WhatsApp Rules — How to Never Get Banned

The habits that keep a business number healthy — opt-in, relevant content, easy opt-out, gradual scaling — and the mistakes that get numbers restricted or banned.

Meta protects WhatsApp users from spam very strictly. A business number can be restricted (temporarily blocked from starting chats) or banned (permanently disabled). Nearly every ban we see comes from the same few mistakes. Follow these rules from day one.

The 7 rules#

1. Only message people who opted in. A customer must have agreed to hear from you on WhatsApp — by messaging you first, ticking a box on your website, or giving consent in your shop. Bought or scraped number lists are the #1 cause of bans.
2. Say who you are. Use a clear display name and profile photo, and mention your business name in the first line of templates.
3. Send things people want. Relevant offers, order updates and reminders get read. Generic blasts get blocked and reported.
4. Make it easy to stop. Add a "Stop" or "Not interested" button to marketing templates. A customer who can opt out won't hit Block.
5. Grow slowly. A new number should start with your warmest customers and increase volume gradually over days and weeks — not message 2,000 cold contacts on day one.
6. Don't over-message. One or two marketing messages per customer per week is plenty for most businesses.
7. Watch your quality rating. If it turns yellow or red, pause marketing and fix the cause. See Quality rating & messaging limits.

Things that will get you banned#

• Sending to purchased, scraped or "data seller" lists
• Messaging people who never interacted with your business
• Misleading content, fake offers or impersonating another brand
• Selling products WhatsApp's Commerce Policy doesn't allow (for example, weapons, drugs, adult content, certain financial schemes)
• Using unofficial "WhatsApp blaster" tools on the same number

Already restricted or banned?#

Don't create a new number and repeat the same pattern. Read Account bans: avoid & appeal to understand what happened and how to request a review.