WhatsApp Channel¶
NotifyBulk connects to WhatsApp via the Meta Cloud API (WhatsApp Business Platform). No third-party BSP required — your messages go directly through Meta.
Requirements¶
- A Meta Business Account (business.facebook.com)
- A WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) within that Meta Business
- At least one phone number registered in your WABA
- The Meta App must be configured in the Admin Panel (ask your Super Admin)
How it works¶
Outbound: NotifyBulk → Meta Graph API → WhatsApp → Recipient
Inbound: Recipient → WhatsApp → Meta Webhook → NotifyBulk Inbox
Connecting WhatsApp¶
- Go to Inbox → Channels
- Click Connect on the WhatsApp card
- Click Connect with Facebook — a Meta login popup will appear
- Log in with the Facebook account that has access to your Meta Business
- Grant the requested permissions
- Select the phone number you want to connect
- Click Save
Embedded Signup
The connection uses Meta's Embedded Signup flow. This exchanges a short-lived code for a long-lived access token (valid 60 days) automatically.
Configuration fields¶
Once connected, the following data is stored for your store:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Phone Number ID | The unique ID of your WhatsApp Business phone number |
| WABA ID | Your WhatsApp Business Account ID |
| Access Token | Long-lived token for the Meta Graph API |
| Phone Number | The display number (e.g. +1 415 555 0100) |
| Verified Name | The business name shown to recipients |
Sending messages¶
From Inbox¶
Go to Inbox → New Conversation, select WhatsApp, enter the recipient's phone number, and type your message.
24-hour messaging window
WhatsApp only allows free-form messages within 24 hours of the last customer message. After that window, you must use a pre-approved Message Template. Attempting to send outside the window will return an error.
Message Templates¶
Meta requires pre-approved templates for outbound messages outside the 24h window. Templates are managed directly in your Meta Business Suite.
Inbound messages¶
Customers can message your WhatsApp Business number directly. All messages arrive in Inbox in real time.
Token expiry¶
The Meta access token is valid for approximately 60 days. When it expires:
- Go to Inbox → Channels
- Click Reconnect on the WhatsApp card
- Complete the Embedded Signup flow again
Troubleshooting¶
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Meta App not configured" error | Ask your Super Admin to set up the Meta App in Admin Panel → Platform Settings |
| Popup doesn't open | Disable pop-up blockers for this domain |
| "No phone numbers found" | Make sure your Meta Business has a WABA with at least one registered number |
| Messages not delivering | Token may be expired — reconnect the channel |
| Inbound messages not arriving | The webhook subscription is set automatically on connect. If missing, reconnect |