WhatsApp Cloud API Get Started

1. You must have a Facebook account or a managed Meta account.
2. You must be registered as a developer.
   • If you have not registered as a developer, navigate to https://developers.facebook.com/async/registration/ and follow the prompts.
3. You need access to a device with WhatsApp on it so you can send and receive test messages during setup.

1. Select your existing app in the App Dashboard.
2. Click on Add use cases.
3. Select Connect with customers through WhatsApp and follow the prompts to add the use case to your app.
   • Note: If you do not have a Meta Business Portfolio, you will create one during this process.

1. Follow the prompts in the App Dashboard to create a new app.
   • Select the Connect with customers through WhatsApp use case.
   • Select an existing Business Portfolio or follow the prompts to create a new one.
   • Finish creating your app.
2. Once your app has been created, select Use cases (pencil icon) from the sidebar.

1. Navigate to the App Dashboard and select your app.
2. Click on Use cases (pencil icon) in the sidebar.
3. Under your Connect with customers through WhatsApp use case, click Customize.
4. In the API Setup section, select an existing WhatsApp Business Account or create a new one:
   • To use an existing account: Select the WhatsApp Business Account from the dropdown menu.
   • To create a new account: Click Create a WhatsApp Business Account and follow the prompts to set up your business profile.
5. Once connected, you will see your WhatsApp Business Account ID displayed in the API Setup panel.
   • Save this ID for use in API calls.

Note: If you created a new Meta Business Portfolio during app creation, a WhatsApp Business Account may have been automatically created for you. Verify the connection in the API Setup section before proceeding.

1. Click on Use cases (pencil icon) on the sidebar.
2. Under your Connect with customers through WhatsApp use case, click Customize.
3. In Quickstart, click on the Start using the API button and follow the first 2 steps to send the hello_world template message to a phone number of your choosing.
   • Make sure to retain both your test phone number ID and WhatsApp Business Account ID for later use.
4. Once you receive the message you sent, make sure to reply back to keep the conversation going.

{
  "object": "whatsapp_business_account",
  "entry": [
    {
      "id": "215589313241560883",
      "changes": [
        {
          "value": {
            "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
            "metadata": {
              "display_phone_number": "15551797781",
              "phone_number_id": "7794189252778687"
            },
            "contacts": [
              {
                "profile": {
                  "name": "Jessica Laverdetman"
                },
                "wa_id": "13557825698"
              }
            ],
            "messages": [
              {
                "from": "17863559966",
                "id": "wamid.HBgLMTc4NjM1NTk5NjYVAGHAYWYET688aASGNTI1QzZFQjhEMDk2QQA=",
                "timestamp": "1758254144",
                "text": {
                  "body": "Hi!"
                },
                "type": "text"
              }
            ]
          },
          "field": "messages"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

1. Navigate to Business Settings⁠ and click System users in the sidebar.
2. Click the Add+ button in the upper-right corner and follow the prompts to create a new system user.
3. Select the new system user you created, and click Assign Assets.
   • Select your app and toggle Manage app under Full control.
   • Select your WhatsApp account and toggle Manage WhatsApp Business Accounts under Full control.
   • Click the Assign assets button.
4. Click Generate token.
   • Follow the prompts to generate your token.
   • Add the following permissions to the token:
     • business_management
     • whatsapp_business_messaging
     • whatsapp_business_management
   • Copy the token and store it in a secure place to be used in the later steps.

curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/<TEST_BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer <SYSTEM_USER_ACCESS_TOKEN>' \
-d '
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "<WHATSAPP_USER_PHONE_NUMBER>",
  "type": "text",
  "text": {
    "body": "Hello!"
  }
}'

• Learn about the different types of non-template messages
• Learn how to create and send template messages
• Learn how to create and manage WhatsApp groups via API
• Learn how to send and receive calls on WhatsApp via API
• Learn how to add a business phone number
• Learn how to set up your own webhook server
• Become a Solution Provider
• View WhatsApp API OpenAPI Specification⁠