Connect WhatsApp to EnkaChat

Prerequisites

• A Meta or Facebook Business account
• A WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)
• A business phone number not registered on WhatsApp Messenger or the WhatsApp Business app
• A workspace with the channels:manage permission and the omnichannel plan feature

Create a Meta app with the WhatsApp use case

In the Meta developer console, create an app and add the WhatsApp use case. Connect an existing WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) or create a new one, then add the business phone number you want to use.

Create a permanent system-user token

In Business settings, create a system user and assign it to the business and the WhatsApp app. Generate a token with the permissions below. The temporary token from the app dashboard expires; the system-user token is permanent.

• business_management
• whatsapp_business_messaging
• whatsapp_business_management

Copy the Phone number ID and the WABA ID

In the WhatsApp app's API Setup panel, copy the Phone number ID and the WhatsApp Business Account ID (WABA ID). You need both, plus the access token from the previous step, to connect in EnkaChat.

Connect it in EnkaChat

In the admin panel, open Integrations at http://app.enkachat.localhost and find the WhatsApp card. Click Connect and fill in the Label, Phone number ID, WABA ID, Access token, App secret, and a Verify token of your choice. The Verify token is a string you invent; Meta sends it back with every webhook event so EnkaChat can confirm the request is genuine.

Configure the webhook in Meta

EnkaChat shows a one-time connection token and the webhook URL. Paste the URL into the Meta developer console webhook configuration for the phone number, use the same Verify token, and subscribe to the messages field.

https://api.enkachat.localhost/webhooks/whatsapp/<connection-token>

Verify the connection

Run the Health check. The status badge moves from pending to active once the first verified event arrives. Send a WhatsApp message from a phone; it lands as a channel session in the Chats inbox, where agents reply alongside website chat, Telegram, and VK with shared history and visitor context.

Respect the 24-hour customer service window

Within 24 hours of the customer's last message you may reply with any text or media. Outside the window, and for a brand-new conversation, WhatsApp requires an approved message template. The inbox shows a window indicator and a Send template action for closed windows; the agent supplies the template's {{1}}-style body parameters.

Delivery receipts and media

Outgoing messages show sent, delivered, and read states in the thread, so account managers can see whether a reply reached the customer. Media works in both directions within WhatsApp's size limits, which can change.

• Outbound images up to 5 MB
• Outbound documents up to 50 MB
• Outbound video up to 16 MB
• Outbound audio up to 16 MB
• Inbound attachments up to 50 MB

FAQ