How to Access the WhatsApp Cloud API
On this page, there are step-by-step instructions on how to create a WABA to access the WhatsApp cloud API and how to connect your phone number to your WABA.
Below are the steps to create a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) to access the WhatsApp Cloud API. Before you follow the steps, you must have the following:
- A Facebook Business Account
- A phone number that meets Meta’s requirements. You phone number cannot be registered with another WhatsApp account. If you have a WhatsApp account on WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp business App, you must delete your account first. Follow the steps in WhatsApp mobile apps to WhatsApp Business API for deleting your account.
- A Display Name that follows Meta’s guidelines
Step 1: Set up Your Facebook Developer Account
1.1. Sign up or log in to the Facebook for Developers account. Go to My Apps and then select Create App.
1.2. Select Business as your app type and press Next.
1.3. Enter basic information about your business:
- App name
- Contact email
- Business Manager account (optional),
Click Create app.
1.4. On your Meta dashboard, scroll down to WhatsApp. Click Set Up.
1.5. Select your Meta Business Account or leave it unselected (Facebook will automatically create a new account) and click Continue.
1.6. Press Start using the API.
1.7. [Optional] Send a free message with the provided test phone number to your personal WhatsApp number to test the integration.
Step 2: Connect Your Phone Number
2.1. Scroll down and click on Add phone number.
2.2. Fill in your business information and press Next.
2.3. Fill in your WhatsApp Business profile information and press Next. Your display name must follow some guidelines and best practices mentioned in WhatsApp Display Name.
2.4. Add a phone number for your WhatsApp Cloud API and click Next. Please, ensure this number is not registered with another WhatsApp account (or WhatsApp app on your phone). If the number is registered with another account, you must delete that account first.
2.5. Verify your phone number by entering a 6-digit code that you receive on this number. Select Next.
Thatβs it! Your WABA with WhatsApp Cloud API is created and your phone number is connected to your account.
Since the API does not have a chat interface, you cannot use it to send and receive messages. For that, you’d need to connect it to a CRM or a team inbox, like Rasayel.