Media Headers & Specifications

When creating WhatsApp message templates in SMSPort, you can attach rich visual media to the Header section. Rich media increases customer engagement, trust, and click-through rates.

This guide details the exact file specifications, aspect ratios, size caps, and upload steps required by Meta's Cloud API.

Supported Media Header Types

In the Template Creator, setting Header Type reveals the media upload zone:

Technical Specifications & Codec Requirements

1. Image Header Guidelines

• Color Space: Standard sRGB. CMYK images (common in print design) will fail to render properly on Android and iOS devices.
• Aspect Ratios:
  • 1.91:1 (e.g. 1200 × 628 pixels) is the standard Meta horizontal card ratio. WhatsApp displays this without any cropping.
  • 1:1 (e.g. 1080 × 1080 pixels) square images display cleanly in the chat bubble.
• Compression Tip: Keep file sizes under 2 MB for faster delivery to recipients on mobile 4G/5G connections, even though the maximum limit is 5 MB.

2. Document Header Guidelines

• Format: Strictly PDF (.pdf). Spreadsheets (.xlsx), Word documents (.docx), and presentations (.pptx) are NOT allowed in template headers.
• Filename: Ensure the filename does not contain special characters, accents, or spaces. Use clean names like Invoice_Sample.pdf or Health_Brochure.pdf.
• Page Count: While Meta supports up to 100 MB, multi-page PDFs with high DPI images will take longer to download on the customer's phone.

3. Video Header Guidelines

• Container & Extensions: MP4 container format only (.mp4). Formats such as .mov, .avi, .mkv, or .webm are rejected.
• Video Encoding Codec: H.264 (Baseline, Main, or High profile).
• Audio Encoding Codec: AAC audio codec.
• Duration: Keep videos between 15 and 30 seconds to stay safely within the 16 MB limit.

Step-by-Step Upload Workflow in SMSPort

When drafting your template in Create New Template:

1. Drag or Browse

Click on the green dashed dropzone labeled "Drag and drop image here or click to browse from your computer". Select your sample file from your local hard drive.

2. Live Upload Indicator

The dropzone will show an active spinning indicator with status message: "Uploading media...". During this step, SMSPort securely streams your file to Meta's Resumable Upload API to generate a registered Media Handle.

3. Verification & Removal

Once uploaded:

• A green cloud icon appears showing the filename (e.g., diwali_banner.png).
• A red Remove file button appears if you wish to replace it.
• The WhatsApp Preview on the right side of the screen immediately updates to display your image inside the phone screen mockup.

Troubleshooting Media Upload Failures