WhatsApp character limits for messages (65,536), status updates (700), group names (100), and About section (139). Complete 2026 guide.
Published: April 2026 | Last Updated: April 2026
Photo by Szabó Viktor on Pexels
WhatsApp messages allow up to 65,536 characters. Status text updates are limited to 700 characters. The About section allows 139 characters.
| Field | Character Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Message | 65,536 | One of the highest message limits across platforms |
| Status (Text) | 700 | Text-based status updates |
| Group Name | 100 | Group chat display name |
| Group Description | 2,048 | Visible in group info |
| About | 139 | Your profile About section |
| Profile Name | 25 | Your display name |
| Broadcast List Name | 25 | Name for broadcast lists |
| Image Caption | 1,024 | Caption when sending an image |
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Open Word CounterWhat is the WhatsApp message character limit?
WhatsApp messages can be up to 65,536 characters long, making it one of the most generous messaging platforms for text length.
What is the WhatsApp status character limit?
WhatsApp text status updates are limited to 700 characters.
What is the WhatsApp About character limit?
The WhatsApp About section is limited to 139 characters.
Does WhatsApp support text formatting?
Yes. WhatsApp supports *bold*, _italic_, ~strikethrough~, and ```monospace``` text formatting in messages.
The sources and check dates in this table come from one versioned data file — the place we record every check we make. The rest of this page, and the limits built into our tools, are still separate copies, so when we correct a figure we correct it in each place. This table is how we keep ourselves honest while we do.
Every figure on this page was carried across from our own older pages. Not one of them has been checked against the platform’s own documentation, so none of them carries a source or a last-checked date. We would rather show you that plainly than print a date we have not earned.
Still to be checked against: WhatsApp Help Centre (faq.whatsapp.com)
| Field | Limit | Notes | Source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Message | 65,536 | One of the highest message limits across platforms | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |
| Status (Text) | 700 | Text-based status updates | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |
| Group Name | 100 | Group chat display name | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |
| Group Description | 2,048 | Visible in group info | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |
| About | 139 | Your profile About section | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |
| Profile Name | 25 | Your display name | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |
| Broadcast List Name | 25 | Name for broadcast lists | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |
| Image Caption | 1,024 | Caption when sending an image | No source recorded | Not yet verified against the platform’s own documentation |