What does the Reply window closed banner mean?
It means the 24-hour window WhatsApp gives you to answer this contact has expired. The banner sits at the bottom of the chat and reads Reply window closed. Where the countdown runs and why the rule exists is covered in the 24h reply window.
The banner is why a locked chat never looks like an open one. You do not have to remember which conversations have expired — the composer area tells you as soon as you open the chat.
How do I unlock a locked chat?
- Open the conversation in the Inbox. The Reply window closed banner sits at the bottom of the chat.
- Read the cost shown next to the banner. Keaz names the exact amount for unlocking this chat before you do anything.
- Click Unlock. The button sits to the right of the banner, and appears only while the reply window is closed.
- Write your message in the Conversation Starter frame the composer switches to.
- Check the cost notice in the composer. It repeats what sending this message will cost.
- Send the message.
The amount is shown twice on purpose — once before you unlock, once before you send. Where those charges then appear is covered in Settings: Billing.
What changes after unlocking?
The composer no longer takes free text. It switches to the Conversation Starter frame: a greeting, your own text in the middle, a closing. That frame is one of the Inbox automations, so the greeting and closing are configured once and reused every time.
The message you send after unlocking counts as a new Conversation Starter event. The conversation continues, but it restarts on WhatsApp's terms rather than yours.
May I message a contact after the window has closed?
Being able to and being allowed to are two different questions. The Unlock button removes a delivery limit; it says nothing about consent. Whether you may send marketing to this contact depends on their opt-in level — see how opt-in levels work and, for the legal background, our guide to collecting WhatsApp opt-ins the GDPR-compliant way.
How do I avoid needing Unlock in the first place?
Answer inside the window. Open the Inbox filter and choose State → Reply window open. The conversation list then shows only chats you can still answer with free text. Working that list first is the cheapest way to run an Inbox.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not see the Unlock button?
Do I see what unlocking costs before I commit?
What is the Conversation Starter that appears after unlocking?
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