Sending Messages
How to compose and send WhatsApp messages, delivery status indicators, and optimistic sending.
Sending Messages
The message panel is where you read and reply to WhatsApp conversations. Trochai offers an experience similar to the native WhatsApp app, with chat bubbles, status indicators, and instant sending.
Message composer
The composer is located at the bottom of the message panel. It includes:
- Text field: type your message here. Supports up to 4,096 characters (WhatsApp limit).
- Send button (arrow icon): sends the message. You can also press Enter to send.
Sending a text message
Select a conversation from the list.
Type your message in the text field at the bottom.
Click the send button or press Enter.
The message will appear immediately in the conversation with a "Sending..." indicator while it processes.
File attachments from Trochai are temporarily disabled. For now, you can send files directly from the WhatsApp Business app. This feature will be enabled soon.
Optimistic sending
For a fast experience, Trochai uses optimistic sending: your message appears immediately in the conversation while it sends in the background. You don't need to wait for the server response to see the message on screen.
If sending fails (for example, due to a network issue), the message will show a red error indicator.
Delivery status indicators
Each outbound message shows a status indicator in the lower right corner, similar to WhatsApp:
| Icon | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Clock | Sending | The message is being processed by Trochai. |
| Single gray check | Sent | The message was sent to WhatsApp servers. |
| Double gray check | Delivered | The message reached the contact's device. |
| Double blue check | Read | The contact opened and saw the message. |
| Red circle with X | Failed | The message could not be delivered. Shows "Not delivered" text. |
Status indicators update in real time. When a contact reads your message, the double check changes to blue automatically without reloading the page.
Sender identification
Outbound messages show who sent them:
- Agent name: if a team member sent the message from Trochai, their name appears at the top of the bubble in blue text.
- AI Assistant: if the AI bot sent the message, a robot icon appears with the text "AI Assistant."
- Sent from WhatsApp app: if someone replied from the WhatsApp Business app (not from Trochai), a phone icon appears with the text "Sent from WhatsApp app."
Bubble styling
Messages are displayed in WhatsApp-style bubbles:
- Outbound messages: light green background (dark green in dark mode), aligned to the right.
- Inbound messages: white background (dark gray in dark mode), aligned to the left.
Each bubble shows the message time in HH:mm format in the lower right corner.
When the bot is active
If the AI assistant is enabled for the conversation, the composer shows a special notice:
"The assistant is handling this conversation — Type a message"
This prevents agents and the bot from responding at the same time. If you want to write manually, click "Type a message" to unlock the composer. The composer will lock again when you switch to another conversation.
24-hour window closed
When the 24-hour messaging window is closed (meaning the contact hasn't written in the last 24 hours), the composer is replaced by a notice:
- If the contact has never sent a message: "The user hasn't sent a message yet. Send a template or wait for them to respond."
- If the window expired: "The last message was over 24 hours ago. Send a template or wait for the user to write."
In both cases, a Send template button appears that opens the template message selector. See 24-Hour Window for more details.
Auto-scroll
The message panel automatically scrolls to the bottom when a new message arrives, as long as you're already near the end of the conversation. If you're reviewing older messages (scrolling up), new messages won't force the scroll, so as not to interrupt your reading.
Important limits
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum message length | 4,096 characters |
| Maximum file size | 16 MB |
| Accepted attachment formats | Images, videos, audios, PDF |
Related pages
- Media Messages — supported media types and limits
- 24-Hour Window — when you can send free messages
- Quick Replies — pre-saved messages for faster responses