How to Add a Phone Number to use in your WhatsApp Business Account
Integrating WhatsApp into applications like WhatsApp AI Chatbots, typically involves adding a phone number to your WhatsApp Business Account and verifying it there before assigning it in an integration set up process. For example, integrating WhatsApp into the Social Intents chatbot experience allows your business to engage customers where they already communicate, right inside WhatsApp. But before you can enable the integration, you’ll need to add and configure a phone number through your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).
This article walks you through everything you need to:
- Register and verify a phone number using Meta’s tools
- Assign the number to your WABA
- Use it with the Social Intents WhatsApp integration
Prerequisites
To get started, ensure you meet these requirements:
- A Facebook Business Manager account
- A verified business (required by Meta to use the WhatsApp Business Platform)
- Access to Meta Business Suite, Meta for Developers, or WhatsApp Manager
- A phone number that is not currently in use with the WhatsApp mobile or Business app
If the number is currently in use with WhatsApp, you’ll need to delete the account via
Settings > Account > Delete My Accountbefore proceeding.
How to Add a Phone Number to Your WhatsApp Business Account
To add a phone number to your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA), you'll typically use Meta Business Suite, WhatsApp Manager, or the Meta for Developers portal. Below is a detailed walkthrough:
1. Accessing Your WhatsApp Business Account
Choose the platform that best matches your use case:
- Meta Business Suite:
- Navigate to Inbox → Select the WhatsApp tab
- Go to Settings → WhatsApp Manager
- Meta for Developers Portal:
- Visit your app settings
- Navigate to WhatsApp > API Setup
- WhatsApp Manager via Business Manager:
- Open business.facebook.com
- Go to Business Settings > WhatsApp Accounts > WhatsApp Manager
2. Adding and Verifying the Phone Number
Inside the WhatsApp Manager or API setup:
- Click “Add Phone Number”
- Enter:
- Country code and phone number
- Business display name (must match your brand/domain)
- Category and business description
- Choose your preferred verification method: SMS or voice call
- Enter the 6-digit code sent to your phone
Tip: Use a business number that can receive calls or SMS. Avoid numbers with extensions or VoIP lines that don’t support inbound messages.
You can typically add up to 2 numbers on your WhatsApp Business Account. Make sure to verify the SMS sent to this number to complete your initial set up.
3. Connecting the Number to Your WABA
Once verified:
- The number becomes linked to your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)
- You’ll gain access to key API credentials:
- Phone Number ID
- WhatsApp Business Account ID
- Access Token (used to authorize API calls)
Now, you can now use this number to send and receive messages using the WhatsApp Cloud API or the on-premises API.
Important Considerations
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phone number reuse | If the number is already linked to a personal WhatsApp or Business app account, it must be deleted before reuse. |
| Display name rules | Your business display name must reflect your public business presence and domain. Meta may reject mismatches. |
| Permanent tokens | Initial tokens expire quickly. For production use, set up a System User and generate a permanent access token. |
| Landline support | According to WhatsApp Help Center, only landlines without extensions can be used with the API. |
Connecting WhatsApp to Social Intents
Once your phone number is verified and your credentials are ready:
- Log in to your Social Intents dashboard
- Go to Integrations > WhatsApp
Click Connect under the WhatsApp icon, then login to your Facebook account and select Get started.
Next, create or select the Business portfolio to use for your WhatsApp number:
Select your Business Account and Profile you'd like to use. This will include assigning your new WhatsApp number to your WhatsApp business account.
Click Finish to complete the integration.
Once the connection is done, you'll see your phone number that you registered with WhatsApp listed in your configuration.
Your WhatsApp number is now active and integrated with Social Intents! You can send automated messages, escalate chats to human agents, and manage conversations directly from our live chat platform.
Troubleshooting Tips
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Code not received | Ensure the number accepts SMS or calls. Retry with the alternate method. |
| Token expired | Use the Meta Developer portal to generate a permanent token under System Users. |
| Display name not approved | Review Meta's Display Name Guidelines and try again. |
Managing Multiple Numbers
You can add and manage multiple phone numbers under your WhatsApp Business Account. In Social Intents, each number can be:
- Linked to a separate department or team
- Associated with different templates and auto-responses
- Configured for multi-language or region-specific support
Ready to Get Started by building an AI Powered Chatbot for WhatsApp?