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Register WhatsApp senders using Self Sign-up


Learn how direct customers can register a WhatsApp sender using Self Sign-up in the Twilio Console.

A WhatsApp sender is a phone number associated with a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA). When you register a WhatsApp sender, you can send and receive WhatsApp messages from your business or brand using the Twilio APIs.

Note: If you're an Independent Software Vendor (ISV)(link takes you to an external page), you must join Meta's Tech Provider program, complete a technical integration, and onboard your customers through the program.


Prerequisites

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  • Create and upgrade your Twilio account.
    Sign up for your Twilio account(link takes you to an external page) and upgrade it. To upgrade your account, in the Twilio Console, click Upgrade at the top of the page, or go to Admin > Account billing and click Upgrade account.
  • Make sure you have administrator access to your Meta Business Portfolio.
    Check if your company already has a Meta Business Portfolio.
    • If your company already has a Meta Business Portfolio, request administrator access with full permissions. This access is required to create a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) during the Self Sign-up process.
    • If your company doesn't have a Meta Business Portfolio or you can't get administrator access to an existing one, you can create one during the Self Sign-up process. After creating the Business Portfolio, you'll need to complete Meta business verification before you can move into production.

Phone number requirements

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You can use either a Twilio phone number or a non-Twilio phone number to register a WhatsApp sender.


Display name requirements

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The WhatsApp sender display name must comply with Meta's display name guidelines(link takes you to an external page). Meta reviews the name after registration. If Meta rejects the name, the phone number is limited to 250 business-initiated messages per 24-hour period, and Meta might disconnect the sender.


Start WhatsApp Self Sign-up

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  1. In the Twilio Console, go to Messaging > Senders > WhatsApp Senders or navigate to WhatsApp Senders(link takes you to an external page).
  2. Click Create new sender.

The New Sender page opens.


Select a phone number to register

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Under 1. Select a phone number to register, select a phone number and click Continue. You can choose either a Twilio phone number or your own phone number (Non-Twilio phone number).

Log in to Facebook

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  1. In the Self Sign-up pop-up window, log in to Facebook with your credentials. If you're already logged in, click Continue as [your name].
  2. Review the permissions to allow Twilio to manage your WABA, then click Get started.

Fill in your business information

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  1. Create a new Meta Business Portfolio or select an existing one.
    When you select a Meta Business Portfolio, its associated business information is pre-filled in the form.
  2. Click Next.

Create or select your WhatsApp Business Account

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  1. Create a new WABA or select an existing one.
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    Warning

    Don't select a WABA that's been created outside of Twilio. If you already have an approved WhatsApp Sender with another provider, create a new WABA to use specifically with Twilio.

    • If you're registering your first WhatsApp sender, create a new WABA.
    • If you're registering an additional WhatsApp sender in the same Twilio account or subaccount, you must select the same WABA you used to register your first WhatsApp sender.
      • You can see the ID of the WABA that's connected to your Twilio account in the Twilio Console window.
      • Twilio requires all WhatsApp senders in an account to be within the same WABA and maintains a one-to-one relationship between a Twilio account and a WABA.
  2. Select Create a new WhatsApp Business profile.
  3. Select Instruct Meta to automatically identify order and lead events.
  4. Click Next.

Create a WhatsApp Business profile

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  1. Set the following fields:

    FieldCustomer-FacingDescription
    WhatsApp Business account nameNoThe name of your WABA. Pre-filled if you selected an existing WABA.
    WhatsApp Business display nameYesThe display name that your customers see when they receive WhatsApp messages from your business. Must comply with Meta's display name guidelines(link takes you to an external page).
    CategoryYesThe category of your business displayed in your profile. You can update the category later in the Twilio Console.
  2. Optionally, click Show more options to set the following fields:

    FieldCustomer-FacingDescription
    Business descriptionYesThe description of your business displayed in your profile.
    WebsiteYesThe website of your business displayed in your profile.

Add your WhatsApp phone number

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Meta requires you to verify ownership of each phone number before it can send or receive WhatsApp messages. Meta verifies ownership through SMS or voice call OTPs.

The registration process depends on the phone number type (Twilio or non-Twilio) and capabilities (SMS or voice) to receive the OTP for verification.

Phone number typeCapabilitiesOTP verification code delivery
TwilioSMSReceive the OTP verification code in the Twilio Console
VoiceConfigure the phone number to receive the OTP verification code via email
Non-TwilioSMSReceive the OTP verification code via SMS
VoiceReceive the OTP verification code via voice call
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Don't use WhatsApp-provided numbers

Don't select Use a display name only. This option uses a free WhatsApp-provided number (555 business number) that doesn't require verification. Twilio doesn't support WhatsApp-provided numbers at this time.

SMS: Twilio phone numbersVoice: Twilio phone numbersSMS: Non-Twilio phone numbersVoice: Non-Twilio phone numbers
  1. In the Twilio Console window, under 2. Link WhatsApp Business Account with your number, in the 2. Copy the phone number you register section, click Copy next to the phone number.
  2. In the Self Sign-up pop-up window, on the Add your WhatsApp phone number page, select Add a new phone number and paste the phone number you copied from the Twilio Console.
  3. Select Text message as the verification method and click Next.
    The Twilio Console displays the verification code.
  4. In the Twilio Console window, under Verify the selected number with WhatsApp, click Copy next to the verification code.
  5. In the Self Sign-up pop-up window, paste the verification code you copied from the Twilio Console and click Next.

Review Twilio's access request

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After verifying the phone number, the Self Sign-up pop-up window opens the Review Twilio's access request page. Review the access requests and click Confirm.


Complete the registration

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When you confirm the access requests, the following occurs:

  • The Self Sign-up pop-up window closes.
  • Twilio starts the registration process. This might take a few minutes.
  • The Twilio Console window automatically refreshes and shows the WhatsApp sender you registered.

After registration is complete, you can manage your sender by clicking Edit Sender:

  • Set your inbound message webhooks.
  • Update your WhatsApp Business profile, including your profile picture.
  • Add the sender to a Messaging Service or change the Messaging Service.
  • Delete the sender.

Complete Meta business verification

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Info

Business verification is free and isn't the same as Meta's subscription product, "Meta Verified".

If you created a new Meta Business Portfolio during the Self Sign-up process or your existing Meta Business Portfolio hasn't completed business verification, you must complete business verification on Meta before you can move into production.

When you complete business verification, you can:

To complete business verification, follow the steps in How to verify your business on Meta(link takes you to an external page). You can check your business verification status in Meta's Security Center(link takes you to an external page).

Meta's processing time for business verification varies by region and can take several weeks. Start the verification process early to avoid delays in moving into production.

Note: After completing Meta business verification, you might still see a notice that directs you to complete verification. If you've already completed it, you can ignore the notice.


Register additional WhatsApp senders

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To register additional WhatsApp senders, you can repeat the Self Sign-up process or use the Senders API.

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When to use Self Sign-up or Senders API

Twilio recommends using the API only when you need to onboard a large number of senders across many accounts (bulk registration). Use the WhatsApp Self Sign-up for a small number of senders.

When registering additional WhatsApp senders, keep this in mind:

  • For each sender, you must select the same Meta Business Portfolio and WABA that you used for the first WhatsApp sender. Selecting a different Meta Business Portfolio or WABA will result in an error.
  • You can't use multiple WABAs in one Twilio account.

The following troubleshooting steps can help you resolve common issues when you register a WhatsApp sender.

I want to check if a phone number is registered with WhatsApp

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To check if a phone number is registered with WhatsApp, use one of the following methods:

  • Send a test message: Open https://wa.me/<PHONE_NUMBER>?text=hi in a browser (include the country code without +, for example, 15551234). If the number is registered, you'll receive "hi" in WhatsApp.
  • Search contacts: In WhatsApp, tap New Chat > New Contact and enter the phone number. If the number is registered, you'll see "This phone number is on WhatsApp".
  • Check error logs: Open the Error Logs page in the Twilio Console(link takes you to an external page). If the number is registered, you'll see Error 63110.

I want to use an already registered phone number

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To use a phone number that's already registered with WhatsApp:

Learn more about migrating phone numbers and WhatsApp senders. If you need further assistance, contact Twilio Support(link takes you to an external page).