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Sending Your First Message

How to send the first test message using the pre-approved hello_world template on the WhatsApp Cloud API.

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The hello_world template is a pre-approved message template Meta provides in every new developer account. It is the standard way to send your first test API call and confirm the integration is working. Unlike free-form text, templates work without any prior conversation — you can send them to any verified recipient at any time.

Sending the hello_world template#

Code
POST https://graph.facebook.com/v21.0/{PHONE_NUMBER_ID}/messages
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN
Content-Type: application/json

Body:

json
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "919959623255",
  "type": "template",
  "template": {
    "name": "hello_world",
    "language": { "code": "en_US" }
  }
}

The recipient will receive a WhatsApp message that says:

"Hello World! 👋 This is a test message from the WhatsApp Business Platform."

On success, Meta returns a wamid message ID:

json
{ "messages": [{ "id": "wamid.HBgM..." }] }

Reference image#

hello_world sent
The Meta API Setup dashboard after sending the hello_world template — test number, recipient, and send result.

Frequently asked#

How do I send my first WhatsApp message to test my integration?

Use the hello_world template. Set type to "template", set template.name to "hello_world" and template.language.code to "en_US". This template is pre-approved and available in every new developer account.

Why can't I just send a text message for my first test?

Free-form text only works inside the 24-hour window — the recipient must have messaged you first within the last 24 hours. For a first test there is no prior conversation, so you must use a template.

The hello_world template isn't working — what should I check?

First confirm the recipient number is added and verified in your Meta dashboard under API Setup → "To" field. Meta sends a WhatsApp verification code to that number and you must enter it. If verified and it still fails, check the error code — 133010 means the business phone number you're sending from is not registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform yet (register it first), 131030 means the recipient is not in the test recipients list.

Can I use hello_world in production?

No. It is a test template only. In production you create your own templates and submit them for Meta's approval — Meta reviews every template before it can be sent, to prevent businesses from spamming users with unapproved messages.

Gotchas & common mistakes#

Still stuck? Open a support ticket and our team will help.