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# What media formats are supported in a WhatsApp Template Message?

|| Info
Quick answer: Every WhatsApp Template Message must contain body text. Media is optional and appears only in the Header. Supported header formats are JPG/JPEG/PNG up to 5 MB, MP4 up to 16 MB, and PDF up to 10 MB.

## 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 | PDF | 10 MB | Invoices, brochures, policies |

![](https://content.api.getguru.com/files/view/11ce781d-b975-409f-8c3f-d83feb80427b)

||| Warning
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 | .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:

```json
{
  "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