WhatsApp Auto Reply Menu Builder
Build an auto reply message for WhatsApp Business in seconds: a numbered "Reply 1 for prices" menu that answers new customers instantly. Add your options, watch the preview build live, then copy it into your greeting or away message.
The *asterisks* around the welcome line turn into real bold when the message is pasted into WhatsApp. Save the finished menu as your greeting or away message in WhatsApp Business under Business tools.
How to use WhatsApp Auto Reply Menu Builder
- 1 Name your business Type your business name so the menu opens with a bold *Welcome to Your Business!* header when pasted into WhatsApp.
- 2 Write the welcome line Add a short line under the header, or leave it blank to use a friendly default. Keep it to one sentence so the numbered options stay above the fold.
- 3 Add your menu options One row per option: prices, opening hours, order status, whatever customers ask most. Add or remove rows freely; the numbering updates itself and the preview rebuilds live.
- 4 Copy it into WhatsApp Business Copy the menu or open it in WhatsApp with the send button, then paste it into Business tools under Greeting message and Away message so it goes out automatically.
What is a good auto reply message for WhatsApp Business?
When a customer messages your business on WhatsApp, the first minute decides whether they wait or move on to a competitor. A good auto reply message for WhatsApp Business answers instantly and routes the conversation at the same time: “Reply 1 for prices, reply 2 for opening hours, reply 3 to talk to a team member.” The customer taps out a single digit, and you know exactly what they need before you even open the chat. It is the same idea as a phone menu, except nobody is stuck listening to hold music; they just type a number.
How do I create an auto reply menu for WhatsApp?
Type your business name and a short welcome line, then add one row per menu option. Every row is numbered automatically, and the finished message builds live in the WhatsApp-style bubble at the top as you type. The welcome line is wrapped in *asterisks*, which is WhatsApp’s own bold formatting: the asterisks disappear and the text renders bold the moment the message is sent. Pick between two numbering styles, the conversational “Reply 1 for prices” or a compact “1. Prices” list, and finish with a closing instruction so first-time customers know a plain number is all you expect back. Copy the result or open it straight in WhatsApp with the send button.
How do I set up the auto reply in WhatsApp Business?
The menu is built for the automation tools inside the free WhatsApp Business app. Open Business tools, choose Greeting message, and paste the menu so every new customer or anyone messaging after 14 days of silence receives it automatically. Paste the same text into Away message to cover evenings and weekends; a numbered menu is one of the most useful WhatsApp Business away message examples because it tells after-hours customers exactly what to do instead of leaving them on read. If you are on the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) through a provider, use the menu as the body of your welcome flow and map each number to a routing rule or saved reply.
WhatsApp auto reply message samples from real businesses
Each of these is an auto reply message sample you can rebuild in the tool in under a minute, swapping in your own options:
- A bakery routes cake orders: reply 1 for the price list, 2 for custom cakes, 3 for today’s pickup slots
- A salon takes bookings: reply 1 for services and rates, 2 to book an appointment, 3 to reschedule
- A repair shop triages requests: reply 1 for a quote, 2 for repair status, 3 for warranty questions
- An online store cuts support load: reply 1 for order status, 2 for returns, 3 for anything else
How many options should an auto reply menu have?
Keep it to three to five options; a ten-item menu gets ignored and people just type their question anyway. Put your most requested option at number 1. Make the last option a catch-all like “talk to a team member” so nobody feels boxed in. And prepare a saved quick reply for each number in WhatsApp Business, so answering “1” takes you two taps instead of retyping the price list every time.
Why is my WhatsApp auto reply not working?
If the welcome line shows literal asterisks after sending, check there is no space between the asterisk and the text: *this* turns bold, * this * does not. If your greeting message is not going out, confirm it is toggled on in Business tools and remember WhatsApp only sends it to people you have not chatted with in the last 14 days. Test it from a friend’s phone, not your own number.
Key features
Live WhatsApp preview
The menu builds in a chat-style bubble as you type, so you see exactly what a customer will receive before you copy anything.
Add and remove options freely
Each menu option is its own row with automatic numbering. Add a row with a click or the Enter key, remove one, and the numbers reorder instantly.
Two numbering styles
Switch between the conversational "Reply 1 for prices" wording and a compact "1. Prices" list, depending on how formal your business voice is.
Real WhatsApp bold
The welcome header keeps its *asterisks*, so it renders bold automatically the moment the message is sent in WhatsApp. No formatting codes to remember.
Why people use it
- Answer in zero seconds Paired with a WhatsApp Business greeting message, every new customer gets an instant, useful reply even while you are busy or closed.
- Know what customers want before you reply A single digit tells you whether someone wants prices, a booking or support, so you open each chat already knowing the answer to send.
- Look organised without paid software A clean numbered menu makes a one-person business feel like it has a front desk, using nothing but the free WhatsApp Business app.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up an auto reply message on WhatsApp Business?
The menu itself is a message; the automation comes from WhatsApp Business. Paste it into Business tools under Greeting message and WhatsApp sends it automatically to new customers and to anyone messaging after 14 days of silence. When a customer replies with a number, you answer with a saved quick reply.
Why does my WhatsApp message show asterisks instead of bold text?
Text wrapped in asterisks, like *Welcome to Bella Bakery!*, turns bold as soon as the message is sent, as long as the asterisks sit directly against the text. If you still see literal asterisks after sending, remove any space inside them: *this* turns bold, * this * does not.
How many options should a WhatsApp auto reply menu have?
Three to five works best. Fewer than three and a menu is hardly needed; more than five and customers stop reading and type their question anyway. Put the most requested option at number 1 and end with a catch-all like "talk to a team member".
Can I use an auto reply menu on normal WhatsApp without the Business app?
You can copy and send the menu manually from any WhatsApp app, but automatic sending needs the free WhatsApp Business app, which has the Greeting message and Away message tools. The builder itself works the same either way.
Is my business information saved when I build the menu?
No. The menu is generated in your browser and only exists on your screen and clipboard. Nothing you type is sent to our servers.
Privacy & security
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your business name, menu options and welcome text never leave your device; the message is built locally and copied straight to your clipboard. We store nothing.
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