Complete Message Setu WhatsApp API Setup

You need to generate and enter these four values in Message Setu:

Business Account ID / WABA ID
Phone Number ID
App ID
Permanent Access Token

You must also configure:

Callback URL:
https://message-setu-webhook-1073672031097.asia-south1.run.app/webhook

Verify Token:
message_setu_verify_token

Step 1: Create or select a Meta Business Portfolio

1. Open Meta Business Suite.
2. Go to Settings → Business Settings.
3. Create a new Business Portfolio or select your existing portfolio.
4. Complete the business details.

Make sure you have administrator access to the Business Portfolio.

Step 2: Create the Meta App

1. Open Meta for Developers.
2. Click My Apps.
3. Click Create App.
4. Select the business-related use case or app type displayed by Meta.
5. Enter an app name, such as:

Message Setu WhatsApp API

6. Enter your contact email.
7. Connect the correct Meta Business Portfolio.
8. Finish creating the app.

Copy the App ID

Inside your app, go to:

App Settings → Basic

Copy the number shown as:

App ID

Enter this value in the App ID field inside Message Setu.

Step 3: Add WhatsApp to the Meta App

Inside the Meta App Dashboard:

1. Find WhatsApp under Products.
2. Click Set Up.
3. Select your Meta Business Portfolio.
4. Create or select your WhatsApp Business Account.
5. Open:

WhatsApp → API Setup

Meta may automatically create a test WhatsApp Business Account and test phone number when Cloud API is first configured.

Step 4: Add your business phone number

On the WhatsApp → API Setup page:

1. Click Add phone number.
2. Enter your WhatsApp business display name.
3. Select the appropriate business category.
4. Add the business description and website when requested.
5. Select the country.
6. Enter the phone number.
7. Verify the number through SMS or voice call.
8. Enter the verification code.
9. Create a six-digit PIN when requested.

A valid business phone number must be registered before it can send and receive WhatsApp Cloud API messages.

Step 5: Copy the Business Account ID

Open:

Meta App Dashboard → WhatsApp → API Setup

Find:

WhatsApp Business Account ID

This is also called:

WABA ID

Copy this numeric value and enter it in Message Setu under:

Business Account ID

Do not enter your Meta Business Portfolio ID here. Message Setu requires the WhatsApp Business Account ID.

Step 6: Copy the Phone Number ID

On the same WhatsApp → API Setup page, select your registered number.

Find:

Phone Number ID

Copy the numeric value and enter it in Message Setu.

The Phone Number ID is not your actual mobile number. For example:

Actual number: +91 98765 43210
Phone Number ID: 123456789012345

Step 7: Configure the Message Setu webhook

Open:

Meta App Dashboard → WhatsApp → Configuration

Find the Webhook section and click:

Edit

Enter the following exact values.

Callback URL

https://message-setu-webhook-1073672031097.asia-south1.run.app/webhook

Verify Token

message_setu_verify_token

Then click:

Verify and Save

Meta will send a verification request to the callback URL. The endpoint must compare the incoming hub.verify_token with message_setu_verify_token and return hub.challenge when they match. Meta’s official setup places these values in App Dashboard → WhatsApp → Configuration.

Enter the values exactly

Do not enter this:

VERIFY_TOKEN = message_setu_verify_token

Enter only this in Meta’s Verify Token field:

message_setu_verify_token

The VERIFY_TOKEN= format is only used when setting an environment variable in backend code.

Step 8: Subscribe to the messages webhook

After the callback URL is verified:

1. Stay on WhatsApp → Configuration.
2. Find Webhook fields.
3. Locate:

messages

4. Click Subscribe.

The messages webhook is used for incoming WhatsApp messages and outbound-message status updates such as sent, delivered, read and failed.

Without subscribing to messages, Message Setu may be able to send messages but may not receive incoming replies or delivery updates.

Step 9: Create a System User for the permanent token

Do not use the temporary token shown under WhatsApp → API Setup for production. Meta states that the API Setup panel generates user access tokens that expire.

Open:

Meta Business Settings → Users → System Users

Then:

1. Click Add.
2. Enter a name such as:

Message Setu System User

3. Select Admin as the system-user role.
4. Click Create System User.

Step 10: Assign the Meta App to the System User

1. Select Message Setu System User.
2. Click Assign Assets.
3. Select Apps.
4. Select the Meta App created for Message Setu.
5. Enable full control or the required app permissions.
6. Save the assignment.

Step 11: Assign the WhatsApp Business Account

While the same system user is selected:

1. Click Assign Assets.
2. Select WhatsApp Accounts.
3. Select the WhatsApp Business Account connected to your number.
4. Enable full control or the required permissions.
5. Save the assignment.

This asset assignment is important. A token may be generated successfully but still fail if the system user does not have access to the WABA.

Step 12: Generate the Permanent Access Token

With the system user selected:

1. Click Generate New Token.
2. Select the Message Setu Meta App.
3. Choose the longest available expiration option, such as:

Never

4. Select these permissions:

whatsapp_business_messaging
whatsapp_business_management

You may also select:

business_management

when Meta requires it for managing connected business assets.

5. Click Generate Token.
6. Copy the token immediately.
7. Enter it in Message Setu under:

Permanent Access Token

Meta’s official guidance recommends using a System User to obtain an access token for continued API access.

Treat this token like a password. Do not send it through WhatsApp, email, screenshots or public support messages.

Final values to enter in Message Setu