- Where WhatsApp Status ads appear
- What data WhatsApp uses to choose ads
- What you can do about an ad you don't like
- How businesses create WhatsApp Status ads
- Channel subscriptions and promoted channels
- What a good WhatsApp Status ad looks like
- Is a Status ad right for your business?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
WhatsApp Status ads are adverts that appear between status updates in WhatsApp's Updates tab, labelled Ad with the advertiser's name. They never appear in personal chats or calls. Businesses create them in Meta Ads Manager using the WhatsApp Status placement, and anyone who taps the ad goes straight into a chat with that business.
Meta announced ads in Status in June 2025, alongside channel subscriptions and promoted channels, and said they'd roll out slowly. WhatsApp's help centre still says ads in Status and Channels are rolling out gradually, so you may not see them yet.
Here's what users see, what data WhatsApp uses and how a business can run them, from Meta's announcement and WhatsApp's Help Center, read in October 2026.
Where WhatsApp Status ads appear
Meta was clear that subscriptions, promotions and ads appear only in the Updates tab, which is home to both Status and Channels. It said the Updates tab is used by 1.5 billion people per day. WhatsApp's help page adds that if you only use WhatsApp for personal messaging, you won't see ads.
| Part of WhatsApp | Ads? |
|---|---|
| Personal chats | No |
| Calls | No |
| Groups | No |
| Status, in the Updates tab | Yes, labelled Ad with the advertiser's name |
| Channels, in the Updates tab | Yes, plus promoted channels in the directory |
What data WhatsApp uses to choose ads
Meta listed the limited information it uses to show ads in Status or Channels:
- Your country or city.
- Your language.
- The Channels you follow.
- How you interact with the ads you see.
If you've added WhatsApp to Accounts Center, Meta also uses your ad preferences and information from across your Meta accounts. It said it will never sell or share your phone number with advertisers, and that your personal messages, calls and groups aren't used to decide which ads you see. WhatsApp's help page adds that status updates are end-to-end encrypted, and your personal status content isn't used to show you ads.
What you can do about an ad you don't like
- Tap the menu on the ad.
- Choose to hide it, or report it if it's inappropriate.
- Or select Why you're seeing this ad to get more detail.
WhatsApp's help centre also has pages on viewing and adjusting your ads preferences for Status and Channels, and lists a subscription option for using Status and Channels without ads in Europe. If you'd rather not see ads at all and you're not in a region with that option, the only sure route is to stay out of the Updates tab. And if you want to manage who sees your own updates, see my guide on how to hide your WhatsApp status.
How businesses create WhatsApp Status ads
WhatsApp says you create ads in Meta Ads Manager that use the WhatsApp Status placement. People who interact with the ad are sent directly to a chat with your business. Ads Manager reporting shows metrics such as impressions, clicks and messaging conversations started.
- Make sure your business is set up on WhatsApp Business.
- Open Meta Ads Manager and create your ad.
- Choose the WhatsApp Status placement.
- Build the ad with full-screen images or videos, because Status is viewed full screen.
- Launch, then judge it on messaging conversations started, not just clicks.
If ads in Status aren't available to you yet, WhatsApp suggests subscribing for updates on availability in your region and using its other promotion options meanwhile.
Channel subscriptions and promoted channels
Status ads arrived with two other features in the same Updates tab. Channel subscriptions let people support a favourite channel, such as a news network, by subscribing to get exclusive updates for a monthly fee. Promoted channels give admins a way to raise their channel's visibility in the directory, which Meta said was the first time admins could do that. If you run a Channel rather than a shop, these may matter more to you than Status ads.
What a good WhatsApp Status ad looks like
- Full screen. WhatsApp's own advice is to make images and videos cover as much of the screen as possible.
- One clear reason to message. A question, a quote, a booking or a size check works better than a general brand message.
- Fast replies. The ad drops people into a chat, so have someone ready, or an automatic greeting that says when you'll reply.
- Your name in the creative. WhatsApp shows the advertiser's name, but people recognise a logo or a face faster.
A newer ad format is covered in our guide to ChatGPT Ads.
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Is a Status ad right for your business?
It suits businesses that sell through conversation: bookings, quotes, made-to-order products and local services. The ad's job is to start a chat, so it only works if someone is ready to answer quickly. If nobody can reply within the day, a promoted channel or an ad to your website may serve you better until you can. If you already run click-to-WhatsApp ads elsewhere, my guide to running ads through WhatsApp Business covers that side. And if you run a Channel, Meta's update also brought channel subscriptions and promoted channels; see how to monetise a WhatsApp Channel.
My verdict
WhatsApp Status ads are a careful, contained step into advertising: they stay in the Updates tab, they're labelled, and Meta says your chats, calls and groups play no part in targeting. For businesses, they're a direct line from an ad into a conversation, which is exactly where WhatsApp is strongest. Use full-screen creative, staff the chat, and measure conversations started rather than taps.
WhatsApp is compared with Apple's app in our iMessage vs WhatsApp comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Will I see ads in my WhatsApp chats?
No. Meta says ads appear only in the Updates tab, in Status and Channels. WhatsApp says if you only use WhatsApp for personal messaging, you won't see ads.
Does WhatsApp read my messages to show ads?
No. Meta says personal messages, calls and statuses stay end-to-end encrypted, and your messages, calls and groups aren't used to decide which ads you see.
How do I hide a WhatsApp Status ad?
Tap the menu on the ad and choose to hide or report it. You can also select Why you're seeing this ad for more information.
How do businesses create WhatsApp Status ads?
WhatsApp says businesses create them in Meta Ads Manager using the WhatsApp Status placement. People who interact are sent straight to a chat with the business.
Why can't I see WhatsApp Status ads yet?
WhatsApp says ads in Status and Channels are rolling out gradually and may not be available to you yet.
