What media formats are supported in a WhatsApp Template Message?
⚡Quick answer -
Every WhatsApp Template Message must contain body text. Media is optional and, if used, appears only in the Header. Supported header formats are JPG/JPEG/PNG for images within 5MB, MP4 videos within 16MB, and documents (PDF) within 10MB.
When should I use this guide?
Consult it before submitting a template to be sure your media type, size, and formatting meet WhatsApp rules—avoiding one of the most common rejection reasons.
1. Supported media formats (header only)
Media Type | Supported Formats | Max Size | Ideal Use Case |
Image | JPG, JPEG, PNG | 5 MB | Product photos, service visuals |
Video | MP4 | 16 MB | Demo clips, promotional intros |
Document | 10 MB | Invoices, brochures, policies |
❌ You cannot send a template with media only—body text is mandatory.
2. Flexible media formats you can swap in at send time
WhatsApp now lets you replace the header media with additional formats right before sending or scheduling a campaign. Creation rules stay strict; the flexibility exists only during campaign execution.
Media type | Allowed when creating the template | Extra formats when sending | Max size | Works in |
Image | JPG, JPEG, PNG | — (no change) | 5 MB | All template sends |
Video | .mp4 | .mp4, .3gp | 16 MB | Contacts Retargeting, Standard Campaign, Chat Window |
Document | .pdf, .txt, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx | 100 MB (Cloud API 10 MB) | Same as above |
Important limits -
• Only one media file per template header.
• Live-chat “Attach” button cannot use the extra formats—flexibility applies only via template-based sending.
• If the upload violates format or size, the system blocks it and shows an error (“File size should be ≤ 16 MB” or “Invalid format”).
3. What Happens If You Exceed the Limit?
- Template Rejection: Meta will reject your submission during approval.
- API Error Response: The Cloud API will throw a media size error.
Example Error Response:
{ "error": { "message": "Media file size too large", "type": "OAuthException", "code": 131051, "error_subcode": 2494010, "fbtrace_id": "AbCdEf123456" }}4. Example template message
Header: Image (product photo)
Body: “Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} has been shipped."
Sample values: “Hi Sarah, your order #1234 has been shipped.”
5. Compliance notes
• Body text is mandatory.
• File names should be clean (no spaces, symbols, emojis).
• Media must relate directly to the template content.
• Unsupported formats or oversized files result in rejection.
6. Best-practice checklist
✔️ Compress media before upload.
✔️ Include clear body text that explains the attachment.
✔️ Preview the template to confirm correct rendering.
✔️ Avoid unrelated stock visuals.
✔️ Test file size on Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Keywords: WhatsApp template media, header image size, supported formats, body text required
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