How to Create and Use Carousel Media Templates
Step-by-step guide to creating carousel templates with multiple cards in WhatChimp
Updated 10 February 2026
Carousel templates let you send multiple images or videos as swipeable cards in a single WhatsApp message. Each card can have its own image, body text, and up to two buttons — making carousels ideal for showcasing products, services, promotions, or feature highlights.
Before You Start
You'll need a WhatsApp Business Account connected to WhatChimp and your carousel content ready — images or videos, card text, and button labels/URLs. If you're using a product carousel, your eCommerce store must be connected to WhatChimp first.
How to Create a Carousel Template
Go to Message Templates — In your WhatChimp dashboard, navigate to Bot Manager → Message Templates (app.whatchimp.com/whatsapp/bot/manager).
Select Carousel Media Template — Click Create and choose Carousel Media Template from the template type options.
Name your template and set the category — Give it a descriptive name (e.g., summer_sale_carousel) and select Marketing as the category. Carousels are almost always Marketing templates.
Set up the message bubble — Add your intro message text. This is the text that appears above the carousel cards. You can include variables like {{1}} for personalization.
Configure each card — For each card in the carousel:
- Choose Image or Video as the card header
- Add body text for the card
- Upload your media file
Add buttons to each card — Each card can have up to two buttons. Choose between URL (links to a webpage) and Quick Reply (sends a predefined response).
Important: All cards must have the same button order. If your first card has a URL button followed by a Quick Reply, every other card must follow the same pattern. Mismatched button orders will prevent the template from saving.
Submit for approval — Once you're happy with all cards, submit the template. WhatsApp typically reviews carousel templates within 24-48 hours. Check the status under Message Templates.
Using Video Instead of Images
To create a video carousel, change the Card Header from Image to Video when configuring each card. Everything else works the same — add body text and buttons as usual. Videos must be MP4 format, under 16 MB, and use H.264 codec.
Product Carousels (eCommerce)
If you have an online store connected to WhatChimp, you can create carousels that pull products directly from your catalog instead of manually adding images and text.
Connect your eCommerce store to WhatChimp's WhatsApp Business if you haven't already.
Create a carousel template and select products from your catalog instead of manually adding card content. Product images, names, and prices are pulled automatically.
Use it in a bot flow to send product carousels automatically when customers ask about products or browse your catalog.
Sending Carousel Templates
Once approved, you can use carousel templates in three ways:
Bot flows — Go to Bot Reply, create a bot flow, add a keyword trigger, and link your carousel template. When a customer sends the keyword, the carousel is sent automatically.
Broadcasts — Select your carousel template when creating a broadcast to send it to a segment of your contacts.
Live chat — Send the carousel template directly to a customer during a conversation from the WhatChimp inbox.
Carousel Limits and Requirements
| Requirement | Limit |
|---|---|
| Minimum cards | 2 |
| Maximum cards | 10 |
| Buttons per card | Up to 2 |
| Card body text | 160 characters |
| Image format | JPEG or PNG, under 5 MB |
| Video format | MP4 (H.264 codec), under 16 MB |
| Button order | Must be identical across all cards |
| Category | Marketing only |
Tips for Effective Carousels
Keep it consistent — Use the same image dimensions, style, and layout across all cards. Mismatched visuals look unprofessional.
Use high-quality images — Clear, well-lit product photos or graphics perform much better than blurry or low-resolution images. Recommended size: 800x800 pixels.
Keep card text short — You only have 160 characters per card body. Use the text to highlight one key point per card, not paragraphs.
Add clear button labels — "Shop Now," "View Details," or "Learn More" are better than vague labels like "Click Here."
Test before sending — Send the carousel to yourself or a test number first. Check that all images load, buttons work, and the cards display in the right order.
Don't overdo the cards — Just because you can add 10 cards doesn't mean you should. 3-5 focused cards usually perform better than 10 that users won't swipe through.
Troubleshooting
Template won't save — Check that all cards have the same button order. If card 1 has URL then Quick Reply, every card must follow that exact pattern.
Template rejected — Make sure your message follows WhatsApp's guidelines. All variables must have sample data. Check that images are clear and not misleading. See Why Templates Get Rejected and How to Fix Them.
Buttons not working — Verify that URL buttons have valid, full URLs (not shortened links). Quick Reply buttons must have text labels under 25 characters.
Media not displaying — Check that images are JPEG or PNG under 5 MB, and videos are MP4 (H.264) under 16 MB. Make sure the files are uploaded correctly and accessible.
Carousel not sending — Confirm the template status is "Approved" in Message Templates. If using a bot flow, verify the keyword trigger is set up correctly.
Related Articles
Creating a WhatsApp Message Template — Step-by-step guide for standard templates
Character Limits for Media Message Templates — Full character limit reference
Supported Media Formats and Sizes — File format and size requirements
Why Templates Get Rejected and How to Fix Them — Fix approval issues