Automatic messages in a WhatsApp group: a setup guide

Setting up an automatic message in a WhatsApp group takes off your plate the tasks you repeat every day: the good morning at 8 a.m., the rules reminder, the menu announcement. You write it once, the message goes out on its own, and you do not have to remember.

Becca has three types of automatic message, and each one serves a different purpose. This is the step-by-step for each, with commands, ready-to-copy examples and tips to avoid filling the group with noise.

The three types of automatic message

• Fixed time: the message goes out every day at the time you choose, such as 08:00
• Recurring: the message repeats at an interval, from 5 minutes up to 6 hours, starting at a time you set
• Replies to greetings: Becca answers on her own when someone says good morning, good afternoon or good evening

One important note before you start: there is no scheduling by day of the week or day of the month. Either the message goes out every day, or it goes out at an interval. For a notice that only applies on Monday, for example, the way to go is to send it at that moment with !hidetag.

What WhatsApp does on its own

Nothing. The app has no scheduled sending in groups, so the manual way is to pin the message at the top of the group and hope people read it, or to set an alarm on your phone so you send it yourself. Pinning helps with what must always be in sight, like the rules. For what must arrive at the right time, that is where a bot comes in: it runs on a cloud server and does not depend on your phone.

Step by step: fixed time message

• Send !msgautomatica to see whether automatic messages are on (they are on by default). To turn them on or off, send !msgautomatica 1 or !msgautomatica 0
• Send !addmsgauto Good morning, everyone! | 08:00 (the text, a vertical bar and the time with two digits, in 24-hour format)
• If you want an image with it, send the photo with the command in the caption
• Use !msgsauto to see the list and !rmsgauto to remove a message (Becca shows a numbered list and you reply with the number)

Each registered message goes out every day, always at the same time, in Brasília time. It works well for good morning messages, rules reminders and fixed opening hours.

Step by step: message at an interval

Recurring messages are also on by default (!msgrecorrente 1 turns them on and !msgrecorrente 0 turns them off). Send !addmsgrec and Becca talks you through three questions: first the message, then the interval and finally the start time.

• Message: text, or an image with a caption
• Interval: she shows a list and you reply with the number. The options are 5, 10, 20 or 30 minutes, or 1 to 6 hours
• Start: the time when sending begins, such as 12:00 (also in Brasília time)

Use !msgsrec to see the recurring messages and !rmsgrec to take one off the list. This type fits notices that need to come back during the day, like a sign-up link, a promotion or a reminder that there is a command menu.

Step by step: replying to greetings

The third type has no text to register. Send !autoresp 1 to turn it on (and !autoresp 0 to turn it off). When someone's message starts with good morning, good afternoon or good evening, Becca answers with a greeting that fits the time of day and tags the person. This works for greetings in the language set for the group. It gives the group a livelier feel, especially at hours when the admins are away.

Ready-made examples and when to use each type

• Fixed time, 08:00: Good morning, everyone! ☀️ A reminder that the rules are pinned at the top of the group.
• Fixed time, 22:00: Good night! 🌙 If you have a question, leave it here and we will answer early tomorrow.
• Recurring, every 6 hours: 📢 Want to see everything Becca does here? Send !menu.
• Recurring, every 3 hours: 🛍️ Updated menu and prices at the link in the bio. Message us privately!
• Greetings: send !autoresp 1 and let Becca return the good morning for you.

The rule for choosing is simple. If the notice is a daily ritual, use a fixed time. If it needs to show up again for people who joined later, use recurring. If the goal is just to bring the group to life, turn on autoresp.

Next step

Write down the messages you repeat every day and pick the right type for each one. Start with just one, the fixed-time good morning, and watch how the group reacts for a few days. With Becca in the group, for R$ 15 per month with no lock-in, the rest of the repetitive work starts running on its own.