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How the WhatsApp Business Platform works: Meta accounts, WABAs, phone numbers, access tokens, pricing, messaging limits, opt-in rules and policy enforcement.

19 pages

  1. What Is Meta? Why WhatsApp Needs a Facebook AccountWhy WhatsApp Business API setup starts with a personal Facebook login — Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp behind one shared login system.
  2. Meta Business Portfolio (formerly Business Manager)What a Meta Business Portfolio is, why it holds the WABA and everything business-related, and why some screens and older docs still call it 'Business Manager'.
  3. What Is a Meta Developer Account — and What Is an 'App'?The difference between a Meta developer account, a Meta 'App' (the credentials container for one integration), and a WABA — and how the three fit together.
  4. What Is a WABA (WhatsApp Business Account)?Definitions of the key WhatsApp Business API terms — WABA, Phone Number ID, WABA ID, and BSP.
  5. What Is the WhatsApp Cloud API?What the WhatsApp Cloud API is and how it differs from the On-Premise API.
  6. Business Verification, Display Name & Green TickBusiness Verification, Display Name, and the Green Tick (Official Business Account, shown as a blue checkmark) explained — what each one confirms, how to request OBA status and who is eligible, and what to do when a submission gets rejected.
  7. Business Phone Numbers: Eligibility, Registration & Two-Step PINWhich phone numbers can be used with the WhatsApp Cloud API, how many a business portfolio can register (2, raised to 20 after business verification or a 2,000 messaging limit), the three steps to get a number live (add, verify by SMS or voice code, register with a 6-digit PIN), and how to change, reset or turn off the two-step verification PIN.
  8. Coexistence: WhatsApp Business App and API on the Same NumberCoexistence (Meta calls it onboarding WhatsApp Business app users) lets one number run on the WhatsApp Business app and the Cloud API at the same time: what you need (Business app version 2.24.17 or higher, onboarding through a WhatsApp provider's Embedded Signup), what syncs (WhatsApp contacts, up to 180 days / 6 months of 1:1 chat history if you agree to share it, media only from the last 14 days, no group chats), which app features switch off (broadcast lists, disappearing, view-once and live location messages), the fixed 20 messages-per-second throughput, how billing works (app messages stay free, API messages are charged at Cloud API rates), linked devices, and how to disconnect.
  9. Move Your Existing WhatsApp Number to the APIHow to keep your current phone number when moving from the WhatsApp Messenger app or the WhatsApp Business app to the WhatsApp Cloud API: Messenger numbers must delete their WhatsApp account first; Business app numbers can either delete the account (chat history is lost, so back it up, and the app can't be used again unless the number is deregistered from the API) or connect through Coexistence to keep the app and the history. Covers the delete steps (Settings > Account > Delete my account, up to 3 minutes before the number is free, messages queued meanwhile), banned numbers, going back to the app, and switching providers under Meta's new account model (numbers are shared with the new provider, not migrated).
  10. Message Categories & PricingHow WhatsApp Business Platform billing works today — Meta charges per delivered message (not per 24-hour conversation, since July 1, 2025) by category and recipient country; since October 1, 2026 service replies and utility templates inside the customer service window are charged too, after 1,000 free service messages per number per month.
  11. Messaging Limits & Quality RatingHow WhatsApp Business Platform messaging limits work — the cap on unique users a business portfolio can message outside the customer service window per 24 hours (250, then 2,000, 10,000, 100,000, unlimited), shared by all numbers in the portfolio since October 7, 2025; the three ways to reach 2,000; automatic scaling; and what the green/yellow/red quality rating does.
  12. Opt-In Rules: Permission Before You MessageWhatsApp's opt-in rule for businesses: you may only message someone who gave you their mobile number (or username) AND gave you permission to receive messages or calls from your business. What a valid opt-in must say (that they are opting in, and your business name), accepted ways to collect it (website, SMS, phone/IVR, in person or on paper), best practices (opt-in per message category, separate opt-in for calls, clear opt-out), honouring opt-out and block requests on or off WhatsApp, the Offers and announcements stop setting (error 131050), and what happens if you message without opt-in (blocks, reports, rate limits, policy enforcement).
  13. Why WhatsApp Blocks or Restricts a NumberHow WhatsApp enforces its Business Messaging Policy, Commerce Policy and Business Terms on the WhatsApp Business Platform: a warning first, then escalating blocks (1 or 3 days on template messages, then 5, 7 or 30 days on all messages, both also stopping new phone numbers), an indefinite account lock removed only by appeal, and finally a permanent disable; instant offboarding for severe harm such as scams or child exploitation. Lists the violation codes (ADULT, ALCOHOL, GAMBLING, SCAM, TOBACCO, WEAPONS and more), where to see them (Business Support Home, WhatsApp Manager banner, admin email, account_update webhook) and how to appeal (Request Review, usually 24 to 48 hours).
  14. Access Tokens (Temporary vs Permanent)The difference between a temporary access token and a permanent system-user token in the WhatsApp Cloud API, and how to generate each.
  15. Meta Developer Account SetupHow to create a Meta developer account, create a WhatsApp app with its business portfolio, and get a test phone number with a Phone Number ID.
  16. Request Anatomy & API VersioningThe four parts of every WhatsApp Cloud API HTTP request — endpoint, headers, body, and response — and how Meta's API versioning (v21.0, v24.0, etc.) works.
  17. Media by URL vs Media IDThe two ways to attach a file to a WhatsApp Cloud API message — a public URL or uploading it to Meta first to get a media ID — and when to use each method.
  18. WhatsApp Flows (Awareness)Overview of WhatsApp Flows, Meta's feature for building structured, form-like interactions in WhatsApp — collecting inputs, showing options, and processing responses.
  19. How to Read the Meta DocsHow to navigate the Meta developer documentation — Guide vs Reference pages, how to read a parameters table, and where to find the API changelog.