How do I add a persistent menu of buttons under the chat on Messenger and Instagram?
The ArabyBot teamOfficial Meta partner · written from our own platform dataThe short answer
In «Facebook Tools» → «Bot Manager» open «Persistent Menu» and create a new menu: each button has a name of up to 30 characters, and on tap it either «Sends a saved message», «Opens a link» or runs an action such as «Hand the customer to a person». Then press «Save and publish»; the menu only appears to customers on Messenger or Instagram once published.
Also asked as: «إنشاء قائمة ماسنجر»
The steps in the ArabyBot dashboard
- Open the Bot Manager
In the sidebar open «Facebook Tools» → «Bot Manager» and pick your page, or «Instagram Tools» → «Bot Manager» for an Instagram account.
- Start a new menu
Open «Persistent Menu», press «New persistent menu» and choose the «Language»: «All languages (main)» shows to everyone, and a language menu shows to those whose Messenger is in that language.
- Add the buttons
Press «Add a button», write the «Button name» up to 30 characters, and choose «On tap»: «Sends a saved message» or «Opens a link» starting with https://, or under «Actions»: «Hand the customer to a person» and «Hand the customer back to the bot». Drag a button to reorder it.
- Review, then publish
Check «The menu in Messenger» in the preview, then press «Save and publish». If you see «The menu was saved but not published», the menu is saved on your side but Meta has not accepted it yet.
What you should know
- The «Hide the message box» option makes the customer use the menu buttons only, with no typing; leave it off if your AI agent answers typed questions.
- A button that sends a saved message needs a message that exists for this page; if that message is deleted, the button shows a warning colour until you pick another.
- Customers see the menu when they open it under the chat, alongside the ready questions and the welcome message.
Related questions
Why does the menu not show on Messenger?
Because it has not been published; press «Save and publish», and Messenger may need a moment or a reopened chat to show it.
Can I have one menu in Arabic and another in English?
Yes; the main menu is for everyone, and a menu per language shows to those whose Messenger is in that language.
In more depth
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