40 WhatsApp Auto-Reply Message Examples You Can Copy

A WhatsApp auto-reply message is the text that gets sent back automatically when someone messages you and you are not there to answer. The best ones do three things in under 30 words: acknowledge the message, set an expectation for when you will reply, and — if it is a business number — give the person something useful to do in the meantime.

What makes a good WhatsApp auto-reply message?

A good auto-reply is short, specific, and honest about timing. "Thanks for your message, I will get back to you as soon as possible" fails on the last two: it reads like a machine and promises nothing. "Thanks! I am away from my phone until 6 PM and will reply then — for urgent orders, call 98765 43210" answers the only two questions the sender actually has, which is when and what now. Three practical rules: name a real time window rather than "soon", never apologise twice in one message, and if you are a business, always include one next step (a price list, a menu, a phone number, a booking link). Anything longer than two sentences tends to get skimmed and ignored.

Out-of-office and away message examples

• Away from my phone until 6 PM today — I will reply to everything then. For anything urgent, call me on 98765 43210.
• I am on leave until Monday the 14th and not checking WhatsApp. If it cannot wait, please email hello@example.com.
• Travelling this week with patchy signal. Replies will be slow, but nothing gets lost — I will get to your message.
• Currently in meetings until 4 PM. Leave the details here and I will pick it up in one go afterwards.
• Out for the weekend — back Monday morning. Sending this so you are not left wondering.

Business-hours and after-hours examples

• Thanks for messaging Rangoli Bakery! We are open 9 AM to 8 PM. You have reached us after hours, so we will confirm your order first thing tomorrow.
• Hi! Our team replies between 10 AM and 7 PM, Monday to Saturday. Send your question here and it will be answered in the morning.
• We are closed today for a public holiday. Orders sent now will be packed and dispatched tomorrow.
• You have reached us outside working hours. For delivery status, reply with your order number and we will check it first thing.

New-enquiry and sales examples

• Thanks for your interest! Reply with 1 for the price list, 2 for delivery areas, or 3 to speak to someone.
• Hi! Yes, we still have that in stock. Sending you the full catalogue now — tell me the size and colour and I will hold one for you.
• Thanks for asking about our rates. Here is the current price list. If you want a quote for a bulk order, tell me the quantity and I will send exact pricing.
• Got your enquiry. Two quick questions so I can quote properly: which city are you in, and when do you need it by?

Personal and busy-right-now examples

• Driving right now — will call you back when I stop.
• In class until 3. Text me and I will read it all at once after.
• Phone on do-not-disturb until morning. If this is an emergency, call twice and it will ring through.
• Deep in work mode for the next two hours. Not ignoring you — just batching replies.

How do you send these automatically on WhatsApp?

Copying a good message is the easy half; the harder half is making it fire without you. On the WhatsApp Business app you can set a native away message for outside business hours. On a regular WhatsApp number you need an app that can reply to notifications for you — that is what WhatsReply AI does, using Android Notification Access rather than the official WhatsApp Business API, so there is no application, approval wait, or platform fee. Set a Keyword Rule to match any incoming message, paste one of the templates above, and turn it on before you leave. There is a step-by-step version of that setup in our out-of-office guide, and a set of reply rules worth stealing if you want more than a single away message.

When a template is not enough

Templates answer the first message well and the second message badly. If someone replies "ok but when exactly will you be free?", a canned line sent twice in a row reads worse than no reply at all. That is the point where an AI persona — a short prompt describing your tone and what you are allowed to say — handles the follow-up in a way a fixed template cannot. The difference between the two approaches is covered in AI reply generator vs. auto-reply bot.