WhatsApp Account

To be able to access the WhatsApp Business API and connect your number to Acumbamail, you first need to create a Meta Developer account.

The Cloud API is part of Meta’s Graph API, so you need to set up a Meta developer account and a Meta developer app.

Before you begin, make sure you have administrator access to your company’s Meta Business Suite account (if you have one), as you will need it to create the app.

Register as a Meta developer

Step 1. Registration process

When you are logged in to your Facebook account, go to https://developers.facebook.com/async/registration.

You can also go to the Meta for Developers website and click Get Started.

Step 2: Accept terms and policies

Click Next to accept the Platform Terms and Developer Policies.

Step 3: Verify the account

A confirmation code will be sent to the phone number and email address you provide to confirm that you have access to them.

They will only use this information to send you important developer notifications about changes that may affect your app.

Step 4: Select your occupation

Select the occupation that best describes what you do.

You can optionally enable two-step authentication for the account.

More information here.

Create a Meta app

Go to developers.facebook.com > My Apps > Create App. Select the Business type and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you are asked to choose a use case as part of the app creation process, choose "Other" as the use case and then select "Business".

In the apps dashboard, click the app you want to connect to WhatsApp. Scroll down to find the “WhatsApp” product and click Set up.

Next, you will see the option to select an existing Business Manager account (if you have one). However, if you prefer, the onboarding process can create one automatically

(if necessary, you can customize the business later).

Select an option and click Continue. This will do the following:

The app will be associated with the Business Manager account you selected previously (or that was created for you).
A WhatsApp Business account will be generated.
A test business phone number will be generated and associated with your WhatsApp Business account.
The system redirects you to the WhatsApp > API Setup window in the apps dashboard.

Add a phone number

Phone number

When you have everything you need to use the app for a production use case, you need to use your phone number to send messages to users. When choosing a phone number, consider the following:

If you want to use a number that is already being used in the WhatsApp Business app or client, you will need to fully migrate that number to the WhatsApp Business Platform. Once migrated, you will lose access to the WhatsApp Business app or client.

See Migrate an existing WhatsApp number to a business account for more information.

Set of rules about the numbers that can be used on the platform.

Learn more.
Once you have chosen the phone number, you need to add it to the WhatsApp Business account. See Add a phone number .

Setup

Go to developers.facebook.com > My Apps > Select your app.

If your phone number is currently registered with WhatsApp Messenger or the WhatsApp Business App, you first need to delete it. See Migrate an existing WhatsApp number to a business account.

From the left-hand side menu, go to WhatsApp > API Setup.
In the right-hand panel, Step 5: Add phone number, click the Add phone number button.
Enter a display name for your business phone number once it is approved.
Select your time zone. This will be used for WhatsApp billing and analytics.
Select a category and description for your business.
Select Next to begin the verification process.
Select your country code and enter the phone number you want to register.
Select how you would like to receive your verification code and click Next to continue.
Enter the verification code once you receive it and click Next.

The phone number will appear in the drop-down menu in Step 1: Select phone numbers. Select the phone number you registered to start sending messages.

If your phone number fails the registration process, you will see a message below the drop-down menu that says "Please register your phone number to send messages". We recommend that you repeat the process.

Migrate an existing WhatsApp number to a business account

You can use a phone number that is already registered with WhatsApp Messenger or the WhatsApp Business App, but not concurrently.

Remember to back up your chat history from the WhatsApp Business app. There are guides on how to do this for Android or iOS.

To migrate a phone number, you first need to delete it from the account where you have it set up.

Open WhatsApp Messenger or the WhatsApp Business App on your Android device or iPhone.
Go to Settings > Account.
Select "Delete my account". In the meantime, messages sent to this phone number will be queued.
Follow the steps provided. It may take up to 3 minutes for the disconnected number to become available.

Once the number is available, you can add it.

Add a payment method

Since April 1, 2023, Facebook requires you to have a verified payment method in order to use its WhatsApp API. After you add your phone number, a banner will appear asking you to add a payment method.

In any case, you can do this by following these steps:

Log in to Meta Business Suite (only if you are not logged in)
Find the business account in the drop-down menu at the top left and click the Settings icon.
Click Business Settings.
Go to Accounts > WhatsApp Accounts.
Select your WhatsApp account from the list
Click the Settings tab.
Click the Payment settings button.
Finally, click the Add payment method button.

Switch to production

Finally, if your app is in development mode, we need to switch it to production.