(v) If you do receive this error code (131026) for On-Premises API, suspect it is due to the limit, avoid immediately resending the template message and instead retry at increasing time intervals.

• This is not actually an issue, this is a feature implemented by WhatsApp to prevent abuse and spam, to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

• The best practice for using the WhatsApp Business API is to ensure that customers have opted in to receive messages from the business.

2. Unapproved or Non-Existent Template (Error Code: 132001)

Check if the message template is approved and in the correct language.

3. Meta Chose Not to Deliver (Error Code: 131049)

This can occur if the message is not delivered to maintain a healthy ecosystem engagement. WhatsApp limits the frequency of marketing template messages sent to individual users.

Solution: Don’t retry sending the message immediately if you receive this error. Instead, retry in increasing time increments until the message is delivered, as the limit may apply for varying periods of time. For more detailed information, refer to WhatsApp’s Per-User Marketing Template Message Limits.

4. Business Eligibility Payment Issue (Error Code: 131042)

There was an error related to your payment method.

Solution: Ensure your billing and payment methods are correctly set up to avoid transaction issues.

5. Unsupported Message Type (Error Code: 131051)

Solution: See Message for supported message types before trying again with a supported message type.

6. Template is Disabled (Error Code: 132016)

Template has been paused too many times due to low quality and is now permanently disabled.

Solution: Create a new template with different content.

If you want to know more about error messages, click here.

---

Get started for FREE!

Follow us for the best WhatsApp API & Facebook Conversion API Solutions! 👍