Prepare WhatsApp in your Meta app

Use Meta's WhatsApp setup to prepare a test number, confirm a permitted recipient and collect the identifiers REDA Connect needs. Complete app creation first. The current navigation was checked on 10 October 2026.

1. Open the WhatsApp use case

In Meta for Developers, open the intended app.
Open Use cases and customize Connect with customers through WhatsApp.
In the use-case navigation, select Connect on WhatsApp → Basic setup → Step 1. Try it out.

The current page groups the first test into Claim a WhatsApp test number, Send a message from your test number, and Check test webhooks. Older dashboards may show an API setup/getting-started screen with the same number and account values.

WhatsApp Try it out screen showing the test number and identifier fields with private values redacted

The test-number card distinguishes the visible number from the Phone Number ID and business messaging account ID.

2. Inspect the test number and obtain the test token

Expand Claim a WhatsApp test number and follow the claim/setup prompt if it is not already complete. Confirm that a test number and its IDs are shown. The token input initially reads Not generated yet; use Generate token and complete the authorization presented by Meta.

Generate the temporary token from the test-number section. Do not confuse this short-term test credential with the operational System User token.

Keep the token private. For the continuing Salesforce integration, follow the System User token guide.

3. Add an agreed test recipient

In Send a message from your test number, confirm From is the Meta test number.
Open To and choose the option to manage/add a recipient when your test phone is not listed.
Enter the agreed participant's number and complete the verification Meta requests. The recipient must be able to receive that verification.
Select the verified recipient in To.

Meta dialog for adding and verifying a WhatsApp test recipient

Use an agreed test phone and complete Meta's recipient verification. The test-number flow only sends to its permitted recipients.

4. Send the dashboard's sample message

Choose the sample message available in the test screen and click Send message. Confirm it arrives in WhatsApp on the selected phone. This establishes the Meta-side test send; it does not yet establish Salesforce receipt processing or record matching.

If the send control is disabled, check that a token and permitted recipient have been selected. If Meta returns an error, read it before continuing to Salesforce. Do not repeatedly regenerate credentials when the error concerns the recipient.

5. Collect each identifier separately

On Meta's screen	Meaning	Salesforce field
Test number / production number	The telephone number customers contact	WhatsApp Number, digits only with country code
Phone Number ID	Identifier for that specific number	WhatsApp Number Id
Messaging account ID / WhatsApp Business Account ID	The WABA containing the number	WhatsApp Account Id
App settings → Basic → App ID	The integration app	Meta App Id

Close-up of WhatsApp number and account identifier labels with values redacted

Copy IDs from their labelled fields. The phone number, Phone Number ID and account ID are three different values.

6. Prepare your own number when ready

Continue to Step 2. Production setup to register the intended business number and review payment requirements, then Step 3. Business verification as applicable. Follow the production guide for an existing number or migration. Do not overwrite the test account's identifiers with a mixture of test and production values.

Next: credentials and Salesforce

Create the ongoing access token, then the Connect Account. The Salesforce setup action handles token storage and webhook connection. Complete a separate end-to-end test after the relevant publication requirements are met.