Why do I see status "pending" after sending message?

When you send a message through the Whapi API, the response always includes "status": "pending" first. This is normal — it means the API accepted the request and passed it to WhatsApp. The status then updates to delivered, or read as WhatsApp processes delivery.

To track status changes in real time, enable the statuses.post webhook event. You can also check the current status manually using the Get message method.

If the status stays pending and never changes — the message did not reach the recipient. Below are the most common reasons, in order of likelihood.

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1. Wrong recipient ID

This is the most frequent cause. Make sure you are using the correct Chat ID format:

• Personal chat: phone number in international format, digits only, no + or leading zeros — e.g. 5561982198228

• Group: ID ending in @g.us

• Community: send to individual groups within it, not to the community ID itself. All posting happens through the announcement group inside the community — it has a separate @g.us ID. Use the Get community groups method to retrieve the correct ID.

Some countries (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina) use non-obvious number formats — a single extra or missing digit silently prevents delivery. Always validate the number first using the Check phones method. The response returns the exact Chat ID WhatsApp recognizes — use that value for sending, not the raw number from your CRM or contact list.

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2. Recipient is not on WhatsApp

If the number is valid but not registered on WhatsApp, the message will stay pending indefinitely. The Check phones method will return invalid in this case — always run it before sending to a new contact.

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3. Temporary restriction on linked devices (soft ban)

If messages to new contacts are stuck in pending while existing conversations work fine, your number may have a soft ban — a temporary restriction applies to WhatsApp accounts.

Signs:

• API returns 200, but the message never arrives

• Status stays pending, never becomes sent, delivered, or read

• Incoming messages and existing chats are unaffected

First, check for a restriction notice: open https://web.whatsapp.com/ — if a restriction is active, WhatsApp displays a warning banner at the top of the screen.

What to do:

1. Stop sending to new contacts immediately. Continuing during an active restriction can extend it or trigger a permanent ban.

2. Wait — the restriction is temporary and lifts on its own.

3. Review your sending practices: How to not get Banned

The restriction only affects WhatsApp Web and API. The mobile app continues to work normally.

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4. No permission to send to this chat

Some chat types restrict who can send messages:

• Groups with admin-only posting enabled — non-admin members cannot send; messages stay pending.

• WhatsApp Channels (newsletters) — only the channel admin or creator can publish posts. A message from anyone else stays pending and is never published.

To check your role in a channel, use the Get newsletter information method and look at the "role" field — it must be "admin" or "creator".

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5. Sending to a WhatsApp Channel (newsletter) — pending is normal

If you are the channel admin and your post still shows pending — that is expected. WhatsApp does not return delivery confirmations for channel posts by design. pending is the final status for a successfully published newsletter post and will not change.

Do not rely on statuses.post webhooks for channel posts — WhatsApp does not send delivery or read confirmations for newsletters.

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If you have checked all of the above and the message is still not delivered after a few minutes, contact the Whapi support team for diagnostics.