> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.msgcompanion.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Send a broadcast

> Send one approved template to many contacts at once, now or at a time you choose.

A broadcast sends one approved template to many contacts at once. Replies land in your inbox like any other message.

<Note>
  Owners, admins and managers only. Reps do not see Broadcasts, but they answer the replies in Conversations.
</Note>

## Before you start

* You need an approved **marketing** or **utility** template. Other templates cannot be broadcast. See [Create a template](/templates/create-a-template).
* You need a connected WhatsApp number.
* Only message people who have asked to hear from you.
* Meta charges for the messages a broadcast sends. See [What Meta charges](/billing/meta-charges).

## Create a broadcast

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new broadcast">
    Go to **Broadcasts** and choose **New broadcast**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Details: name it and pick a template">
    Enter a **Name**, up to 80 characters. It is for your team only. Customers never see it.

    Under **Template**, pick the template to send, then choose **Continue**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Message: fill in the variables">
    If the template has variables, enter a value for each one. The same value goes to everyone, unless you use one of these to put in each person's own details:

    * `{{first_name}}`
    * `{{full_name}}`
    * `{{phone}}`

    The preview shows the message with a sample name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Audience: choose who it goes to">
    Pick an audience. Companion counts how many people will receive the broadcast, and how many are left out because they opted out or have no number WhatsApp can reach. Choose **See who this is** to check the list. See [Audiences](/broadcasts/audiences).
  </Step>

  <Step title="When: send now or schedule">
    Choose **Send now**, or choose **Schedule** and pick a **Date** and **Time**. You can schedule up to 7 days ahead. The time is in your workspace's time zone.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm: check and test">
    Check the summary: the template, the audience, the number of recipients and when it sends.

    To see it on your own phone first, enter your number under **Send a test to my number** and send the test. It is one real message, with a sample name in place of each person's. Meta charges for it like any other.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send">
    Choose **Send to** or **Schedule for**, followed by the number of people. The broadcast's page opens and shows its progress.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Sending runs at up to 20 messages a second.

## Change a scheduled broadcast

While a broadcast is still waiting for its time, open it and choose:

* **Reschedule** to move it to a new time
* **Edit** to change its name, audience or time

The message itself cannot be changed. To send different wording, choose **Duplicate**, make a new broadcast, and cancel this one.

A scheduled broadcast works out its audience when it sends, so it reaches whoever matches at that moment.

## Cancel a broadcast

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the broadcast">
    Go to **Broadcasts** and select it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cancel it">
    Choose **Cancel broadcast** and confirm.
  </Step>
</Steps>

* A **scheduled** broadcast can be cancelled any time before it sends. Nobody receives it.
* A broadcast that is **sending** stops where it is. Messages already sent stay sent. The people still waiting do not receive it.

A broadcast that has finished cannot be cancelled.

## Send it again

Open a broadcast and choose **Duplicate** to start a new one with the same template and audience.

If some people were not reached, choose **Send to those not reached**. This starts a new broadcast with the same message, for the people the first one failed to reach or skipped.

## Related

* [Audiences](/broadcasts/audiences)
* [Reach and results](/broadcasts/reach-and-results)
* [Templates](/templates/overview)
* [Opt-outs](/contacts/opt-outs)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.