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    Chat App Message Service:Create a WhatsApp channel

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    Chat App Message Service:Create a WhatsApp channel

    Last Updated:Dec 23, 2025

    Create a WhatsApp channel and complete the onboarding process in Chat App Message Service. This guide covers the entire process, from creating a new channel and binding a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) to configuring message templates, helping you connect to the WhatsApp Business Platform.

    Preparations

    1. Alibaba Cloud account

    1. Register an Alibaba Cloud account and complete business identity verification.

    2. Activate the service in the Chat App Message Service console.

    2. Facebook account

    • Good standing: Ensure your Facebook account is in good standing.

    • Identity consistency: The name on your Facebook account needs to match the name on your government-issued ID.

    • No violation history: You cannot have a history of violating Meta policies.

    • Email domain: If the registration email uses a company domain, that domain must not be associated with any violations of Meta's policies.

    • Facebook account registration: If you do not have a Facebook account, register one on the official website.

    • Two-factor authentication: To prevent login issues from not receiving verification codes, we recommend setting up two-factor authentication for your Facebook account.

    3. Business information

    Prepare the following complete and accurate business information:

    • Business name and address: Must match the information on your business license.

    • Official website: Your business name must be visible on the website.

    • Business phone number: This number is used for Business Manager (BM) verification and must be able to receive verification codes or voice calls.

    • Bank statement or tax bill: This document is used for BM verification and must contain the business name and phone number.

    • Verification email: The domain of the email address must match your company's website domain.

    4. Phone number

    • Prepare a phone number for your WABA.

    • Ensure this number can receive verification codes via SMS or voice call.

    Procedure

    Step 1: Create a WhatsApp channel

    1. Log on to the Chat App Message Service console.

    2. On the Channel Management page, click Create Channel.

    3. In the Create Channel dialog box, select WhatsApp for Channel Type and enter a Channel Name.

    4. Click OK. The WhatsApp channel is created.

    Note

    On the Channel Management page, click a Channel ID to open the channel's configuration page. Here, you can register and manage a WABA, create a WhatsApp message template, and send WhatsApp messages.

    Step 2: Create a Business Manager (BM) account

    After creating a WhatsApp channel, create a BM account. You can choose one of the following two methods:

    Method 1: Create in the Chat App console (Recommended)

    Register and bind a WABA

    A WABA is an official business account required for sending commercial messages on the WhatsApp Business Platform. A WABA that has completed Meta business verification displays a badge, which increases customer trust and strengthens your brand presence.

    To send WhatsApp messages, you must first register a WABA. Chat App Message Service uses Meta's embedded signup flow to simplify the registration process.

    Note

    • The business information you provide during the WABA application must be consistent with the information for your Alibaba Cloud account registration.

    • The phone number you use to register the WABA must not have been previously registered on any WhatsApp product and must be able to receive verification codes.

    1. Register and bind a WABA:

      Important

      • Each channel can only be bound to one WABA. To manage multiple WABAs, create multiple channels.

      • A WABA that has not completed Meta business verification can add a maximum of two phone numbers. After completing business verification, this limit increases to 20. If you need more, contact technical support to request an increase from Meta.

      1. Log on to the Chat App Message Service console.

      2. In the left navigation pane, choose Channel Management. Select a WhatsApp channel and click Manage. Then, choose WABA Management > WABA Registration and Binding.

      3. The Meta Embedded Signup window opens.

        Note

        • If you are already logged into the correct Facebook account, click Continue As [Your Name].

        • If you are not logged in or are using the wrong account, click Log Into Another Account.

      4. Click Get started.

        Note

        1. The following registration steps are for reference only. The latest process is subject to Meta's official interface.

        2. If you are creating a new Meta Business Account or WhatsApp Business Account, you must wait for WhatsApp's approval after completing the embedded signup. Once approved, your WABA is bound to the channel and its status changes to APPROVED. You can then proceed to Manage phone numbers to add, synchronize, and configure your phone numbers.

        1. Follow the on-screen prompts to fill in your business information, including business name, email, business website or profile page, and country/region. Click Next.

          Note

          Provide complete and accurate business information. Inaccurate information can delay or prevent your application for Meta Verified badge and Official Business Account (OBA) status.

        2. Create a WABA. Follow the prompts to set your WhatsApp Business Account name and select a time zone. Click Next.

        3. Review the permissions requested by Chat App Message Service. Click Next.

          Note

          To allow Alibaba Cloud Singapore to manage your WABA, you must grant permissions for WABA access and billing management.

        4. Wait for Meta to verify your information, then click Finish.

    2. Verify your business: After registering your WABA, go to the Security Center in Meta Business Suite to complete your business verification. For detailed instructions, see Meta's guide: Verify your business in Meta Business Suite.

    Method 2: Create on the Facebook website

    1. Log in to your Facebook account.

    2. Go to Meta Business Suite and follow the prompts to enter your business name and website, then submit the information.

    image

    Step 3: Add and verify your phone number

    1. Register a WABA

    After creating your BM account in the previous step, click Contiune to enter the WABA information page. Follow the prompts to complete the WABA registration.

    image.png

    2. Add a phone number

    1. Go to the Chat App Message Service console.

    2. In the left navigation pane, click Channel Management, find your channel, then click Manage.

    3. Choose WABA Management, then click Add Phone Number.

    4. Fill in the Phone Number Type, Name, Country/Region, and Phone Number fields.

    Note

    The name must be related to your brand. If you have multiple numbers, use distinct names. For example, if your brand is "ABC," your display names could be "ABC Plus" and "ABC Support."

    image

    image

    3. Activate the service and complete verification

    Activate the service and receive a verification code to verify your phone number.

    image.png

    Step 4: Create a message template

    According to Meta's policy, the first message a business sends to a customer must be a message template. You must create templates that fit your use cases.

    Note

    • For detailed instructions, see Template design.

    • You can only start sending messages after your templates are created and approved.

    • Contact your account manager if you have any questions.

    Step 5: Complete business verification (recommended)

    Important

    Although this is not a mandatory step, we strongly recommend completing business verification to avoid account-related issues in the future.

    1. Start Meta business verification

    1. Go to the Meta Business Verification page.

    2. Click Settings.

      image.png

    3. In the left menu, click Security Center. On the right, find the business entity associated with your WABA and click Start verification.

      image.png

    2. Complete your BM information

    1. Business name: Must match the name on your business license.

    2. Business address: Must match the address on your business license.

    3. Business phone number: Must match the phone number on your bank statement or tax bill.

    3. Submit for verification

    1. Submit your business license.

    2. Submit a bank statement or tax bill. The document must include your business phone number.

    3. Email verification: Receive a code via email to verify your domain.

    4. Phone verification: Verify your phone number and its association with your company by receiving a verification code via SMS or a voice call.

    Review time:

    • The review process typically takes 48 hours.

    • Please monitor your messages from Meta.

    • If the review takes longer than 48 hours, you can report it to your account manager.

    Step 6: Apply for an OBA (Optional)

    Applying for an Official Business Account (OBA) is optional, but it grants you more permissions and features, and increases your brand's credibility.

    1. Review OBA application requirements

    1. Your BM account has been verified.

    2. Your display name has been approved.

    2. Submit an application

    1. Submit your request to your Alibaba Cloud account manager.

    2. Provide at least 5 links to online articles or websites that feature and promote your brand.

    FAQ

    Why was my WABA banned, and how can I fix it?

    Possible reasons:

    • Using a generic or unrelated name for your BM account or WABA that doesn't match your company or brand name.

    • Failing to complete business berification.

    Solutions:

    • Ensure your BM account and WABA names are relevant to your business.

    • Complete business verification.

    For details, see WABA unbanning and prevention guide.

    How do I resolve a website link flagged as invalid?

    Issue: Meta flags a website URL as invalid.

    Solution:

    1. Request a review from the alert banner in Business Manager.

      image.png

    2. Provide a detailed description of your website and its relevance to your business.

    3. If the issue persists, contact your account manager to open a support ticket with Meta.

    How do I establish a valid link between my business and my website?

    To ensure Meta accepts your website during verification, it must meet specific criteria for accessibility, content, and domain consistency.

    1. Website accessibility

      • The website must be fully functional with no broken links.

      • It must be publicly accessible.

      • Use the Meta Sharing Debugger to check that it returns a 200 status code.

      image.png

    2. Website content

      • Your company's official brand logo must be displayed.

      • The products or services you offer must be clearly described.

    3. Domain consistency

      • Your website domain must match your business email domain. For example, website www.alibaba.com and email bob@alibaba.com.

    What should I do if I can't receive a verification code?

    Failure to receive verification codes is often related to your Facebook account's two-factor authentication (2FA) settings or carrier-side blocking.

    1. Facebook 2FA settings:

      • Ensure you have correctly configured 2FA for your Facebook account. This helps prevent login issues related to code delivery.

    2. Phone numbers in the Chinese mainland:

      • If you are using a phone number from the Chinese mainland, SMS delivery can be unstable.

      • Contact your mobile carrier to check if the message was blocked.

      • Ensure you have international SMS enabled.

    Can I register a WABA without completing Meta business verification?

    Yes, you can register and use a WABA without completing Meta business verification, but it will operate under significant restrictions.

    • Phone number limit: You can add a maximum of two phone numbers.

    • Messaging limit: Your Business Manager account is limited to initiating conversations with 250 unique phone numbers in a rolling 24-hour period. This limit is shared across all numbers in the BM.

    • Account risk: Your account is more likely to be restricted or banned if users report your messages.

    Important

    We strongly recommend completing business verification to unlock higher messaging limits and improve account stability.

    Can I export numbers that failed during a bulk send?

    No, the service does not support exporting a list of phone numbers for which message delivery failed during a bulk sending job.

    References