WhatsApp Business Quick Replies: Templates and Shortcuts [2026]
Every minute your team takes to respond on WhatsApp is a minute the customer uses to write to the competition. quick replies in WhatsApp Business are text shortcuts that allow sending predefined messages by typing a single keyword, reducing response time from minutes to seconds without sacrificing quality or personalization.
They are not the same as automatic replies. Quick replies are sent by a human agent manually, but with the speed of an automated message. They are the tool you are missing if your team answers the same questions 50 times a day.
In this guide, we explain what they are, how to set them up step by step, which templates to use for your industry, and how to combine them with advanced automation to take your support to the next level.
What Are Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business
The WhatsApp Business quick replies are predefined messages that your agents can insert into any conversation by typing a keyboard shortcut that starts with "/". For example, if you set up the shortcut "/thanks", typing it in the text box will display the full message: "Thank you for contacting us. If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to write to us."
Meta includes this feature for free in the WhatsApp Business app, and allows storing up to 50 different quick replies. Each one can include text, multimedia attachments (images, videos, documents), and dynamic variables.
It is essential to understand the difference compared to other types of automated messages in WhatsApp Business:
- Quick replies: sent by a human agent selecting a shortcut. They require manual intervention but enormously accelerate response speed.
- Automatic replies: triggered automatically without human intervention (welcome messages and away messages). If you want to dive deeper, we have a dedicated guide on automatic replies in WhatsApp Business.
- Away messages: a specific subtype of automatic reply that activates outside your business hours. We cover it in detail in our guide on WhatsApp Business away messages.
Quick replies are especially useful in 2026 because they allow maintaining a personal and approachable tone -- something customers particularly value -- while reducing response times to under 10 seconds.
How to Set Up Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business Step by Step
Setting up quick replies in WhatsApp Business is a simple process that will take you less than 5 minutes. The procedure works on both Android and iOS, although the interface may vary slightly.
Prerequisites
Before starting, check the following:
- Have the WhatsApp Business app installed (not the personal version of WhatsApp). It is free on Google Play and App Store.
- Have the app updated to the latest version available in 2026.
- Have completed the basic setup of your business profile.
Step 1: Access quick reply settings
- Open WhatsApp Business on your device.
- On Android, tap the three vertical dots in the upper right corner and select Business tools. On iOS, go to Settings > Business tools.
- Tap on Quick replies.
You will see the list of existing quick replies. If it is the first time, it will be empty.
Step 2: Create a new quick reply
- Tap the "+" button to add a new reply.
- In the Message field, write the full text you want to send. You can use formatting (bold, italic, strikethrough) with the same WhatsApp shortcuts: asterisks for bold, underscores for italic, tildes for strikethrough.
- In the Shortcut field, define the keyword that will trigger the reply. It must start with "/" and be a short, memorable word (for example, "/hours", "/shipping", "/price").
- Optionally, add a label to organize your quick replies by categories.
- Pulsad Save.
From now on, when you are in any conversation, you just need to type "/" followed by the shortcut for the full message to appear. You can also tap the clip icon (attachments) and select the quick reply icon to see all available ones.
Best Practices and Tips for Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business
How to Set Up Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business Effectively
Creating random quick replies is not enough. For them to be truly useful, follow these guidelines:
Organize shortcuts by categories. Use consistent prefixes: "/info_" for general information, "/sales_" for commercial processes, "/post_" for after-sales. This way your agents will find the correct reply faster.
Keep the tone natural. A quick reply that sounds robotic defeats its purpose. Write messages as if you were typing them in the moment, using approachable and direct language.
Review and update monthly. Prices change, policies evolve, products get updated. A quick reply with outdated information creates more problems than it solves.
Use the 50 slots strategically. WhatsApp Business has a limit of 50 quick replies. Prioritize the most frequently repeated questions and remove those that are not used.
WhatsApp Business Has Automated Messages, but Quick Replies Are Not
A common mistake is confusing WhatsApp Business automatic messages with quick replies. Automatic messages (welcome and away) are sent by themselves. Quick replies always require an agent to activate them manually.
This has an important advantage: the agent can read the conversation context before sending the reply and, if necessary, edit it on the fly. It is the best of both worlds: automation speed with human control.
If your query volume exceeds your agents' capacity even with quick replies, you need to make the leap to WhatsApp Business automation with chatbots or AI agents.
Practical Examples of Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business
Examples by Industry
Below you will find templates for WhatsApp Business quick replies organized by business type. Copy the ones that work for you and adapt the data to your company.
E-commerce / Online Store
| Atajo | Mensaje |
|---|---|
| /envio | Nuestro plazo de envio estandar es de 24-48 horas laborables en Peninsula. Para Baleares y Canarias, entre 3 y 5 dias laborables. Os enviaremos el numero de seguimiento por este mismo chat. |
| /devolucion | Teneis 30 dias desde la recepcion para devolver cualquier producto. Podeis iniciar la devolucion respondiendo a este mensaje con vuestro numero de pedido y os enviamos la etiqueta de devolucion. |
| /stock | Dejadme que compruebe la disponibilidad ahora mismo. En menos de 2 minutos os confirmo. |
Professional Services (Consultancies, Agencies, Clinics)
| Atajo | Mensaje |
|---|---|
| /cita | Para agendar una cita, podeis elegir directamente el horario que mejor os venga en este enlace: [URL]. Si necesitais ayuda para elegir, decidnos vuestra disponibilidad y os proponemos opciones. |
| /precio | Nuestras tarifas dependen del servicio concreto que necesiteis. Contadnos brevemente vuestra situacion y os preparamos un presupuesto personalizado sin compromiso. |
| /horario | Nuestro horario de atencion es de lunes a viernes de 9:00 a 19:00. Fuera de ese horario podeis dejarnos vuestro mensaje y os respondemos a primera hora del siguiente dia laborable. |
Hospitality and Restaurants
| Atajo | Mensaje |
|---|---|
| /reserva | Para reservar mesa, indicadnos fecha, hora y numero de comensales. Os confirmamos disponibilidad en menos de 5 minutos. |
| /carta | Podeis consultar nuestra carta actualizada aqui: [URL]. Si teneis alergias o intolerancias, indicadnoslo y os asesoramos sobre las opciones disponibles. |
| /ubicacion | Estamos en [direccion]. Os dejamos la ubicacion en Google Maps: [URL]. Disponemos de parking gratuito para clientes. |
Cross-industry Templates (Any Sector)
| Atajo | Mensaje |
|---|---|
| /gracias | Muchas gracias por contactar con nosotros. Si necesitais cualquier otra cosa, estamos aqui para ayudaros. |
| /espera | Estamos revisando vuestra consulta. En unos minutos os damos una respuesta. Gracias por la paciencia. |
| /transferir | Voy a pasar vuestra consulta a un companero especializado para que os atienda mejor. En breve se pondra en contacto con vosotros por este mismo chat. |
| /feedback | Nos encantaria conocer vuestra experiencia. Podriais dejarnos una resena rapida aqui: [URL]. Nos ayuda mucho a seguir mejorando. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Set Up Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business
To create a quick reply in WhatsApp Business, go to Business tools > Quick replies and tap the "+" button. Write the message, assign a shortcut starting with "/", and save. Then, in any conversation, type the shortcut and the message will appear automatically.
Does WhatsApp Business Have Automated Messages
Yes. WhatsApp Business offers two types of native automated messages: the welcome message (sent the first time a customer writes to you) and the away message (activates outside business hours). They are independent of quick replies, which always require manual sending by an agent. For more advanced automations, you can explore the WhatsApp Business API.
What Is a Shortcut in WhatsApp Business
A shortcut in WhatsApp Business is a keyword preceded by "/" that triggers a predefined quick reply. For example, typing "/hours" in a conversation's text box auto-completes the message associated with that shortcut. You can create up to 50 different shortcuts and each can include formatted text, images, and attached documents.
How to Disable Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business
To disable or delete a quick reply, go to Business tools > Quick replies, swipe left on the reply you want to delete (on iOS) or long press (on Android), and select Delete. Quick replies do not have a global on/off switch: they are deleted individually. If what you want is to disable automatic messages (welcome or away), that is managed in a different section of the settings.
Can Quick Replies Be Used in Personal WhatsApp
No. Quick replies are an exclusive feature of the WhatsApp Business app. The personal version of WhatsApp does not include this option. If you need automatic replies on personal WhatsApp, you would have to resort to third-party apps, although Meta does not officially support those solutions.
How GuruSup Enhances Your Quick Replies in WhatsApp Business
Quick replies are a good first step, but they have clear limitations: maximum 50, no conditional logic, no real dynamic variables, and above all, they require a human agent to be available to send them.
Key GuruSup Features
GuruSup takes the logic of quick replies to the next level with AI agents that respond autonomously through the WhatsApp Business API:
- Unlimited replies: while WhatsApp Business limits you to 50 shortcuts, GuruSup's AI agent has access to your entire knowledge base and generates contextualized responses in real time.
- Intelligent replies 24/7: you do not need a human on the other end. The AI agent understands natural language, interprets the customer's intent, and responds with the precision of a trained agent.
- Automatic escalation: when the query requires human intervention, the AI agent transfers the conversation to your team with all prior context, without the customer having to repeat anything.
- Multichannel: not just WhatsApp. The same AI agent serves on your website, email, and social media from a single panel.
How to Get Started with GuruSup
You can try GuruSup for free and have your first AI agent running on WhatsApp in less than 15 minutes. No technical knowledge or access to the Meta API is required; GuruSup manages the entire integration process.
Try GuruSup for free: automate your customer support with AI agents on WhatsApp
