Skip to main content

Send Video Message

Sends a video message via the WhatsApp Business Cloud API. Videos can be sent using a public URL or a Media ID from uploaded media.

Common Properties​

  • Name - The custom name of the node.
  • Color - The custom color of the node.
  • Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
  • Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
  • Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.
info

If the ContinueOnError property is true, no error is caught when the project is executed, even if a Catch node is used.

Inputs​

  • Phone Number ID - WhatsApp Business Phone Number ID from Meta Developer Portal.
  • To Phone Number - Recipient's phone number with country code (without + sign). Example: 1234567890.
  • Video URL - Public HTTPS URL of the video or Media ID from uploaded media.

Options​

  • API Version - Meta Graph API version. Default is 21.0.
  • Caption - Optional video caption (max 1024 characters).
  • Use Media ID - Set to true to use Media ID instead of URL. Default is false.
  • Access Token - WhatsApp Cloud API Access Token credential (required).

Output​

  • Response - The complete API response object containing message details and status.

How It Works​

The Send Video Message node sends a video to a WhatsApp user. When executed, the node:

  1. Validates all required inputs
  2. Retrieves the access token from the credential
  3. Constructs the message payload with either URL or Media ID
  4. Adds optional caption if provided
  5. Sends a POST request to the WhatsApp API
  6. Returns the API response with message details

Requirements​

  • A WhatsApp Business Account in Meta Developer Portal
  • Access Token with appropriate permissions
  • For URLs: Video must be publicly accessible via HTTPS
  • For Media IDs: Media must be uploaded using Upload Media node
  • Video must be in supported format and size

Supported Video Formats​

  • MP4 (.mp4) - H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec
  • 3GPP (.3gp)

Maximum file size: 16 MB

Codec requirements:

  • Video codec: H.264
  • Audio codec: AAC

Error Handling​

The node will return specific errors in the following cases:

  • Empty or invalid Phone Number ID
  • Empty or invalid recipient phone number
  • Empty or invalid Video URL
  • Video URL not accessible
  • Video URL not HTTPS
  • Video exceeds size limit (16 MB)
  • Unsupported video format or codec
  • Invalid Media ID
  • Invalid access token
  • Network connectivity issues

Example: Send Video with URL​

Inputs:

  • Phone Number ID: 123456789012345
  • To Phone Number: 14155551234
  • Video URL: https://example.com/product-demo.mp4

Options:

  • Caption: Watch our product demo!
  • Use Media ID: false

Example: Send Video with Media ID​

Flow:

  1. Upload Media node outputs Media ID: 9876543210
  2. Send Video Message node:

Inputs:

  • Phone Number ID: 123456789012345
  • To Phone Number: 14155551234
  • Video URL: 9876543210 (the Media ID)

Options:

  • Caption: Your requested video tutorial
  • Use Media ID: true

Example: Tutorial Video​

Use Case: Send tutorial videos to customers

Inputs:

  • Phone Number ID: 123456789012345
  • To Phone Number: {{customer.phone}}
  • Video URL: {{tutorial.videoUrl}}

Options:

  • Caption: Tutorial: {{tutorial.title}}\n\nDuration: {{tutorial.duration}} min\n\n{{tutorial.description}}

Usage Notes​

  • Videos are automatically transcoded by WhatsApp if needed
  • H.264 codec provides best compatibility
  • Very large videos may take longer to upload and send
  • Consider video length: shorter videos (under 1 minute) work better for messaging
  • Video quality is automatically adjusted for mobile delivery
  • Media IDs expire after 30 days
  • First frame of video is used as thumbnail

Tips for RPA Developers​

  • Convert videos to MP4 H.264 before sending for best compatibility
  • Compress videos to reduce file size (use tools like FFmpeg)
  • Keep videos short and focused (30-60 seconds ideal)
  • Use cloud storage for video hosting
  • Generate dynamic captions with video details
  • Implement video validation before sending (format, size, codec)
  • Use Upload Media node for local video files
  • Consider bandwidth limitations of recipients
  • Test video playback on different devices

Video Optimization​

Using FFmpeg to optimize videos:

# Convert to H.264 MP4 with optimized settings
ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -movflags +faststart output.mp4

# Reduce file size while maintaining quality
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4

# Resize video to 720p
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=1280:720 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4

Common Errors and Solutions​

Error: URL not accessible

  • Verify URL is publicly accessible
  • Ensure URL uses HTTPS
  • Check server allows external requests
  • Verify file exists at the URL

Error: Video too large

  • Compress the video to reduce file size
  • Maximum size is 16 MB
  • Use video compression tools
  • Reduce video resolution or bitrate

Error: Unsupported format

  • Convert video to MP4 with H.264 codec
  • Use FFmpeg or similar tools for conversion
  • Ensure audio uses AAC codec

Error: Invalid codec

  • Re-encode video with H.264 video codec
  • Re-encode audio with AAC codec
  • Avoid using older codecs like MPEG-2

Best Practices​

  • Keep videos under 16 MB (ideally under 10 MB)
  • Use 720p or 480p resolution for mobile viewing
  • Keep videos under 60 seconds for better engagement
  • Use H.264 codec for maximum compatibility
  • Include descriptive captions
  • Test videos on mobile devices
  • Host videos on reliable CDN
  • Add captions/subtitles for accessibility
  • Follow WhatsApp Business Policy for video content
  • Monitor delivery status and user engagement