Complete Meta Developer Setup Guide

Step-by-step instructions to obtain your permanent token, IDs, and configure your webhook.

Step 1 Create or Access Your Meta App

  1. Go to the Meta for Developers Dashboard and log in with your Facebook account.
  2. Click on My Apps and select your existing WhatsApp app (or click Create App, choose Business, and link your Meta Business Portfolio).
  3. On your app dashboard, click Add Products to Your App, find WhatsApp, and click Set Up.

Step 2 Get Phone Number ID & Business Account ID

  1. On the left sidebar of your Meta App dashboard, expand WhatsApp and click API Setup.
  2. Look for Step 1: Send and receive messages to copy your IDs:
    • Phone Number ID: Copy the long sequence of numbers next to your phone number.
    • Business Account ID (WABA ID): Located near the top of the page or under setup details.

Step 3 Generate a Permanent System User Token

⚠️ Note: Do not use the Temporary Access Token from the quickstart page because it expires after 24 hours.

  1. Go to your Meta Business Settings.
  2. On the left sidebar menu, scroll down to Users and click System Users.
  3. If you don't have one, click Add, enter a name (e.g., Wachat Integration), set the role to Admin, and click Create System User.
  4. Click on your new system user, then click Assign Assets:
    • Select your App.
    • Turn on Full Control (ensure permissions whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management are checked).
    • Click Save Changes.
  5. Click Generate New Token and select your Meta App.
  6. Set the token expiration to Never.
  7. Verify required permissions are checked, then click Generate Token.
  8. Copy your permanent token immediately and save it securely.

Step 4 Configure the Webhook in Meta

  1. Return to the Meta Developer Dashboard, open your app, and navigate to WhatsApp > Configuration.
  2. Find the Webhook section and click Edit.
  3. Fill in the fields using your application details:
    Callback URL:
    https://api.wachat.net/webhook/meta
    Verify Token:
    FjzTXWsXtFq1p1BhCaK1AdbjnpR0soKq5D9WtpV
  4. Click Verify and Save.

Step 5 Subscribe to Webhook Fields

  1. Still inside the Webhook section, look for the list of webhook fields.
  2. Click Manage (or subscribe) next to the event list.
  3. Find messages and enable/subscribe to it so incoming messages and status updates sync properly.