> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.automatebusiness.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Send Session Message

> Sends a free-form text message to a contact. This requires an active 24-hour Meta session window.

Sends a standard text message to a contact.

**Important:** This endpoint requires an open 24-hour Meta session window (the user must have messaged your business within the last 24 hours). If the session has expired, you must use a [Template Message](/automate-chats/api-reference/messages/send-message) instead to re-engage the contact.


## OpenAPI

````yaml POST /api/chat/message/text
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Automate Chats API
  description: >-
    API for managing WhatsApp template messages, contacts, custom fields, tags,
    and external integrations.
  version: 1.0.0
servers:
  - url: https://api.automatechats.com
security:
  - apiKeyAuth: []
paths:
  /api/chat/message/text:
    post:
      summary: Send Message In Session
      description: >-
        Sends a free-form text message to a contact. This requires an active
        24-hour Meta session window.
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              required:
                - recipientPhoneNumber
                - countryCode
                - text
              properties:
                channel_id:
                  type: string
                  format: uuid
                recipientPhoneNumber:
                  type: string
                countryCode:
                  type: string
                text:
                  type: string
                contextMessageId:
                  type: string
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Message sent successfully
components:
  securitySchemes:
    apiKeyAuth:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: X-API-Key

````