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Image messages | Developer Documentation

Image messages

Updated: Nov 3, 2025
Image messages are messages that display a single image and an optional caption.

Request syntax

Use the POST /<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages endpoint to send an image message to a WhatsApp user.
curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/<API_VERSION>/<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer <ACCESS_TOKEN>' \
-d '
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "<WHATSAPP_USER_PHONE_NUMBER>",
  "type": "image",
  "image": {
    "id": "<MEDIA_ID>", <!-- Only if using uploaded media -->
    "link": "<MEDIA_URL>", <!-- Only if using hosted media (not recommended) -->
    "caption": "<MEDIA_CAPTION_TEXT>"
  }
}'

Request parameters

Placeholder Description Example Value
<ACCESS_TOKEN>
String
EAAAN6tcBzAUBOZC82CW7iR2LiaZBwUHS4Y7FDtQxRUPy1PHZClDGZBZCgWdrTisgMjpFKiZAi1FBBQNO2IqZBAzdZAA16lmUs0XgRcCf6z1LLxQCgLXDEpg80d41UZBt1FKJZCqJFcTYXJvSMeHLvOdZwFyZBrV9ZPHZASSqxDZBUZASyFdzjiy2A1sippEsF4DVV5W2IlkOSr2LrMLuYoNMYBy8xQczzOKDOMccqHEZD
<API_VERSION>
String
Optional.
Graph API version.
v25.0
<MEDIA_CAPTION_TEXT>
String
Optional.
Media asset caption text.
Maximum 1024 characters.
The best succulent ever?
<MEDIA_ID>
String
Required if using uploaded media, otherwise omit.
1013859600285441
<MEDIA_URL>
String
Required if using hosted media, otherwise omit.
URL of the media asset hosted on your public server. For better performance, we recommend using id and an uploaded media asset ID instead.
https://www.luckyshrub.com/assets/succulents/aloe.png
<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>
String
Required.
WhatsApp business phone number ID.
106540352242922
<WHATSAPP_USER_PHONE_NUMBER>
String
Required.
WhatsApp user phone number.
+16505551234

Supported image formats

Images must be 8-bit, RGB or RGBA.
Image Type Extension MIME Type Max Size
JPEG
.jpeg
image/jpeg
5 MB
PNG
.png
image/png
5 MB

Example request

Example request to send an image message with a caption to a WhatsApp user.
curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/v25.0/106540352242922/messages' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer EAAJB...' \
-d '
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "+16505551234",
  "type": "image",
  "image": {
    "id" : "1479537139650973",
    "caption": "The best succulent ever?"
  }
}'

Example response

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "contacts": [
    {
      "input": "+16505551234",
      "wa_id": "16505551234"
    }
  ],
  "messages": [
    {
      "id": "wamid.HBgLMTY0NjcwNDM1OTUVAgARGBI1RjQyNUE3NEYxMzAzMzQ5MkEA"
    }
  ]
}