Official WhatsApp API
Step-by-step guide to request access to the Official WhatsApp Business API and connect it to Pingo Notify.
The Official WhatsApp Business API is the route approved by Meta for companies that need scale, a verified profile, and message templates ready for high-volume sending.
Unlike a QR Code connection, the official API runs on Meta's own infrastructure — so the setup happens inside the Meta for Developers panel and is then linked to Pingo Notify.
This guide follows Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform — Get Started documentation, adapted for the Pingo Notify workflow.
The official API is optional. If you only need to send and receive messages from a single device, a regular Connection via QR Code is enough.
Before you start
What you'll need
- A personal Facebook account to access Meta for Developers
- A Meta Business Portfolio in Meta Business Suite (Business Manager) for your company
- A phone number that is not currently active on the regular WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app
- An active Pingo Notify account
The number used for the official API can no longer be used in the regular WhatsApp app, so choose a dedicated line for your business.
The journey at a glance
Big picture:
Meta Developer account → Meta App → WhatsApp product → Verified number → Webhook → Pingo Notify
The steps below take you from zero to an approved number that sends and receives messages through Pingo Notify.
Step by step
Create a Meta for Developers account
Open the Meta for Developers portal and register using your Facebook account.
Confirm your email and, if prompted, enable two-factor authentication — Meta requires it for accounts that manage apps.
Create a Meta App
In the App Dashboard, click Create App and choose the Business type.
Give the app a name, enter a contact email, and link it to your Business Portfolio.
This app is the container that will hold the WhatsApp product. See Meta's Create an App reference for details.
Add the WhatsApp product
On the app page, find WhatsApp in the product list and click Set up.
Meta automatically creates a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) and provides a free test number so you can experiment before going live. Reference: Cloud API — Get Started.
Send a test message
Open the API Setup panel. There you'll find the test number, a temporary access token (valid for 24 hours), and a field to add recipients.
Add your own number as a recipient and send the sample hello_world template to confirm everything is working.
Add your business number
Still in the panel, choose Add phone number and register the line your customers will see.
Set the display name, confirm ownership with the code Meta sends by SMS or call, and define a two-step verification PIN. Reference: Add a phone number.
Verify your business
To remove the sending limits and leave the test stage, complete Business Verification in your Business Portfolio settings.
Meta will ask for documents proving your company is legitimate; approval can take a few days. References: Business Verification and the Business Help Center.
Collect your credentials
Note down the Phone Number ID and the WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) ID.
For production, generate a permanent access token: create a System User in your Business settings and grant it the whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management permissions. Reference: Business Management API — Get Started.
Never share your access token publicly. Treat it like a password — anyone who has it can send messages on your behalf.
Connect the webhook to Pingo Notify
Meta delivers every incoming message and status update through a webhook. Instead of building and hosting your own receiver, you point Meta directly at Pingo Notify, which handles the validation and forwards each event for you. For the underlying mechanism, see Meta's Set Up Webhooks guide.
1. Create an official connection
In Pingo Notify, create a new connection of the Official WhatsApp API type. Pingo Notify generates the Webhook URL and the Verify Token you'll need.
2. Set the Callback URL in Meta
In the Meta App, open WhatsApp → Configuration → Webhooks and click Edit. Paste the Callback URL and Verify Token provided by Pingo Notify, then confirm.
3. Subscribe to events
On the same screen, subscribe to the messages field so Meta forwards incoming messages and status updates to Pingo Notify.
4. Finish the connection
Back in Pingo Notify, enter your Phone Number ID, WABA ID, and access token. Save to validate the credentials and activate the connection.
Event flow with the official API:
WhatsApp → Meta → Webhook → Pingo Notify → Your application
Once the connection is active, it behaves like any other connection in Pingo Notify — you can link it to Webhooks, Integrations, and the messaging API.
Good to know
- The test number only sends to recipients you add manually — use it for validation, not production
- The official number cannot be used in the regular WhatsApp app at the same time
- Higher messaging limits depend on Business Verification and your quality rating
- Marketing and notification message templates must be approved by Meta before they can be sent
References
Official Meta documentation used in this guide:
- WhatsApp Business Platform — Get Started
- Cloud API — Get Started
- Create an App · App Dashboard
- Add a phone number
- Set Up Webhooks
- Business Verification
- Business Management API — Get Started · Message Templates
- Meta Business Suite · System Users
Pingo Notify:
Summary
- The Official WhatsApp API runs on Meta's infrastructure and is set up in Meta for Developers
- You create a Meta App, add the WhatsApp product, and verify a dedicated number
- The webhook points to Pingo Notify, which receives and delivers every event
- Once connected, the official number works like any other Pingo Notify connection
With the connection active, you're ready to send templates and receive messages at scale through the official channel.