Create your WABA and add a phone number
Create the WhatsApp Business Account, check your number is eligible, and verify it — including migrating a number already on WhatsApp.
This is where your actual WhatsApp number comes into existence on the Cloud API.
Check your number is eligible first
Save yourself an hour by checking these before you start:
- It is not currently registered to WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business. If it is, see migrating a number below.
- It can receive an SMS or a voice call right now, at least once.
- It is a real number you control — not a shared office line someone else answers, and not a number you might lose.
- It has not been banned by WhatsApp previously.
This number leaves the WhatsApp app
Once registered on the Cloud API, the number can no longer be used in the normal WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business phone apps. All messaging happens through this platform. Do not use your personal number.
Create the app and the WABA
Go to developers.facebook.com and create an app
Choose Business as the app type and link it to the Business Manager you created earlier.
Add the WhatsApp product
On the app dashboard, find WhatsApp and click Set up.
Create or select a WhatsApp Business Account
Meta offers to create one for you. Give it your business name. This is your WABA — it owns your numbers, your templates and your quality rating.
Note your WABA ID
You will need it later. It is shown on the API Setup page and under Business Settings → Accounts → WhatsApp accounts.
Add and verify your phone number
On the API Setup page, click Add phone number
You will be asked for a display name and business details at the same time — see Display name approval, because the name you choose here goes to review.
Enter the number and choose SMS or voice call
Some countries and virtual numbers do not reliably receive Meta's SMS. If the code does not arrive within a couple of minutes, try the voice call option.
Enter the six-digit code
The number is now registered to your WABA.
Copy the Phone Number ID
On API Setup, under "Send and receive messages", copy the Phone number ID — the long numeric value, not the number itself.
Migrating a number already on WhatsApp
If the number is currently on WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business, you must remove it from there before Meta will register it on the Cloud API.
Back up anything you need
Chat history does not come with you. Export any conversations you must keep.
Delete the account in the WhatsApp app
In the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app: Settings → Account → Delete my account. This releases the number.
Wait a few minutes, then register it in Meta
Add the number on the API Setup page as above. Meta sends a fresh six-digit code.
Two-step verification PIN
If the number had WhatsApp two-step verification enabled, you will be asked for that PIN, or you will have to wait out a cooldown of up to seven days. Disable two-step verification in the WhatsApp app before deleting the account.
Set your profile
While you are here, fill in WhatsApp Manager → Phone numbers → Profile: a profile photo, business description, address, email and website. Customers see this when they tap your business name, and a complete profile helps display-name review.