> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.contactship.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect WhatsApp Business

> Connect a Meta business account, select a number, and verify message reception.

export const Availability = ({lang = 'es', plan, addon, permission, route, status}) => {
  const L = lang === 'en' ? {
    plan: 'Plan',
    addon: 'Add-on',
    permission: 'Permission',
    route: 'Where',
    status: 'Status',
    addonNote: 'enabled on request',
    allPlans: 'All plans',
    beta: 'Beta',
    nuevo: 'New',
    soon: 'Coming soon'
  } : {
    plan: 'Plan',
    addon: 'Add-on',
    permission: 'Permiso',
    route: 'Dónde',
    status: 'Estado',
    addonNote: 'se activa a pedido',
    allPlans: 'Todos los planes',
    beta: 'Beta',
    nuevo: 'Nuevo',
    soon: 'Próximamente'
  };
  const items = [];
  if (plan) items.push([L.plan, plan]);
  if (addon) items.push([L.addon, `${addon} · ${L.addonNote}`]);
  if (permission) items.push([L.permission, permission]);
  if (route) items.push([L.route, route]);
  if (status) items.push([L.status, L[status] || status]);
  return <div style={{
    display: 'flex',
    flexWrap: 'wrap',
    gap: '6px 22px',
    padding: '12px 16px',
    margin: '4px 0 24px',
    border: '1px solid rgba(2, 82, 255, 0.28)',
    borderLeft: '3px solid #0252ff',
    borderRadius: '8px',
    background: 'rgba(2, 82, 255, 0.05)',
    fontSize: '13.5px',
    lineHeight: '1.5'
  }}>
      {items.map(([k, v]) => <div key={k} style={{
    display: 'flex',
    gap: '6px',
    alignItems: 'baseline'
  }}>
          <span style={{
    fontSize: '10.5px',
    fontWeight: 600,
    letterSpacing: '0.07em',
    textTransform: 'uppercase',
    opacity: 0.65
  }}>{k}</span>
          <span style={{
    fontWeight: 500
  }}>{v}</span>
        </div>)}
    </div>;
};

<Availability lang="en" route="Settings → Inbox → Channels" permission="channels.read / channels.create" />

You need channel permissions and a Facebook account with appropriate access to the Meta business portfolio. Allow pop-ups so embedded signup can open. If the number is already used in a mobile WhatsApp app, review the eligibility and migration options presented by Meta before changing that account; do not delete it as a troubleshooting step without confirming the supported flow.

## Connect a number

1. Open **Settings → Inbox → Channels → New Channel**, or use the connect action in an empty inbox.
2. Choose **WhatsApp Business**. Instagram and Messenger are disabled as coming soon.
3. If the organization already has a connected business account, choose **Use this account**. Otherwise select **Connect with Facebook → Start**.
4. Complete Facebook’s embedded signup, choose the business account and eligible number, and return to ContactShip.
5. Select the number and finish connecting. A number labeled already connected should be handled through its existing channel.
6. Open channel settings to review assignment and reply behavior.

Manual setup displays credential fields but currently returns a coming-soon message instead of creating a channel. Use the supported account connection flow.

## Verify the channel

The channel list shows name, type, response method, active/inactive status, and creation date. **Channel settings** requires `channels.update`; deleting requires `channels.delete`. The Manual/Automatic response-method label is informational here.

Use the channel test QR or link to open a conversation from a phone, then send a test message yourself. Confirm it appears in the inbox and that the expected person or AI receives it. The QR starts a message to the connected channel; it is not a WhatsApp Web pairing QR.

**Connect Meta Ads** associates advertising context so Click-to-WhatsApp conversations can display their originating campaign and ad. It is separate from basic messaging connection.

## Troubleshoot

If the Facebook SDK is not ready, allow its scripts and pop-ups and reload. If no numbers are available, check the selected account, eligible numbers, and existing connections. A plan-limit error requires reviewing channel capacity. Inactive channels are disabled in the inbox selector and may require support to reactivate.

Deleting a channel is permanent and confirmed by a dialog. There is no separate disconnect-without-deleting action in this screen.

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I reuse a connected business account?">
    Yes. Select Use this account when it appears, then choose an eligible number.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the test QR a login QR?">
    No. It opens a conversation with the channel for sending a test message.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why is a number already connected?">
    It already belongs to a channel. Use that channel rather than creating a duplicate.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where can I inspect Meta quality details?">
    Those details are not shown in this channel screen; inspect the number in Meta Business.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## See also

* [Channel settings](/en/messages/channel-settings)
* [Inbox](/en/messages/inbox)
* [Templates](/en/messages/templates)