Connect a WhatsApp number

Connect the exact WhatsApp number your workspace should use. Waaru opens the matching Meta setup and asks you to confirm the account and number instead of choosing a number for you.

Understand the Meta account names

A Meta Business Portfolio holds your business accounts and access settings. A WhatsApp Business Account, sometimes called a WABA, contains your business WhatsApp numbers and message templates. Choose the account that owns the number your customers will use.

Before you start

• Use a Meta login that can access the correct Business Portfolio and WhatsApp Business Account.
• Know where the number is connected today.
• Keep the WhatsApp Business app open if you are connecting an app number and want Meta to sync available contacts or message history.
• Ask an Admin or Manager to connect the number. A Developer can manage permitted existing number settings but does not receive number-connection permission from that role alone.

Connect the number

1. Open Numbers and select Connect number.
2. Under Where do you use this number today?, choose the matching option:
   • I already use the WhatsApp API for an existing Meta Cloud API account. Select Choose an API number.
   • Keep using the WhatsApp Business app to connect the same number while retaining the app. Select Connect the Business app.
   • Set up a number for Waaru to add or verify a live business number in Meta. Select Set up a business number.
3. Complete the matching Meta authorization or setup. Keep the Waaru dialog open.
4. When Waaru asks, choose the correct business account and phone number. For an existing API account, select Connect selected number.
5. If registration is requested, enter or create the six-digit two-step verification PIN and select Register number. This is separate from an SMS or voice verification code.

Expected result

The number appears under WhatsApp numbers with its connection state. The card can also show its business profile, quality, messaging tier, throughput, verification time, and assigned flow when Meta has supplied that data. Areas such as Inbox, Templates, Broadcasts, and Logic flows become available when the workspace has an eligible connection.

If the account or number is missing

Go back and confirm that you selected the correct setup. Reconnect with a Meta login that has access to the required WhatsApp Business Account.

For an existing Cloud API account created through a developer app, choose I already use the WhatsApp API.

If another provider currently manages the number, use I already use the WhatsApp API only when Meta lets you authorize the existing Cloud API account and select that number. If the account or number is unavailable, preserve the current connection and ask Meta or the current provider for the supported next step. Waaru does not present a separate provider-migration option.

Reconnect or disconnect a number

Open the actions menu on the number card to Reconnect or Disconnect. Disconnecting removes Waaru's access to that number, but it does not erase the workspace's historical contacts, conversations, or broadcasts. If other applications are subscribed to the same WhatsApp Business Account, Waaru lists them during confirmation and does not detach them.

Recover an already connected number

If the add-number flow reports that the number is already connected, choose Choose an existing number. Return to its Numbers card and use Reconnect. Confirm the same WhatsApp Business Account and phone number rather than adding another copy.

Use the Verify connection icon action to check current connection state. Refresh quota is available from the number menu. Review the refreshed card before retrying a blocked operation. For an unresolved provider step, use Waaru Care.

Next: Test your first conversation. If your server will handle inbound messages, continue with Developer API setup.