Oct 26, 2026, 10:00:00 AM

WhatsApp Limited Your Number From Starting New Chats: What to Do

If WhatsApp says your account is limited from starting new chats, your number is not banned. It's a temporary restriction: you can keep talking to people you've already chatted with, but you can't start conversations with new contacts until it ends. You don't need to fill in a form or contact support. The restriction lifts on its own, and what you do while you wait decides whether it comes back.

What the restriction means

According to WhatsApp's help center (checked October 1, 2026), a restricted account:

Can message and call contacts and groups it has chatted with before.
Can't start chats or calls with new contacts.
Can't create new groups or add people to groups.
Can't use linked devices while the restriction is active.

That last point matters for teams. If your team works from WhatsApp Web, the desktop app or a team inbox connected by QR code, those all run as linked devices, so expect them to be affected until the restriction ends. Replies from the main phone to existing customers keep working.

Why it happens

WhatsApp restricts accounts whose recent activity looks like spam, or like automated or bulk messaging, which its Terms of Service don't allow. In practice, the usual triggers are:

Messaging many people who don't have your number saved and never contacted you.
Sending the same text to a long list in a short time.
Recipients blocking or reporting your messages.
Using unofficial, modified WhatsApp apps, which WhatsApp treats as a Terms of Service violation.
A brand-new number that suddenly sends a lot of messages to strangers.

WhatsApp doesn't publish exact thresholds. It looks at patterns, especially how recipients react, so there's no safe number of messages to aim for.

What to do right now

Check how long is left. Tap the new chat button and choose someone you've never messaged. A pop-up shows the time remaining.
Stop all outreach to new contacts. Pause any campaign, list or automation that starts conversations. Trying to work around the block with another number or device tends to make things worse.
Keep serving existing customers. Reply to people who are already in a chat with you; that's still allowed and keeps your business running.
Tell your team. If teammates work on linked devices or a QR-connected inbox, let them know replies may need to go through the main phone for now.
Wait for the notification. WhatsApp lets you know when the restriction is over. There is nothing to submit in the meantime.

How to keep it from coming back

WhatsApp's guidance for businesses is clear that repeated blocks and reports can lead to another restriction, and repeated restrictions can lead to longer ones. These habits help:

Message people who asked to hear from you. A customer who messaged you first, filled in a form with their WhatsApp number, or opted in at checkout is very different from a purchased list.
Let customers start the conversation. Click-to-chat links, QR codes on your website and "Message us on WhatsApp" buttons bring in chats that don't count as cold outreach.
Send what people signed up for. If someone opted in for order updates, don't send them promotions.
Clean your list. Remove contacts who haven't engaged in a long time, and honor every opt-out immediately.
Spread out sends and personalize them. Ten relevant messages beat a thousand identical ones.
Warm up new numbers. Use a new number for normal conversations for a while before sending anything at volume.
Use only the official apps on the phone that holds the number.

Our help center has a step-by-step version for HaberChat users: limited from starting new chats.

If you need to reach many new contacts

A restriction is often a sign that the business has outgrown what a regular WhatsApp number is for. The WhatsApp Business app, alone or connected to a team inbox by QR code, is built for conversations, not cold bulk sends. A QR connection is not an official Meta integration, and WhatsApp's anti-spam rules apply to it in full.

If you genuinely need to start a high volume of conversations with opted-in customers, the official WhatsApp Business API is the right tool. Messages you start there use approved templates, and Meta sets messaging limits per business portfolio: new businesses can reach 250 unique users outside the customer service window in a rolling 24 hours, and verifying your business raises that to 2,000. Higher tiers open up as you use your limit with good quality. Meta charges per message. We compare both options in WhatsApp Business app vs API.

Limited, restricted or banned?

What you see	What it means	What to do
Limited from starting new chats	Temporary; existing chats still work	Wait it out and change how you message
Temporarily banned	Often linked to unofficial apps	Switch to the official app before the timer ends
This account can't use WhatsApp	The number is banned	Use Request a review in the app

Keep your team working while you fix it

When several people answer one number, a restriction is easier to manage if you can see every open conversation in one place and know who owns it. A shared inbox also makes it easier to spot the habits that trigger restrictions, such as one teammate sending the same message to dozens of new contacts. See how to share one WhatsApp Business number with your team.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the WhatsApp new-chat restriction last?

WhatsApp doesn't publish a fixed length. To see the time left, tap new chat and pick someone you've never messaged; a pop-up shows the countdown. The restriction ends on its own.

Can I still reply to customers while I'm limited?

Yes. You can message and call people and groups you've already chatted with. You can't start chats with new contacts, create groups or use linked devices until it ends.

Is a limited account the same as a banned account?

No. A limited account keeps working for existing chats and recovers automatically. A banned account can't use WhatsApp at all, and the only route back is the in-app review request.

Will I get limited again?

It can happen if people keep blocking or reporting your messages, and repeat restrictions can last longer. Message only people who opted in, send what they signed up for, and honor opt-outs.