This guide walks you through creating a Meta Developer App that will power your WhatsApp Business integration.

Prerequisites

  • A Facebook account with admin access to a Meta Business Manager account.
  • A verified business phone number (not currently in use with WhatsApp).

Step-by-Step App Creation

  1. Go to developers.facebook.com and click My Apps.
  2. Click Create App in the top right corner.
  3. When asked "What do you want your app to do?", select Other, then click Next.
  4. Select Business as the app type and click Next.
  5. Enter an App Name (e.g., "MyBusiness WhatsApp CRM") and your email. Link it to your Business Manager account.
  6. Click Create App. You may be prompted to re-enter your Facebook password.

Adding the WhatsApp Product

  1. On your App Dashboard, scroll to the Add Products to Your App section.
  2. Find WhatsApp and click Set Up.
  3. Accept the WhatsApp Business Platform terms.
💡 Pro Tip: Use a dedicated Facebook account for developer apps, separate from your personal account, to avoid access issues if team members change roles.