How to Set Up WhatsApp in Meta

To configure WhatsApp within the Meta platform, it is necessary to first establish an app within Meta.

Guidelines for Creating an App on Meta

1. Navigate to the Meta Developer Site.
2. After logging in to Meta, go to the My Apps tab.
3. Click on Create App, or if you have existing apps, you may use them for WhatsApp integration.
   
   
4. Select the Other option and click Next.
   
   
5. Choose the app type as Business and click Next.
   
   
6. Enter your app name and contact email.
7. Select your business account and click on Create App.
   
   

8. After creating your app, retrieve the App ID and App Secret, as these credentials are required for configuring the WhatsApp integration in BoldDesk.
9. To obtain the App ID and App Secret, navigate to App Settings → Basic.
   
   

Setting Up WhatsApp Within the Meta App

1. Navigate to the Dashboard within your created app.

2. Click Set Up to begin integrating WhatsApp with your app.
   

   

3. Select your business account and click Continue.
   

   

4. Once the onboarding process is complete, you will navigate to the API Setup page.

5. Select the Generate Access Token option and verify that you have successfully opted into your authorized WhatsApp account during the token generation process.
   

   
   
   
   

   The generated access token is temporary and must be renewed frequently. This may cause interruptions to your WhatsApp messaging service. To prevent such disruptions, consider using a permanent access token.Refer to the guide on generating a permanent WhatsApp token.

6. After completing the token generation process, ensure to add a phone number in Meta, followed by linking a payment method to that number.

   For detailed instructions, refer to the following resources:

   • Learn More About Adding a Phone Number in Meta.
   • Add a Payment Method to the Phone Number

   It is highly recommended to register or link a phone number directly through the Meta Developer Portal, as outlined in the referenced article, instead of using API tools via the Graph API for this task.

7. After adding the phone number, navigate to the Configuration section and click Edit to verify the Webhook Token and URL provided by BoldDesk.
   

   

8. After verifying the webhook token and URL, ensure that the subscriptions for the messages and message_template_status_update webhook fields are enabled.