WhatsApp Error 131048: Spam Rate Limit Hit

Error 131048 means your WhatsApp Business Account hit Meta's Messaging Limits cap, for example 250 business-initiated conversations in a rolling 24-hour period. New outbound template messages fail until the window clears or your tier is upgraded.

• Symptom: Messages fail to send in WhatsApp / template message send fails.
• Likely cause: Your WhatsApp Business Account hit the Messaging Limits cap (for example, 250 business-initiated conversations in a rolling 24-hour period).

What This Error Means

Meta limits how many business-initiated conversations your WhatsApp Business Account can start within a rolling 24-hour window.

If you exceed the current tier (commonly 250), new outbound business-initiated messages may fail until:

• The rolling 24-hour window drops below the limit, or
• Your account is upgraded to a higher messaging tier.

Quick Checks (Confirm It Is a Limit Issue)

WhatsApp Manager Messaging Limits page showing the current tier

1. In WhatsApp Manager, go to Account tools → Messaging Limits.
2. Check your current tier and whether it shows 250 (or another tier).
3. If you recently sent many first-time outreach messages, this is likely the cause.

Link: WhatsApp Manager Messaging Limits

Resolution Options

Option 1: Wait for the Rolling 24-Hour Window

• Stop new outbound outreach.
• Wait until enough time has passed for the rolling 24-hour count to drop.
• Try again 24 hours after the bulk send period.

Option 2: Increase the Messaging Limit (Upgrade Tier)

Meta generally increases your messaging limit when you meet one of the requirements shown on the Messaging Limits page, commonly:

• Business verification, or
• Sending high-quality business-initiated conversations to enough unique customers (for example, 1,000 unique customers in a rolling 7-day period).

When to Escalate

Escalate if:

• The Messaging Limits page shows a high tier (for example, 10,000+) but messages still fail.
• Messages fail even for existing customer replies inside a 24-hour customer service window.
• The account is newly verified or upgraded but nothing changes after 24 hours.

What to Collect Before Escalating

• Screenshot of the Messaging Limits page.
• Approximate time of the bulk send.
• Error code and exact error text from logs.
• WABA ID and Phone Number ID (if available).