How to Setup WhatsApp Cloud API?
In this article we’re going to show you how to create your account on WANotifier, setup WhatsApp Cloud API credentials and integrate that with WANotifier.
By following the instructions till the end of this article you’ll have your account ready to start sending WhatsApp notifications.
Following are 4 must-have requirements by WhatsApp to setup WhatsApp Cloud API. Please make sure you have all of the following before proceeding.
Phone Number – this is the number you’ll be using to setup the APIs and this will be shown to the receivers of your WhatsApp messages.
Note that if you’re already using a phone number on the WhatsApp mobile app, you won’t be able to use that number with the API. Either you’ll have to disconnect the number from your phone app if you want to use it or get a new phone number for integration with WhatsApp Cloud API.
WhatsApp does not allow using same phone number for both WhatsApp phone app and WhatsApp Cloud API.
Registered Business – you must have a registered business and have some kind of government issued business registration proof like incorporation document.
For Indian businesses, having a GST certificate is mandatory.
If you do not have legal business documents, you won’t be able to use WhatsApp Cloud APIs.
Website – you must also have a website. WhatsApp requires you to have a live website for your business with a privacy policy page for your users. You can not use any 3rd party websites owned by other people or business. The website must be owned by you and should be of your business.
Payment method – like a credit or debit card. This will be added to the WhatsApp Manager portal for API billing.
Once you have all of these in place, you’re ready to get started with the setup.
Follow the instructions below to create your WANotifier account and setup WhatsApp Cloud API.
Setup time – 15 to 20 min, depending on your pace. It takes some time initially to setup everything, but this is a one time activity. Once setup, you won’t have to worry about it again.
Let’s get started.
Create your free WANotifier account, if you haven’t done that already. After signing up you’ll get a verification email. Click the link on the email to verify your email address. Then on the next page you’ll see Disclaimer, Read and accept it to move ahead.
Create a free Meta developer account, if you don’t already have one.
Next, on the Meta for Developers portal, click on the green Create App button to create a new app.
On the next page, it’ll ask Which use case do you want to add to your app?, select the Other option.
On the next page, select the Business option and click on the Next button at the bottom.
On the next page, Add an app name and Add contact email. Then in the Business Account field, select a business account if you already have one. If you don’t have one, keep the No Business Manager account selected option selected. Then click on Create app button.
You will be redirected to your App page where you need to Add products to your app. Scroll to the bottom to find WhatsApp product and click Set up.
On the next WhatsApp Business Platform API screen, you will see the option to select an existing Meta Business Account. Select your account if you already have it, or else select the Create a business account option to create a new one. Then click Continue.
You will be redirected to the Quickstart page that will look something like the following:
From the sidebar go to WhatsApp > API Setup page, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on Add phone number button.
A new popup will open to Create a WhatsApp Business profile. Enter WhatsApp Business Profile Display Name that matches your business name, Also select appropriate Category. After filling the details, click Next.
IMPORTANT: Do not enter dummy name in Display Name field like Test Business or any other random text. The name must match your business name.
Next, you’ll need to add your phone number to use it as your WhatsApp phone number. Enter your phone number and select a verification method to verify the number.
NOTE: Once a phone number is setup here it’ll be connected with WhatsApp Cloud API and you will not be able to use it with the mobile app.
Enter the verification code and click Next to finish adding the number.
From the left sidebar, click on Whatsapp > Configuration link.
Click on the Edit button. That’ll open a popup. In the Callback URL field, you’ll need to add your callback URL from the Settings > API Configuration page.
In the Verify Token field enter: wa-notifier and click Verify.
After this, under Webhook fields, click on the Manage button. In the popup that opens, click on the Subscribe button in front of all the fields.
Subscribing to all fields is mandatory for full integration with WANotifier.
Click on Done to complete your Webhook setup. And the end the webhooks configuration should look like this:
Now let’s create the Permanent Token. Scroll to the top of the page and click on App Dashboard next to the MetaforDevelopers logo. Then right click on Business Settings to open it in a new tab. Keep the current App Dashboard tab open.
On the Business Settings page, in left sidebar, click on System users under Users. Then click on Add to add a new user.
Click on I Accept button if you see non-discrimination policy popup.
Enter a name for your System user name (you can keep it system). Select System user role as Admin and click on Create system user.
Now click on the Add Assets button. Under Select asset type click on Apps, select your app from Select assets column and then enable Full control > Manage App. Then click on Save Changes.
Now click on Generate New Token button. Select your app from the dropdown and select the Token expiration option as Never.
Then from the list of permissions under Available Permissions: select whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management. Then click on the Generate Token button.
Copy the Access token.
Now that we’ve generated Phone Number ID, WhatsApp Business Account ID and Permanent Access token, paste them on Settings > API page and click on the Save changes button.
Now from the left sidebar go to Accounts > WhatsApp Accounts page, select your WhatsApp account from the list and click on the Settings tab.
Then click on the Payment Settings button. On the Payment Settings page, click on Add payment method button.
Select your Country, Currency and Payment Method and click Next.
Enter your payment details and hit Save. You’ll see a screen like the following after your payment method is added successfully:
Now go back to the App Dashboard tab that you have open from earlier.
On the top you’ll see App Mode. Change it from Development to Live.
You’ll see a prompt on screen to provide additional information like Privacy Policy URL etc.
Go to Settings > Basic page and enter your website’s Privacy Policy URL. Here you can also add other optional details like App Domain, Contact email, Terms of Service URL etc. Once you fill in all details, click on Save changes.
Now again click on the toggle button to change it from Development to Live.
On the WhatsApp > API Setup page, open the dropdown under Step 1: Send and receive messages under the From label and select the phone number you added.
After selecting your phone number, the Phone Number ID and WhatsApp Business Account ID values will get updated below it. Copy those values and paste in the respective fields in form.
Also copy the Permanent Access Token that you generated earlier and paste that in the respective field.
All done! Click on the Save and validate button to complete the setup!
Now that you’ve setup your WhatsApp Cloud API account, you can start sending to a limited number of messages per day. You can increase this limit to 1,000 messages per day or higher by verifying your business. Click here to read instructions on how to do that.
By following the instructions till the end of this article you’ll have your account ready to start sending WhatsApp notifications.
Must-have Requirements
Following are 4 must-have requirements by WhatsApp to setup WhatsApp Cloud API. Please make sure you have all of the following before proceeding.
Phone Number – this is the number you’ll be using to setup the APIs and this will be shown to the receivers of your WhatsApp messages.
Note that if you’re already using a phone number on the WhatsApp mobile app, you won’t be able to use that number with the API. Either you’ll have to disconnect the number from your phone app if you want to use it or get a new phone number for integration with WhatsApp Cloud API.
WhatsApp does not allow using same phone number for both WhatsApp phone app and WhatsApp Cloud API.
Registered Business – you must have a registered business and have some kind of government issued business registration proof like incorporation document.
For Indian businesses, having a GST certificate is mandatory.
If you do not have legal business documents, you won’t be able to use WhatsApp Cloud APIs.
Website – you must also have a website. WhatsApp requires you to have a live website for your business with a privacy policy page for your users. You can not use any 3rd party websites owned by other people or business. The website must be owned by you and should be of your business.
Payment method – like a credit or debit card. This will be added to the WhatsApp Manager portal for API billing.
Once you have all of these in place, you’re ready to get started with the setup.
How to Setup WhatsApp Cloud API with WANotifier?
Follow the instructions below to create your WANotifier account and setup WhatsApp Cloud API.
Setup time – 15 to 20 min, depending on your pace. It takes some time initially to setup everything, but this is a one time activity. Once setup, you won’t have to worry about it again.
Let’s get started.
1. Create Free Account on WANotifier
Create your free WANotifier account, if you haven’t done that already. After signing up you’ll get a verification email. Click the link on the email to verify your email address. Then on the next page you’ll see Disclaimer, Read and accept it to move ahead.
2. Create Meta account and an app for WhatsApp Cloud API
Create a free Meta developer account, if you don’t already have one.
Next, on the Meta for Developers portal, click on the green Create App button to create a new app.
On the next page, it’ll ask Which use case do you want to add to your app?, select the Other option.
On the next page, select the Business option and click on the Next button at the bottom.
On the next page, Add an app name and Add contact email. Then in the Business Account field, select a business account if you already have one. If you don’t have one, keep the No Business Manager account selected option selected. Then click on Create app button.
You will be redirected to your App page where you need to Add products to your app. Scroll to the bottom to find WhatsApp product and click Set up.
On the next WhatsApp Business Platform API screen, you will see the option to select an existing Meta Business Account. Select your account if you already have it, or else select the Create a business account option to create a new one. Then click Continue.
You will be redirected to the Quickstart page that will look something like the following:
3. Add your phone number
From the sidebar go to WhatsApp > API Setup page, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on Add phone number button.
A new popup will open to Create a WhatsApp Business profile. Enter WhatsApp Business Profile Display Name that matches your business name, Also select appropriate Category. After filling the details, click Next.
IMPORTANT: Do not enter dummy name in Display Name field like Test Business or any other random text. The name must match your business name.
Next, you’ll need to add your phone number to use it as your WhatsApp phone number. Enter your phone number and select a verification method to verify the number.
NOTE: Once a phone number is setup here it’ll be connected with WhatsApp Cloud API and you will not be able to use it with the mobile app.
Enter the verification code and click Next to finish adding the number.
4. Configure webhooks
From the left sidebar, click on Whatsapp > Configuration link.
Click on the Edit button. That’ll open a popup. In the Callback URL field, you’ll need to add your callback URL from the Settings > API Configuration page.
In the Verify Token field enter: wa-notifier and click Verify.
After this, under Webhook fields, click on the Manage button. In the popup that opens, click on the Subscribe button in front of all the fields.
Subscribing to all fields is mandatory for full integration with WANotifier.
Click on Done to complete your Webhook setup. And the end the webhooks configuration should look like this:
5. Generate permanent access token
Now let’s create the Permanent Token. Scroll to the top of the page and click on App Dashboard next to the MetaforDevelopers logo. Then right click on Business Settings to open it in a new tab. Keep the current App Dashboard tab open.
On the Business Settings page, in left sidebar, click on System users under Users. Then click on Add to add a new user.
Click on I Accept button if you see non-discrimination policy popup.
Enter a name for your System user name (you can keep it system). Select System user role as Admin and click on Create system user.
Now click on the Add Assets button. Under Select asset type click on Apps, select your app from Select assets column and then enable Full control > Manage App. Then click on Save Changes.
Now click on Generate New Token button. Select your app from the dropdown and select the Token expiration option as Never.
Then from the list of permissions under Available Permissions: select whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management. Then click on the Generate Token button.
Copy the Access token.
Now that we’ve generated Phone Number ID, WhatsApp Business Account ID and Permanent Access token, paste them on Settings > API page and click on the Save changes button.
6. Add payment method
Now from the left sidebar go to Accounts > WhatsApp Accounts page, select your WhatsApp account from the list and click on the Settings tab.
Then click on the Payment Settings button. On the Payment Settings page, click on Add payment method button.
Select your Country, Currency and Payment Method and click Next.
Enter your payment details and hit Save. You’ll see a screen like the following after your payment method is added successfully:
7. Change App Mode to Live
Now go back to the App Dashboard tab that you have open from earlier.
On the top you’ll see App Mode. Change it from Development to Live.
You’ll see a prompt on screen to provide additional information like Privacy Policy URL etc.
Go to Settings > Basic page and enter your website’s Privacy Policy URL. Here you can also add other optional details like App Domain, Contact email, Terms of Service URL etc. Once you fill in all details, click on Save changes.
Now again click on the toggle button to change it from Development to Live.
8. Save and validate your credentials
On the WhatsApp > API Setup page, open the dropdown under Step 1: Send and receive messages under the From label and select the phone number you added.
After selecting your phone number, the Phone Number ID and WhatsApp Business Account ID values will get updated below it. Copy those values and paste in the respective fields in form.
Also copy the Permanent Access Token that you generated earlier and paste that in the respective field.
All done! Click on the Save and validate button to complete the setup!
Next Step: Verify Your Business!
Now that you’ve setup your WhatsApp Cloud API account, you can start sending to a limited number of messages per day. You can increase this limit to 1,000 messages per day or higher by verifying your business. Click here to read instructions on how to do that.
Updated on: 13/07/2023
Thank you!