You need three things from Meta: the Phone number ID, the WhatsApp Business Account ID and a permanent access token. You get the first two in your Meta app's WhatsApp section, and the token from a system user in your business settings.
Where to find it
You paste the three values in one or both of these places:
- Admin › CRM › Inbox › Inbox settings › 3. Connected pages (choose WhatsApp): to chat with customers in the Inbox and send WhatsApp campaigns.
- Admin › Online store › Marketing channels › WhatsApp marketing (হোয়াটসঅ্যাপ মার্কেটিং), the WhatsApp Cloud API (Meta, official) card: has a Test connection button. On a Premium or Custom package this link opens the WhatsApp campaigns page instead, so there you only need the Inbox.
Step by step
Meta changes its screens often, so the menu names below may look different. Follow the idea of each step.
- Pick a number. Use a phone number that is not on the WhatsApp app, or delete it from the app first.
- Business portfolio. At business.facebook.com, create or open your business portfolio.
- App with WhatsApp. At developers.facebook.com, create a business app (or open the one you use for the Inbox) and add the WhatsApp product.
- Add the number. In WhatsApp's API setup, add your phone number and verify it with the code Meta sends.
- Copy two IDs. Copy the Phone number ID and the WhatsApp Business Account ID shown there.
- Permanent token. In your business settings, under system users, create a system user (Admin). Give it your app and your WhatsApp account with full control. Generate a new token with whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management, set to never expire. Copy it.
- Paste into the panel. On WhatsApp marketing, fill Phone number ID, WhatsApp Business Account ID and Permanent access token, press Save, then press Test connection. You see "Connected:" with your business name and number.
- For the Inbox too. In Inbox settings › 3. Connected pages, choose WhatsApp, enter the phone number ID, the Business Account ID and the token, and press Connect. Then set the webhook in your Meta app and subscribe messages.
Good to know
- Templates are made at Meta. Messages you start (campaigns, or answers after 24 hours) must use a template that Meta has approved. Write them in Meta's WhatsApp Manager, wait for approval, then press Fetch templates on the WhatsApp campaigns page (Marketing channels › WhatsApp marketing).
- Order on the way. In Admin › Administration › Settings › SMS, under When an order goes to the courier, you can send a WhatsApp template. It fills five blanks: name, invoice, courier, tracking and cash at delivery. The language is bn unless you change it.
- Meta charges you. Connecting is free; Meta bills your business for the template messages you send.
- The token is kept secret. It is stored encrypted. On WhatsApp marketing only its last four characters are shown.
Common problems
- Test connection fails. Check the Phone number ID (not the phone number itself), and that the token has both permissions and access to this WhatsApp account.
- The token stopped working soon after you saved it. You may have used the temporary token from the API setup page. Make a permanent one with a system user (step 6).
- A template does not show. Meta has not approved it yet, or nobody pressed Fetch templates after it was approved.
Related
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