Attaching your WhatsApp number to WABA — detailed guide

In this guide we will describe how to connect your number to WhatsApp Business API (hereinafter WABA).

Here’s what you need:

Your personal Facebook page on whose behalf you will create Meta Business and WhatsApp Business accounts.
Your Meta Business account. You can create it on Facebook Business page or use your existing one.
The phone number which you want to attach to WABA. See note below:

Note, if you used number at WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business client apps, you have to delete the account first. After that you won’t be able to use this number as a normal WhatsApp number — but only via WABA. If you wish to use your number with a mobile messenger, we have the Android application and iOS app in development.

Here’s briefly what you’ll have to do:

Sign up to 1msg.io and set up a subscription.
Sign up to 360 Dialog, our partner provider, via embedded page.
Authorize 360 Dialog with your Facebook account.
Create or select your Meta Business and WhatsApp Business accounts.
Authorize 1msg at 360 Dialog.
Verify your phone number.

At this stage you do not need to verify your business with Meta—you can do it later in order to extend the options of working with your number.

Step 1. Starting with 1msg.io

Go to your account and select the project. You can create a new one if you want.

Next click “Add channel” and type the channel’s name and your phone number which has to be registered to WABA.

Next, you need to subscribe. Annual payment gives you additional 2+ months:

Once your subscription is set up, click the “Connect WhatsApp” button to go through 360 Dialog’s embedded onboarding process.

At this step you’ll see the popup page where you have to login to your Meta Business Manager or create one. First, register at 360 Dialog. You can sign up with your Facebook account, but we will use the signup form for clarity. Fill out your email, name, and choose a password. After clicking "Sign up" check your inbox for verification code:

Click “Submit”. On the next page you can check if you are ready to go on.

Step 3. Authorize 360 Dialog with your Facebook account

Mark the checkboxes. At the moment, we assume that your business is not yet verified by Meta Business, so you can skip the optional checkbox.

Click “Continue with Facebook” and confirm to login with your Facebook page:

Step 4. Meta Business and WhatsApp Business accounts

Now you’re ready to choose or create Meta Business and WhatsApp Business accounts. Click “Get started” and allow 360 Dialog to manage your WhatsApp Business account:

Choose your Meta Business account which you’ve created before, and enter the desired WhatsApp Business name:

We hope all gone ok, and you see the following message. Click "Continue to Step 2":

Now let's create WhatsApp Business profile. Choose the name and the category in next two pages:

It's time to verify your number. You can get a code by SMS or incoming international call. Choose what works for you, click "Send code" and type it.

After the verification, you'll see the message that confirms your number is ready:

Step 5. Authorize 1msg at 360 Dialog

At the next page you'll be asked to authorize 1msg to manage your number. Confirm the access to selected number or—if you have several—select them at the dropdown list. Click 'Save selection':

After a successful authorization you'll be redirected and your 1msg.io account. Open you project, then your new channel's page and you'll see your API URL and API key:

You can close this window and get back to the main 1msg.io page — the information above is now accessible at your account page:

Step 6. Verify your phone number

Now you're ready to go. You can send and get messages and check your number with:

Conclusion

Let's see what we have:

API URL and API key, which you can use with your application;
WABA account status. The result of your business verification to comply WhatsApp policies. This might not cause you any obstacles if your business is not about something illegal or suspicious (alcohol or tobacco selling, cryptocurrencies, drugs);
Message of behalf — your consent to 360 Dialog to work with your business account. You can check it at Facebook Business, following Business Settings → WhatsApp Accounts → Partners tab:

FB business verification. Not mandatory for the initial onboarding stage;
Phone number. Here's your phone number which you've linked with the channel;
External WABA channel. When your company's account has been submitted to Meta, the External WhatsApp Business Account (WABA Account) status will change from DRAFT (grey) to DONE (green);
Display name verification. It means that your business name is accepted by WhatsApp and your customers will see it even it's not in their contact list, like below (One Message is a business name in this case):