Prerequisites with WhatsApp Cloud (Meta) #

Create a New Meta Developer App #

First, you need to follow the “Set up Developer Assets and Platform Access” step from this guide here https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/get-started

This will create a Facebook Developer App with the WhatsApp product enabled

Next, you can configure your phone numbers in the “Whatsapp” section of your new Facebook Developer App. Once your phone number has been added successfully, you will get a “Phone Number ID” and “WhatsApp Business Account ID”, save these two values to use in the steps below. See the attached screenshot of where to find these values.

Create a System User In Meta Business Manager to Grant access to your App #

You will need to create a system user in your business manager account with the required access to use your new Meta Developer App with WhatsApp access. Follow this guide here https://www.facebook.com/business/help/503306463479099?id=2190812977867143

When generating an access token you must enable ther permissions “whatsapp_business_messaging” and “whatsapp_business_management”

Add Your New Whatsapp Chat Inbox #

Create a new Chat Inbox #

Choose the WhatsApp option.

Next, you will be prompted to enter some information relating to your Meta Developer App and configure your new Inbox.

1. API Provider = Make sure you have “WhatsApp Cloud” selected.
2. Inbox Name = Give your new Inbox a name you will recognize like “My Business WhatsApp”
3. Phone Number = Enter the same phone number you have configured in the Meta Developer App.
4. Phone Number ID = Enter the Phone Number ID you created earlier in this guide.
5. Business Account ID = Enter the Business Account ID you created earlier in this guide.
6. API Key = This is the access token for the System User you created which can access your Meta Business Account.
7. Webhook Verify Token = Here you will want to put in a long 12-24 character long code. (Save this to use in the next step)

Send Webhook Notifications from Meta to your New Inbox

Tell Meta to Send Webhook Notifications to your New Inbox #

Back in your Meta Developer App, navigate to the “Configuration” section. On this page, you will set the “CallbackURL” to “https://app1.chatcloud.ai/webhooks/whatsapp/+17145551212”

⚠️ Please note the URL above includes your phone number with “+” and the country code (1 for US). Replace the “+17145551212” with the correct phone number you previously configured.

ℹ️ Meta only allows ONE Callback/Webhook URL per Meta Developer App. If you have or plan to have multiple WhatsApp inboxes they will all work with the same Webhook URL and messages will be routed to the correct Inbox

Last you will need to paste a value for the “Verify Token”. This is the same 12-24 character long Webhook Verify Token you generated in the previous step above.

Congratulations! Start Messaging 😃 #