> ## 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. # Templates > What a template is, when you need one, and what each category and status means. A template is a message you write in advance and Meta approves. An appointment reminder, an order update and a special offer are all templates. ## When you need a template WhatsApp lets you reply freely for 24 hours after a customer's last message. Outside that window you can only send an approved template. You also need one to: * write to a customer first * send a [broadcast](/broadcasts/send-a-broadcast) * send a [form](/templates/forms) A [workflow](/workflows/overview) can send an approved template for you, with its **Send a template** step. Meta charges for each template it delivers. See [What Meta charges](/billing/meta-charges). ## Who can do what Owners and admins create, edit, duplicate and delete templates. Everyone on the team can see the list and send an approved template from a conversation. | | Owner and admin | Manager | Rep | | - | - | - | - | | See the Templates list and preview a template | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Send an approved template from a conversation | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Send a template as a broadcast | Yes | Yes | No | | Create, edit, duplicate or delete a template | Yes | No | No | | Send a test from the Templates page | Yes | No | No | To send one, open a conversation and choose **Send a template**. See [Replying](/conversations/replying). ## Categories You pick a category when you create a template. Meta reviews the template against it, and charges by it. | Category | Use it for | | - | - | | **Marketing** | Offers, launches, invitations and anything promotional. Customers can opt out. | | **Utility** | Updates about something the customer already asked for: orders, bookings, collections. | | **Authentication** | One-time passcodes. Meta fixes the wording, so only the code and footer vary. | Only marketing and utility templates can be sent as a broadcast. A contact who has [opted out](/contacts/opt-outs) is not sent marketing templates. ## The Templates list Go to **Templates** in the sidebar. Each row shows the template's name, the start of its text, its category, its language and its status. Select a row to see the template as WhatsApp will show it. Owners and admins also get these buttons in the panel: * **Edit in the builder**, **Edit and resubmit** or **Open in the builder**, depending on the status * **Duplicate** * **Send a test**, for an approved template * **Delete template** A template made in WhatsApp Manager appears in the list too, marked **Made in WhatsApp Manager**. It is read-only here. Duplicate it to make a version you can change. Companion checks your WhatsApp Business account for changes every night. To check now, choose **Refresh from Meta**. ## Statuses | Status | What it means | | - | - | | **Draft** | Only stored in Companion. Submit it to Meta when it is ready. | | **In review** | Meta is reviewing it, usually for a few minutes. It cannot be changed or sent until Meta answers. | | **Approved** | Ready to send from a conversation, and to use in workflows and broadcasts. | | **Approved, flagged** | Still sendable, but customers have been blocking or reporting it. Meta will pause it if that continues. Send it to fewer people, or duplicate it and rewrite it. | | **Rejected** | Meta did not approve it, so it cannot be sent. Change what the reason points to and submit it again. | | **Paused** | Meta paused it after poor feedback from customers, so it cannot be sent. A pause lifts on its own after a few hours. Rewriting and resubmitting it also ends the pause. | | **Disabled** | Meta switched it off after repeated pauses or a policy breach. It cannot be sent or changed. Duplicate it under a new name and rewrite it, or appeal in WhatsApp Manager. | | **In appeal** | An appeal against Meta's decision is open. It cannot be sent or changed until Meta answers. | | **Being deleted** | It has been deleted on WhatsApp and can no longer be sent. | | **Deleted on WhatsApp** | It is no longer on your WhatsApp Business account. Delete it here, or duplicate it to submit it again under a new name. | | **Account full** | Your WhatsApp Business account has reached its limit of templates. Delete templates you no longer use, then submit it again. | | **Check with Meta** | Meta reports a status Companion does not recognise, so the template is not being sent. Choose **Refresh from Meta**, or look at it in WhatsApp Manager. | An approved template can also show **High quality**, **Medium quality** or **Low quality**. This is Meta's rating, based on how customers react to it. ## Related * [Create a template](/templates/create-a-template) * [Forms](/templates/forms) * [How WhatsApp messaging works](/get-started/how-whatsapp-messaging-works) * [What Meta charges](/billing/meta-charges) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.