Use this guide to organize team replies and automation in Message Pro. Official sources were reviewed on October 17, 2026. Meta rules and actual account capabilities govern execution.
When is the messaging window open?
Most entry points have a 24-hour window. Meta’s September 28, 2026 update says a conversation started by a person’s first message after a Click-to-Messenger ad may have up to 7 days from that message. Viewing or clicking an ad without sending the message does not establish that window.
Meta messaging-window changelogKeep sending routes distinct
| Route | Limit to understand |
|---|---|
| Ordinary reply | Use the conversation’s actual window; do not assume every conversation has 7 days. |
| Human Agent | A separate period of up to 7 days for manual human replies, not permission to run a bot. The route and its permissions must be available. |
| Outside the window | Use only an authorized purpose-specific mechanism available to your account. An old conversation does not grant campaign permission. |
| Private reply to a comment | Private-reply rules allow one message within 7 days of an eligible comment or visitor post, not an open-ended sequence. Continue the conversation only after the person replies to the private message; the ordinary reply window then applies. |
A practical Message Pro process
- 1
Check how it started
Review the conversation’s latest interaction and source. If you cannot establish the ad-entry exception, do not rely on 7 days.
- 2
Identify the responder
Separate a human reply from an automated message. Tell the customer when the service is automated and provide a clear handover route.
- 3
Check the available route
If sending is blocked or the needed mechanism is unavailable, keep the follow-up as internal work and consult an administrator. Do not relabel the message to bypass a restriction.
- 4
Inspect the result
Check acceptance and delivery. Record the rejection reason before retrying.
Team examples
For an ordinary inquiry, review the window before automating a reply. For an ad-originated contact, verify the first post-ad message and availability of the exception. For a post comment, prepare an appropriate private reply and wait for customer engagement before planning a full conversation follow-up.
Connect Facebook MessengerApply the rules to chat, AI, and workflows
- 1
Before a manual reply
Review the last inbound message, customer context, and purpose. Use an available sending route consistent with the rules above.
- 2
In AI instructions
Avoid repeated retries after rejection and do not treat a human-reply allowance as automation permission. If the route is unavailable, use handover or internal follow-up.
- 3
In a workflow
Check eligibility at the sending step, especially after Wait or scheduling. Permission at workflow start does not prove permission after time passes.
- 4
After sending
Inspect acceptance, delivery, and the customer reply. Handle opt-outs before campaigns or reminders and retain the failure reason for the team.
Team test example
Test a reply in the ordinary window, a delayed follow-up outside it, and a private reply to a comment. Do not start a comment-follow-up sequence before the person replies. For an ad entry, verify the exception rather than applying seven days to all conversations.