Understanding WhatsApp Error Code 131056 (Pair Rate Limit)
When using WhatsApp Business API with DoubleTick, you may encounter Error Code 131056. This error can be confusing at first, but it’s actually Meta’s safeguard to ensure healthy communication practices on WhatsApp.
What Does Error Code 131056 Mean?
Error 131056 indicates a pair rate limit hit. In simple terms, it happens when your business number tries to send too many messages to the same customer number within a short period of time.
Meta enforces this to:
Prevent spammy or aggressive messaging.
Protect the end-user experience.
Ensure businesses maintain conversational, non-intrusive communication.
How Meta Defines the Limit
According to Meta’s documentation:
Businesses can only send 1 message every 6 seconds to the same user.
This roughly translates to 10 messages per minute per recipient.
If this threshold is exceeded, Meta temporarily restricts sending to that customer. However, you can still send messages to other phone numbers without any issue.
In some cases, the error may also return with an HTTP 429 response, signaling that the sending limit has been reached.
Troubleshooting Steps
If you face Error 131056, here’s what you should do:
Pause and Retry – Stop sending new messages to that customer temporarily.
Combine Messages – Instead of sending multiple short messages, try combining your content into one or two well-structured messages.
Use Session Messages Efficiently – Make sure your messages are relevant and grouped logically to avoid unnecessary repetition.
Avoid Automation Spikes – If you’re using chatbots or automation, ensure they are not firing multiple back-to-back messages too quickly.
Educate Your Team – Inform your agents about this Meta limitation so they can manage customer conversations effectively.
Example Scenario
❌ Sending 5 back-to-back messages ("Hello" → "How are you?" → "We have an offer" → "Check link" → "Valid today") may trigger the error.
✅ Sending 1 consolidated message ("Hello! We’re running a special offer today. Click here to check details: [link]") prevents the error.
Key Takeaways
Error 131056 = Too many messages to the same recipient in a short span.
Wait at least 6 seconds between consecutive messages to the same user.
The restriction is temporary and applies only to that customer.
Plan your conversation flow and automation logic to stay within Meta’s safe messaging limits.
By following these guidelines, you’ll reduce chances of hitting this error and ensure smoother, uninterrupted communication with your customers.
Last updated