What's the difference between a greeting and an away message?

A greeting welcomes new or returning customers whenever they write. An away message goes out while you're away: all the time, on a schedule you set, or outside your business hours.

How do I send an away message only outside business hours?

Add your business hours to your business profile first. Then, in Tools › Away message › Schedule, choose Outside business hours.

Do they send when my phone is off?

WhatsApp says your phone needs an active internet connection for greeting and away messages to be sent.

How many quick replies can I save?

Up to 50. In a chat, type / to see them and pick one.

Is this generator free?

Yes, with no sign-up. The messages are made in your browser and nothing you type is sent to us.

Can AI answer customers instead of an away message?

Yes. An AI agent such as Kiko answers on WhatsApp at any hour from what you've taught it, such as prices, hours and bookings, and hands a chat to your team when it needs a person. It connects to WhatsApp through the WhatsApp Business Platform rather than these app settings.

Free tool

WhatsApp greeting and away messages, written for you

Tell us your business, your hours and your tone, and get a greeting, an away message and quick replies ready to paste into the WhatsApp Business app. Free, in your browser.

Updated 5 November 2026

Ask AI about this pageChatGPT Claude Perplexity Google AI

Business name

Opening hours (optional)

Website or booking link (optional)

Greeting message

Hi 👋 Thanks for messaging us! How can we help today? Ask us about orders, delivery or anything in the shop.

Sent when someone writes for the first time, or after 14 days without a message.

Away message

Hi! Thanks for your message 🙏 We're away right now. Leave your question here and we'll reply within a few hours.

Sent while you're away: always, on a schedule, or outside your business hours.

Quick replies · type “/” in a chat to use them

/orderCould you send your order number? I'll check it for you right away.
/deliveryCould you share your delivery address? We'll check the delivery options for you.
/waitThanks for waiting! Let me check that for you.
/thanksThank you so much! 😊 Let us know if there's anything else.

Made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us.

How to set them up in the WhatsApp Business app

From WhatsApp's help centre. Your phone needs an internet connection for greeting and away messages to send.

Greeting message
1. Open the Tools tab and tap Greeting message.
2. Turn on Send greeting message and paste your message.
3. Choose who gets it, then save.
WhatsApp help: greeting message
Away message
1. Open the Tools tab and tap Away message.
2. Turn on Send away message and paste your message.
3. Under Schedule, choose Always send, Custom schedule or Outside business hours (it needs your hours in your business profile), choose who gets it, then save.
WhatsApp help: away message
Quick replies
1. Open the Tools tab and tap Quick replies, then the add button.
2. Paste the message and type its shortcut, such as /hours.
3. In a chat, type / to pick one. You can save up to 50.
WhatsApp help: quick replies

FAQ

Questions about WhatsApp greeting and away messages

Short answers from WhatsApp's own help pages.

Still have a question?Ask Kiko. It's a HeyKiko agent trained on everything here.

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An automatic message the WhatsApp Business app sends when someone writes to you for the first time, or writes again after 14 days without a message. Someone who wrote in the last 14 days doesn't get it again.

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