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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"
    }
  ]
}

    
        

    


            

        

    


    


    
    

        

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