What Is Error 131026?
This error appears when a WhatsApp message fails to deliver.
The frustrating part: Meta bundles four different causes under the same error code, so we can't tell which one is blocking your message.
The 4 Possible Causes
1. The Number Isn't on WhatsApp
How to check:
Open your personal WhatsApp
Search for the recipient's number
If it shows up → this isn't the problem
If it doesn't → they're not on WhatsApp
Solution: Verify the number is active on WhatsApp.
2. Authentication Template Issue
This only applies if you were sending:
OTP codes
Authentication messages
Login verification
If you weren't sending these authentication messages anyway, this isn't your issue.
3. Recipient Hasn't Accepted WhatsApp's Latest Terms
Most common cause.
WhatsApp periodically updates their terms of service. Users must accept them to continue receiving messages.
If the recipient hasn't accepted the latest terms, messages fail with error 131026.
What they see:
A prompt in their WhatsApp asking them to accept updated terms
Until they accept, they can't receive business messages
Solution: The recipient needs to open WhatsApp and accept any pending terms.
4. Their WhatsApp App Is Outdated
If they're running an old version of WhatsApp, messages may fail.
Solution: The recipient needs to update their WhatsApp app to the latest version.
Why Can't You Tell Me Which One It Is?
Because Meta doesn't give us that information.
All four scenarios trigger the same error code: 131026.
We can't see:
Whether they've accepted terms
What app version they're running
Meta groups everything together, so we're stuck troubleshooting blind.
What Can You Do?
If You Can Contact the Recipient
Ask them to:
Check for pending terms acceptance
• Open WhatsApp
• Accept any prompts about updated terms
Update their WhatsApp app
• Go to App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android)
• Update WhatsApp to the latest version
Verify their number is active
• Make sure WhatsApp is working on their device
If You Can't Contact Them
Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do from your end.
This error is entirely on the recipient's side.
You can:
Try again later (in case they update/accept terms)
Reach them through another channel to inform them
Move on to other contacts
What We Can't Fix
Spur (or any WhatsApp Business Solution Provider) cannot:
❌ Override the error
❌ Force message delivery
❌ See which specific cause is blocking the message
❌ Accept terms on behalf of the recipient
❌ Update their app for them
This is a Meta/WhatsApp restriction, not a platform limitation.
Prevention Tips
While you can't control the recipient's side, you can:
✅ Keep your contact list updated
✅ Remove numbers that consistently fail
✅ Verify numbers are on WhatsApp before importing
✅ Use segmentation to avoid sending to inactive contacts
Bottom Line
Error 131026 = one of four issues, all on the recipient's end.
Meta doesn't tell us which one, so we can't diagnose it precisely.
The recipient needs to either accept WhatsApp's terms or update their app.
Nothing can be done from the sender's side—it's entirely up to them.