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.

Requirements

Following are 3 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 use 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, GST certificate or similar. If you do not have a registered business, 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 with a privacy policy page for your users.

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, select the Business option and click on the Next button at the bottom.
On the next Provide basic information page, fill in the details and click on Create App when done. Make sure to enter correct business details and not dummy details.
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 Business Manager (if you have one) or if you would like, the onboarding process will create one automatically for you. Make a selection and click Continue.
You will be redirected to the Getting Started page that will look something like the following:

3. Add your phone number

Now on this Get Started page, scroll down and click on Add phone number button.
Fill in your business information and click Next. Make sure to add correct business details.
On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to create a WhatsApp Business profile. Enter the details and click Next.
Then on the next screen, enter your phone number and select a verification method to verify the number.
Enter the verification code and click Next.
Once the phone number is added, scroll up on the Get Started page and select the number you added from the dropdown under Send and receive messages.
After selecting your phone number, the Phone Number ID and WhatsApp Business Account ID values will get updated below it. Copy these values and keep them aside. We’ll require them later.

4. Configure webhooks

From the Get Started screen’s 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 the following callback URL from the Settings > API Configuration page on WANotifier:
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, subscribe to all fields. Select the latest version from dropdown and click on the Subscribe button in front of all shown fields.
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-discrimation 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 Token button. Select your app from the dropdown and 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. 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.

All done! Now paste the Phone number ID, WhatsApp business account ID and Permanent access token that we’ve generated in the fields on the page and click on the Save and validate button to complete the setup!

Next Steps?

Now that you’ve setup your WhatsApp Cloud API account, you can start sending upto 50 messages per day. You can increase this limit to 1,000 messages per day by verifying your business. Click here to read instructions on how to do that.