How To: Connect WhatsApp 🟡 BETA
Tutorial 5 of the Channels Series
Connect your bot to WhatsApp in 20 minutes
Objective
By the end of this tutorial, you will have:
- Created a Meta Business account
- Set up a WhatsApp Business App
- Connected WhatsApp to your General Bots instance
- Tested the connection with a real message
Time Required
⏱️ 20 minutes
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- A working bot (see Create Your First Bot)
- A phone number for WhatsApp Business (cannot be used with regular WhatsApp)
- A Facebook account
- Administrator access to General Bots
Understanding WhatsApp Integration
Step 1: Set Up Meta Business Account
1.1 Go to Meta for Developers
Open your browser and navigate to:
https://developers.facebook.com
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🌐 Browser [─][□][×]│
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ← → ↻ │ https://developers.facebook.com │ ☆ │ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Meta for Developers │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Log In │ │
│ └─────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
1.2 Log In with Facebook
- Click Log In
- Enter your Facebook credentials
- Click Log In
1.3 Create a Meta Business Account (If Needed)
If you don’t have a business account:
- Go to https://business.facebook.com
- Click Create Account
- Enter your business name
- Enter your name and business email
- Click Submit
💡 Note: You can use your personal Facebook account, but a business account is recommended for production use.
✅ Checkpoint: You should now be logged into Meta for Developers.
Step 2: Create a WhatsApp App
2.1 Go to My Apps
Click My Apps in the top navigation.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Meta for Developers [My Apps ▼] [👤 Account] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ My Apps │
│ ─────── │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ + Create App │ ◄── Click here │
│ └─────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ You don't have any apps yet. │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
2.2 Create a New App
- Click Create App
- Select Business as the app type
- Click Next
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Create an App [×] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Select an app type: │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ Consumer │ │ ● Business │ │ Gaming │ │
│ │ │ │ ◄── Select │ │ │ │
│ │ For consumer │ │ │ │ For game │ │
│ │ apps │ │ For business │ │ integrations │ │
│ │ │ │ integrations │ │ │ │
│ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ [Next] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
2.3 Fill In App Details
| Field | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| App Name | Your bot’s name | My Company Bot |
| App Contact Email | Your email | admin@company.com |
| Business Account | Select or create | My Company |
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Add App Details [×] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ App Name: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ My Company Bot │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ App Contact Email: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ admin@company.com │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Business Account: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ My Company [▼] │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ [Create App] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- Click Create App
- Complete the security check if prompted
2.4 Add WhatsApp to Your App
- In the app dashboard, scroll to Add Products
- Find WhatsApp and click Set Up
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Add Products to Your App │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ Messenger │ │ 📱 WhatsApp │ │ Instagram │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ [Set Up] │ │ [Set Up] ◄── │ │ [Set Up] │ │
│ │ │ │ Click here │ │ │ │
│ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
✅ Checkpoint: WhatsApp should now appear in your app’s left sidebar.
Step 3: Configure WhatsApp Settings
3.1 Get Your API Credentials
In the left sidebar, click WhatsApp → API Setup.
You’ll see:
- Phone number ID - Identifies your WhatsApp number
- WhatsApp Business Account ID - Your business account
- Temporary access token - For testing (expires in 24 hours)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WhatsApp > API Setup │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ STEP 1: Select Phone Numbers │
│ ──────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ From: [Test Number - 15550001234 ▼] │
│ │
│ To: (Add a recipient phone number for testing) │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ +1 555 123 4567 │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ STEP 2: Send Messages with the API │
│ ────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ Temporary Access Token: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ EAAGm0PX4ZCp... [Copy] │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ ⚠️ This token expires in 24 hours. Use System User for production. │
│ │
│ Phone Number ID: 123456789012345 [Copy] │
│ WhatsApp Business Account ID: 987654321098765 [Copy] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
📝 Write down these values - You’ll need them in the next step:
- Phone Number ID:
_______________ - Access Token:
_______________
3.2 Create a Permanent Access Token
For production, you need a permanent token:
- Go to Business Settings → System Users
- Click Add to create a system user
- Name it (e.g., “WhatsApp Bot”)
- Set role to Admin
- Click Generate Token
- Select your app and the
whatsapp_business_messagingpermission - Click Generate Token
💡 Important: Save this token securely! You won’t be able to see it again.
3.3 Configure the Webhook
The webhook tells Meta where to send incoming messages.
- In the left sidebar, click WhatsApp → Configuration
- Under Webhook, click Edit
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Webhook Configuration [×] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Callback URL: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ https://your-bot-server.com/webhook/whatsapp │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Verify Token: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ your-custom-verify-token-here │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ⚠️ Your server must respond to Meta's verification request │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Verify and Save │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Enter these values:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Callback URL | https://your-server.com/webhook/whatsapp |
| Verify Token | A secret string you create (e.g., my_bot_verify_123) |
- Click Verify and Save
3.4 Subscribe to Webhook Events
After verifying, select which events to receive:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Webhook Fields │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ☑ messages ◄── Required! Receive incoming messages │
│ ☐ message_template_status_update │
│ ☐ phone_number_name_update │
│ ☐ phone_number_quality_update │
│ ☑ account_review_update │
│ ☐ account_update │
│ ☐ business_capability_update │
│ ☐ flows │
│ ☑ security │
│ ☑ message_echoes │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
At minimum, select:
- messages (required - to receive user messages)
✅ Checkpoint: Webhook should show as “Active” with a green indicator.
Step 4: Configure General Bots
4.1 Open Bot Settings
- In General Bots, go to Sources
- Click ⚙️ on your bot
- Go to the Channels tab
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Bot Settings: support [×] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌──────────┬──────────┬──────────┬──────────┬──────────┐ │
│ │ General │ AI │*Channels*│ Security │ Advanced │ │
│ └──────────┴──────────┴──────────┴──────────┴──────────┘ │
│ │
│ CONNECTED CHANNELS │
│ ────────────────── │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ 🌐 Web Chat Status: ● On │ │
│ │ Embedded widget on your website │ │
│ │ [Configure] │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ 📱 WhatsApp Status: ○ Off │ │
│ │ Not configured │ │
│ │ [Configure] ◄── Click here │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.2 Enter WhatsApp Credentials
Click Configure for WhatsApp and enter your credentials:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WhatsApp Configuration [×] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ META API CREDENTIALS │
│ ──────────────────── │
│ │
│ Phone Number ID: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ 123456789012345 │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Access Token: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Verify Token: │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ my_bot_verify_123 │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ ⚠️ Must match the token you set in Meta Developer Portal │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ WEBHOOK URL (provide this to Meta) │
│ ────────────────────────────────── │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ https://your-server.com/webhook/whatsapp [Copy] │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ Test Connection │ │ Save │ │
│ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.3 Test the Connection
- Click Test Connection
- You should see “Connection successful!”
If the test fails, check:
- Token is correct and not expired
- Phone Number ID is correct
- Your server is accessible from the internet
4.4 Save and Enable
- Click Save
- Toggle WhatsApp to On
✅ Checkpoint: WhatsApp should now show Status: ● On
Step 5: Test Your WhatsApp Bot
5.1 Add Test Phone Number
In Meta Developer Portal:
- Go to WhatsApp → API Setup
- Under “To”, add your phone number
- Click Send to receive a test message
5.2 Send a Test Message
- Open WhatsApp on your phone
- Message the bot’s number (the test number from Meta)
- Send: “Hello”
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ WhatsApp │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ My Company Bot │ │
│ │ +1 555 000 1234 │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌───────────────┐ │ │
│ │ │ Hello │ │ │
│ │ │ 10:30 │ │ │
│ │ └───────────────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │
│ │ │ Hello! How can I help you today? │ │ │
│ │ │ 10:30 │ │ │
│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌───────────────┐ │ │
│ │ │ I need help │ │ │
│ │ │ with my order │ │ │
│ │ │ 10:31 │ │ │
│ │ └───────────────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │
│ │ │ I'd be happy to help with your order! │ │ │
│ │ │ What's your order number? │ │ │
│ │ │ 10:31 │ │ │
│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Type a message... 📎 │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
5.3 Verify in General Bots
Check that the conversation appears in Analytics:
- Go to Analytics → Sessions
- You should see a new session with channel “WhatsApp”
🎉 Congratulations!
Your bot is now connected to WhatsApp! Users can message your WhatsApp Business number and receive responses from your bot.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ✓ SUCCESS! │
│ │
│ Your WhatsApp bot is live! │
│ │
│ ┌───────────┐ ┌───────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ 📱 │ ────────▶ │ 🤖 │ ────────▶ │ 💬 │ │
│ │ WhatsApp │ │ General │ │ Bot │ │
│ │ User │ ◀──────── │ Bots │ ◀──────── │ Response │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ └───────────┘ └───────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Going to Production
Add a Real Phone Number
The test number has limitations. For production:
- Go to WhatsApp → Phone Numbers in Meta Developer Portal
- Click Add Phone Number
- Enter your business phone number
- Verify via SMS or voice call
- Update the Phone Number ID in General Bots settings
Submit for App Review
Before going live with real customers:
- Go to App Review in Meta Developer Portal
- Request
whatsapp_business_messagingpermission - Complete the review process (takes 2-5 business days)
Set Up Message Templates
For proactive messages (not replies), you need approved templates:
- Go to WhatsApp → Message Templates
- Create templates for notifications, alerts, etc.
- Wait for Meta approval (usually 24 hours)
Troubleshooting
Problem: “Webhook verification failed”
Possible causes:
- Verify token doesn’t match
- Server not responding
- HTTPS not configured
Solution:
- Check the verify token matches exactly in both places
- Verify your server is accessible:
curl https://your-server.com/webhook/whatsapp - Ensure you have a valid SSL certificate
Problem: Messages not arriving
Possible causes:
- Webhook not subscribed to “messages”
- App in development mode with unlisted numbers
- Access token expired
Solution:
- Check webhook subscriptions include “messages”
- Add test phone numbers in API Setup
- Generate a new access token
Problem: Bot responds slowly
Possible causes:
- Network latency
- Bot processing time
- Meta rate limits
Solution:
- Ensure server is geographically close to users
- Optimize bot dialog processing
- Check rate limit status in Meta dashboard
Problem: “Error 190: Invalid OAuth access token”
Possible causes:
- Token expired (temporary tokens last 24 hours)
- Token was revoked
- Wrong token used
Solution:
- Generate a new System User token (permanent)
- Update the token in General Bots settings
- Verify you’re using the WhatsApp access token, not a Facebook token
Problem: Phone number shows as unverified
Possible causes:
- Verification not completed
- Two-factor authentication issue
- Number already in use
Solution:
- Re-request verification code
- Check business verification status
- Contact Meta support if number was previously registered
What You Learned
In this tutorial, you:
- ✅ Created a Meta Developer account and app
- ✅ Configured WhatsApp Cloud API
- ✅ Set up webhook for incoming messages
- ✅ Connected WhatsApp to General Bots
- ✅ Tested the integration with real messages
Next Steps
Now that WhatsApp is connected, try these:
| Next Tutorial | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| Write Your First Dialog | Create custom conversation flows |
| Add KB Documents | Make your bot smarter |
| Monitor Sessions | Track WhatsApp conversations |
Quick Reference
WhatsApp Message Limits
| Tier | Messages/Day | How to Qualify |
|---|---|---|
| Unverified | 250 | New accounts |
| Verified | 1,000 | Complete business verification |
| Tier 1 | 10,000 | Good quality rating |
| Tier 2 | 100,000 | Maintain quality |
| Tier 3 | Unlimited | High volume, good quality |
Quality Rating
Meta monitors your WhatsApp quality based on:
- User blocks and reports
- Message template quality
- Response time
Keep quality high by:
- Responding to all messages
- Not spamming users
- Using approved templates for outbound messages
Key URLs
| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Meta for Developers | https://developers.facebook.com |
| Meta Business Suite | https://business.facebook.com |
| WhatsApp Cloud API Docs | https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp |
| API Status | https://metastatus.com |
Configuration via config.csv
Configure WhatsApp in your bot’s config.csv:
name,value
whatsapp-phone-number-id,123456789012345
whatsapp-access-token,EAAGm0PX4ZCp...
whatsapp-verify-token,my_bot_verify_123
whatsapp-business-account-id,987654321098765
Note: Do not use environment variables for WhatsApp configuration. All settings belong in config.csv.
See Also
- Chat App - Web chat interface
- Sources App - Bot configuration
- Compliance App - Data privacy for WhatsApp