WhatsApp Setup

Connect your Meta WhatsApp Cloud API account, configure webhooks, and start receiving messages.

Meta Developer App setup

Create a Meta Developer account
Go to developers.facebook.com and create an app.
Add WhatsApp product
In your app dashboard, add the WhatsApp product and set up a business phone number.
Get credentials
Note your Phone Number ID, WhatsApp Business Account ID, and a permanent Access Token with whatsapp_business_messaging permission.

Enter credentials in portal

Field	Where to find it
Phone Number ID	Meta App → WhatsApp → API Setup
Access Token	Meta App → WhatsApp → API Setup (generate permanent token)
App ID	Meta App dashboard → App Settings
Verify Token	Auto-generated in portal — copy for Meta webhook
Webhook Token	Auto-generated — used in webhook URL path

Webhook configuration

In Meta App → WhatsApp → Configuration → Webhook:

Callback URL:

https://yourdomain.com/api/webhook/whatsapp/{webhook_token}

Replace {webhook_token} with the Webhook Token shown in your portal WhatsApp Settings (not the verify token).

Verify token:

{verify_token}

Use the Verify Token from portal settings — this is a separate value from the webhook token.

Most common webhook error Meta webhook verification fails when you enter the webhook token in the Verify Token field. These are two different values. URL uses webhook_token; Meta verify field uses verify_token.

Subscribe to webhook fields:

messages — inbound messages and delivery status

Token reference

Token	Used for	Where
Webhook Token	Identifies your account in the URL	Meta Callback URL path
Verify Token	Meta subscription verification	Meta "Verify token" input field
Access Token	Sending messages via Graph API	Portal WhatsApp Settings only

APP_URL must match If you use a tunnel or change domains, update APP_URL in .env to your public URL. Wrong APP_URL breaks webhook callbacks and asset links.

Message templates

Approved templates are required for outbound messages outside the 24-hour customer service window.

Create and approve templates in Meta Business Manager
In portal, go to Templates and click Sync from Meta
Use template nodes in bot flows or campaigns

Testing your setup

Save WhatsApp Settings in the portal
Configure webhook in Meta and click Verify and Save
Send a WhatsApp message to your business number
Check Live Chat — the message should appear within seconds
If you have a bot flow with a keyword trigger, reply with that keyword

Still not working? See Troubleshooting for webhook, message, and delivery issues.