At what character count does WhatsApp show the “Read more” button?

The 300-character rule

WhatsApp truncates any message once it passes 300 characters. Instead of showing the full text, it cuts the message short and adds a "Read more" link at the end. The recipient has to tap it to see the rest.

This applies to regular chat messages, not just broadcasts or business messages. It's a WhatsApp-wide behavior, so it shows up the same way whether you're messaging a friend or a customer.

Why it matters

A truncated message hides your call to action, your key point, or your ask behind an extra tap. Some people won't bother. If the first 300 characters don't say what you need them to say, the rest of the message might as well not exist for a chunk of your readers.

For anything you send often, worth checking: does the important part land before character 300?

How to work with it

A few practical habits:

• Front-load the point. Put the ask, the answer, or the link in the first sentence or two, not the last.
• Count before you send. 300 characters is roughly 45-55 words, depending on how long your words are.
• Break up long updates. If you have a lot to say, two short messages beat one long one with a "Read more" in the middle.

None of this means keep every message short. It means know where the 300-character cutoff lands, and put your most important sentence before it.