🛠️ How-to tutorials

How to connect the WhatsApp Business API with embedded signup in 10 minutes

Updated 2026-10-22 · 5 min read · By the Convo360 team

In short

Connecting the WhatsApp Business API takes about 10 minutes: create or confirm your Meta Business Manager account, have your business phone number ready (not already active on the WhatsApp Business app), then use embedded signup inside Convo360 to link the number, verify it by OTP, and send a test template message. The most common snag is a forgotten two-step verification PIN on the number.

Key takeaways

You need a Meta Business Manager account and a phone number that isn't currently active on the WhatsApp Business consumer app.
Embedded signup inside Convo360 handles Meta's setup flow without you touching Meta's developer console directly.
Your number needs to receive an OTP by SMS or voice call during verification — make sure it can receive that call.
The most common failure is a forgotten WhatsApp two-step verification PIN on the number — you'll need to reset it in Meta's flow.
After connecting, submit at least one template so you can message customers outside the 24-hour service window.

Before you start: three prerequisites

A Meta Business Manager account. If you don't have one, create it free at business.facebook.com before starting. This is Meta's account for managing business assets, separate from a personal Facebook login. If your business already runs Facebook or Instagram ads, you likely already have one; check under the same login before creating a duplicate.
A phone number not currently active on the WhatsApp Business app. The number you connect to the API cannot simultaneously run the regular WhatsApp Business phone app, unless you specifically set up Coexistence afterwards. Decide upfront which number you're dedicating to the API. Many businesses buy or repurpose a fresh number rather than migrate an existing customer-facing one, to avoid any disruption during the switch.
Access to receive an OTP on that number, by SMS or an automated voice call, during verification. If it's a virtual or VoIP number, confirm in advance that it can receive external SMS and calls, since some virtual number providers block this by default.

In Convo360, go to Channels → WhatsApp and click Connect WhatsApp.
Log in with your Facebook/Meta account when prompted. This opens Meta's embedded signup window inside Convo360, so you never leave the app you're setting up.
Select or create your Meta Business Manager and WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).
Enter your business phone number and choose to verify by SMS or voice call.
Enter the OTP you receive.
If prompted, set a two-step verification PIN for the number. Write this down somewhere safe, you'll need it again if you ever migrate or reconnect this number to a different platform.
Confirm and return to Convo360. Your number now shows as Connected under Channels, and the webhook that delivers incoming messages is wired automatically.

Sending your first template message

Before you can message a customer outside the 24-hour service window, you need at least one approved template. Go to WhatsApp Studio → Templates → Create, choose the Utility category for a simple transactional message (for example, an order confirmation), fill in sample content and any variables, and submit for Meta's review. Approval usually comes back within a few hours to a day. Once approved, send a test message from a flow using the Send Template block to confirm delivery end-to-end, ideally to your own phone first so you can see exactly what the customer will receive.

A worked example: connecting a bakery's number

Picture a home bakery in Pune switching from manual WhatsApp order-taking to the API. The owner already has a personal Facebook account used for the bakery's page, so Meta Business Manager creation takes two minutes. They dedicate a new SIM specifically for the API, since their existing number is still on the WhatsApp Business consumer app and they don't want to risk losing chat history mid-season. Embedded signup takes about eight minutes end to end, including the OTP step. Their first template, an order-confirmation Utility message with variables for item, quantity and pickup time, gets approved within three hours, and by the same evening their Flow Builder greeting flow is live and taking orders automatically.

Common errors and fixes

Error	What it means / fix
Two-step verification PIN required	Your number already has a WhatsApp 2FA PIN set from a previous connection. Use Meta's 'forgot PIN' flow to reset it before continuing.
Number already registered elsewhere	The number is active on the WhatsApp Business consumer app or another BSP. Deregister it there first, or choose a different number.
OTP not received	Retry with the voice-call option instead of SMS, or confirm the number can receive external calls/SMS (some virtual numbers block these).
Template rejected	See our template approval guide for common rejection reasons and fixes.
Connected, but messages aren't arriving	Check that the number shows 'Connected' (not 'Pending') under Channels, and send a fresh test message rather than checking an old conversation thread.

What to test before you rely on it

Send a test message to the connected number from a personal phone and confirm it appears in Convo360's inbox within seconds.
Trigger your welcome flow by messaging 'hi' and confirm the correct greeting fires.
Send your approved template via the Send Template block and check the variables render correctly with real values, not placeholder text.
Confirm your business profile (name, logo, category, description) displays correctly on the recipient's end.
If you plan to use Coexistence, reply manually from the phone app once and confirm the bot pauses automatically rather than sending a duplicate response.
Test from more than one phone and network, since a colleague's phone on a different carrier catches issues a single test device might miss.

What to do right after connecting

Once connected, set your business profile (name, logo, description) in WhatsApp Studio, submit two or three core templates you'll actually use (order confirmation, appointment reminder, support reply), and build a simple welcome flow in the Flow Builder so incoming messages get an instant response even before you've built out your full automation.

It's also worth deciding early whether you want Coexistence, keeping the regular WhatsApp Business phone app running on the same number alongside the AI, with the bot pausing automatically whenever your team replies manually, or a fully dedicated API-only number with no phone app involved at all. Most single-location businesses that already have staff replying from the phone app prefer Coexistence, so nothing about their existing workflow has to change on day one, while businesses building a fully automated support desk usually prefer a dedicated number from the start.

Step by step

Set up Meta Business ManagerCreate a free Meta Business Manager account at business.facebook.com if you don't already have one.
Choose your dedicated numberPick a phone number that isn't active on the WhatsApp Business consumer app, and confirm it can receive an OTP by SMS or voice call.
Start embedded signupIn Convo360, go to Channels → WhatsApp → Connect WhatsApp and log in with your Meta account.
Create your WABASelect or create your WhatsApp Business Account inside the embedded signup window.
Verify the numberEnter your business number, choose SMS or voice OTP, and enter the code you receive.
Set the 2FA PINSet and record a two-step verification PIN for the number if prompted.
Confirm connectionReturn to Convo360 and confirm the number shows as Connected under Channels.
Submit your first templateCreate and submit a Utility template in WhatsApp Studio, then test it with the Send Template block.

Example conversation

I tried connecting but it says my number already has a 2FA PIN — I don't remember setting one.

That happens if the number was ever connected to WhatsApp before. Use Meta's 'forgot PIN' option inside the embedded signup flow to reset it by OTP, then continue the connection — you won't lose any progress.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does connecting the WhatsApp Business API take?

Typically about 10 minutes if you already have a Meta Business Manager account and a number ready to verify. First-time Meta Business Manager setup can add another 10–15 minutes.

Can I use my personal WhatsApp number for the Business API?

You can, but the number can no longer run the regular WhatsApp Business consumer app at the same time unless you set up Coexistence. Most businesses dedicate a separate number to the API.

Why does WhatsApp ask for a two-step verification PIN?

It's a security PIN tied to the number within WhatsApp's system, separate from your Meta login. If you don't remember setting one, use the 'forgot PIN' reset option during signup.

Do I need a developer to complete embedded signup?

No. Embedded signup is designed to be completed by a business owner directly inside Convo360, with no coding or Meta developer console access required. You'll need a Meta Business Manager login, your business phone number, and a way to receive an OTP; the rest is guided click-by-click.

Can I message customers immediately after connecting?

You can reply within 24 hours of a customer's message as soon as you're connected. Meta charges these service messages per message from 1 October 2026 after a free tier of 1,000 per number per month. To message outside that window or run marketing campaigns, you need at least one approved template first.

What if my number was previously used with a different WhatsApp API provider?

You can migrate it — during embedded signup, Meta detects the existing registration and guides you through moving the number over, which usually just needs the same OTP verification step.