Create a template with Native Flow

A template message with a Native Flow button lets you send a broadcast or automated message that includes a button which, when tapped, opens a Mini App (WhatsApp Flow) directly inside the chat. This is the most seamless way to collect form data from customers at scale.

Use case

Send a payment follow-up template with a 'Pay Now' button that opens a payment collection Mini App. Or send a re-engagement message with a 'Book Appointment' button that opens a booking form.

Step 1: Create the Mini App first

Build and publish your Mini App (WhatsApp Flow) before creating the template. See Create a Mini App.

Make sure the Mini App is in Published status — draft Flows cannot be attached to templates.

Published flows cannot be edited. If you need to change the form after publishing, you must create a brand new flow and update the template to point to it — you cannot modify a flow that's already live.

Step 2: Create the template with a Flow button

Go to Messaging Channels → Templates.

Click Create Template.

Select template category: Utility or Marketing depending on the use case.

Write your template header and body text as usual.

In the Buttons section, select button type: Native Flow (not Quick Reply or URL).

From the dropdown, select the published Mini App you want this button to open.

Enter the button label (e.g., 'Book Now', 'Pay Here', 'Fill Form').

Submit the template for Meta approval.

Approval time

Templates with Native Flow buttons follow the same approval process as all templates — typically 24–48 hours. Meta reviews the template text AND the Flow it links to.

Step 3: Use the template in a campaign or automation

Once approved, the template appears in your template list.

Use it in a Broadcast Campaign to send to a segmented contact list.

Or use it in an Automation as a trigger message — e.g., when a new lead is added, automatically send the template with the booking form button.

Or send it from the Bot Builder as the first message in a flow.

Track responses

When a customer taps the button and submits the Mini App, the response is stored in their CRM record (if you've set up response mapping). You can track submission rates in the template analytics view.

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Want the bigger picture? See the WhatsApp Flows guide for use cases and strategy.

Create a WhatsApp template that includes a Native Flow

Step 1: Create the Mini App first

Step 2: Create the template with a Flow button

Step 3: Use the template in a campaign or automation

Track responses

Store Mini App responses in the CRM

Conditional calculations and dynamic logic

Dynamic dropdown using an API

What are WhatsApp Mini Apps?

Create a Mini App

Store responses in CRM

Send a Mini App via Bot