How to Set Up WhatsApp Auto-Reply
Configure automatic replies for your WhatsApp. Set custom responses, business hours, and AI-powered smart replies.
WhatsApp auto-reply turns your bot into a 24/7 receptionist that answers customer questions, sends business hours, or politely defers off-topic chatter while you sleep. BotWave's !afk and AI auto-reply modes cover both the "I am away" use case and the "AI answers anything" use case in a single dashboard toggle.
Prerequisites
- An active BotWave WhatsApp session (see Create a WhatsApp Bot if you have not connected one yet).
- A clear answer to the question "what should the bot say automatically?". Even a one-sentence reply works, you can iterate.
- Optionally, an idea of which chats should auto-reply (e.g. only DMs, or only one specific group).
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Decide between AFK mode and AI mode
AFK mode replies with a fixed message you write yourself ("I will be back at 3pm"). AI mode uses Groq or Gemini to reply with a context-aware answer. Pick AFK if you want predictable replies; AI if you want hands-off coverage.
- 2
Set the auto-reply message
In a chat where the bot is active, send `!afk` followed by your message. For example: `!afk Sleeping right now, will reply at 8 AM. For urgent orders, please call +234XXXXXXX.`
!afk Sleeping right now, will reply at 8 AM. - 3
Restrict the reply scope (optional)
By default, AFK fires in DMs and groups where the bot is active. From Dashboard → Auto-reply you can scope it to specific JIDs (chats), exclude noisy groups, and set a cooldown so the same user does not get the same auto-reply twice in 30 minutes.
- 4
Test it
Ask a friend to message you, or send a message from a different WhatsApp account. The bot should reply within 1-3 seconds with the AFK text.
- 5
Turn it off when you are back
Send !back in any chat to clear the AFK state. The bot stops auto-replying immediately.
!back
Expected result
Incoming WhatsApp messages get an automatic, personalised reply within ~2 seconds, with no input from you. The reply respects your scope and cooldown settings so contacts do not get bombarded.
Power-user tips
- Combine AFK + AI: set AFK as the default and let AI take over for messages that mention specific keywords (e.g. "price", "menu", "hours").
- Use the {name} placeholder in your AFK text, it pulls the contact's push name so the reply feels personal.
- For commerce use cases, include your business hours and an alternate contact in the AFK message so customers self-serve.
- Schedule recurring AFK windows (e.g. every weekday 11pm-6am) from Dashboard → Auto-reply → Schedule.
Common pitfalls
- Do not set AFK to fire in every chat by default, WhatsApp can flag accounts that auto-reply to *every* message as automation. Scope it.
- AI mode counts against your daily AI query limit (10/day on free tier). If you run a busy customer-support flow, upgrade or restrict AI to specific groups.
Frequently asked questions
Does WhatsApp auto-reply only work for DMs?
No. By default it works in DMs and groups where the bot is added. You can scope it to DMs only, specific groups only, or specific contacts only from the dashboard.
Can I have different auto-replies for different chats?
Yes. Each session can have multiple AFK profiles tied to JID lists. For example: profile A for customer DMs ("Hi! I will reply at 8 AM"), profile B for a hangout group ("AFK"), profile C disabled entirely for your work group.
Will the auto-reply trigger for messages from the bot itself?
No. BotWave skips messages sent by the same session, and skips other known BotWave instances, so two BotWave bots in the same group will not infinite-loop replying to each other.
Is AI auto-reply truly automatic, or do I have to approve each reply?
Fully automatic by default. If you prefer approve-before-send, enable "Suggest mode", the AI drafts a reply and posts it to your dashboard for one-click approval instead of sending it directly.
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