Connect your WhatsApp Business number to Irelia.ai using Meta’s Embedded Signup — so your AI agent can handle WhatsApp conversations, qualify leads, and respond instantly 24/7, with zero manual effort.
~10 minutes setup
What You'll Need
Prerequisites and accounts before starting
Choosing Your Phone Number
Use your own number or get a free Meta-provided one
Quick Path
Condensed steps if you know Meta’s tools
Step-by-Step Guide
Complete walkthrough (Steps 1–9)
Display Name Guidelines & Changes
Rules for approval and how to change your name later
WhatsApp is where your customers already are — but handling every conversation manually doesn’t scale. You need your AI agent responding instantly, qualifying leads, and capturing data around the clock, right inside WhatsApp.This guide walks you through connecting your WhatsApp Business number to Irelia.ai using Meta’s Embedded Signup. You’ll link your number directly to your Irelia AI agent in minutes — no coding, no API configuration, just a guided signup flow.By the end of this guide, you’ll have:✅ A working WhatsApp Business connection to Irelia.ai
✅ Your AI agent ready to handle WhatsApp conversations 24/7
✅ Your Display Name set to show your brand to customers
✅ Business Verification started to protect your account and unlock higher messaging limits
Legal business name — Your company’s official registered name
Business address — Your company’s official address
Business website — A working website that matches your business
Display Name — The customer-facing name for your WhatsApp profile. You’ll set this during the signup flow. → Review the guidelines so you have a compliant name ready
Start Business Verification early — If the option is available in your Business Manager’s Security Center, begin the process before or right after setup. It protects your account from restrictions and unlocks higher messaging limits. → Learn more
The process is straightforward — no coding required. If you can click through a few screens and copy a verification code, you can do this.
Agencies and marketers setting up for a client? You need to be added as an Admin with full control (including finance permissions) on your client’s Business Manager. Being added as a “Partner” — which is what Meta’s own guidelines recommend — is not sufficient for the Embedded Signup process. See how to fix this before you begin.
Best for: Businesses wanting a local or branded number that customers recognize.Requirements:
Landline number, SIM card, or eSIM(an active subscription is NOT required — the number just needs to receive one code)
Number must NOT be registered on WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app
Able to receive SMS or voice call for one-time verification
✅ Why choose this
⚠️ Keep in mind
Customers see a familiar local number
Can’t use the WhatsApp app on the same number simultaneously
Better brand recognition
Must disconnect from the WhatsApp app before setup
Landlines work too (verified via voice call)
Landlines can often only verify via voice call, not SMS
Consider using your main business phone number — even if it’s a landline. This lets customers reach you on a single recognizable number across multiple channels (phone calls and WhatsApp), maximizing your availability without needing a separate line.
Number already registered on WhatsApp? It must be disconnected before setup:
On the WhatsApp app (smartphone): Delete the account first — go to “Settings” → “Account” → “Delete Account” in WhatsApp. Wait 5–10 minutes before proceeding.
Connected to an existing WABA: For the smoothest experience, delete that WABA from your Business Manager before starting. This ensures all permissions and partnerships are configured correctly from the start:
Best for: Businesses without a spare number, or those serving international or US markets.Requirements: None! Meta provides a free US (+1) number automatically.How to get it: During phone setup, select “I don’t have a phone number” or “Use Display Name” — Meta assigns one instantly.
✅ Why choose this
⚠️ Keep in mind
No physical SIM needed
US (+1) number only
Completely free to use
May seem less local to non-US customers
Ready instantly
Cannot receive SMS or calls outside WhatsApp
This option may only appear for verified Business Managers. If you don’t see it, complete Business Verification first.
Already familiar with Meta Business tools? Here’s the condensed version:
Irelia: Go to “Settings” → “Channels Configuration” → Click “Connect WhatsApp”
New tab: Review requirements → Click “Continue with Facebook”
Meta popup: Log in → Click “Begin” (or “Get Started”)
Select Business Portfolio and create a new WhatsApp Business Account
Enter: Account name, country, category, website
Phone & Display Name: Add your number, set your Display Name (guidelines), and verify via SMS or voice call — OR select “Use only display name” for a free Meta-provided US number
Irelia: Select your phone number → Click “Confirm”
Done: See the congratulations screen ✅
Business Verification: Start the process in Security Center as soon as possible, especially for new Business Managers — why it matters
⏱️ The Quick Path takes about 3–4 minutes for the core connection.Need more detail? Continue with the full guide below.
The 'Connect WhatsApp' button in Irelia Channels Configuration
2
Start the WhatsApp Connection
Click the green “Connect WhatsApp” button. A new browser tab will open with setup instructions.
3
Review Requirements and Begin the Connection
~1 minuteYou’ll see a page listing the information you need to have ready.
Review requirements, then click 'Continue with Facebook'
You’ll see a message about not removing “Gupshup” as a partner. Gupshup is Irelia’s WhatsApp technology provider. In the Meta screens that follow, the partner may appear as Gupshup or as Text Wave (“Text Wave Technologies Private Limited” or “Text Wave App”) — both are normal. Whichever of the two you see, never remove this partnership or your WhatsApp integration will stop working.
Click the “Continue with Facebook” button
A Meta popup window will appear
4
Log In with Facebook
~1 minuteA Meta authorization popup will open.If you’re already logged in: You’ll see a confirmation screen asking “Continue as [Your Name]?” — Click “Continue as [Your Name]” to proceed.If you’re not logged in: Enter your Facebook credentials first, then click to continue.
Facebook login popup — click Continue as Your Name
Use the Facebook account that has admin access to your Business Manager, or the account you want as the admin of a new Business Manager.
5
Authorize the Connection
You’ll see an information screen explaining the permissions you’re granting:
WhatsApp Business Account Access — Allows managing phone numbers, message templates, sending and receiving messages
Billing Management — Associates billing for WhatsApp API usage
About billing: You won’t be billed directly by Meta for WhatsApp messages. All WhatsApp messaging costs are charged through your Irelia credits instead.
Permissions screen — click Begin to authorize
Click “Begin” (or “Get Started” / “Inizia”) to continue.
6
Select Your Business Portfolio and Create a WhatsApp Business Account
~1 minuteOn this screen, you’ll configure two things:
Business Portfolio — Select your existing Business Manager (labeled “Business Portfolio” in this screen) from the dropdown, or create a new one
WhatsApp Business Account — Select “Create a new WhatsApp Business Account” (don’t select already existing ones in the list)
Click “Continue”
Select your Business Manager and create a new WhatsApp Business Account
🏢 Client’s Business Manager not showing in the dropdown? Partner access is not enough for this process — even though Meta’s guidelines recommend it for agencies. → Jump to the fix: Issue 5 in Troubleshooting
📌 Creating a new Business Manager? If you selected “Create a new Business Manager” in this step, prioritize starting Business Verification as soon as setup is complete. New, unverified Business Managers are more susceptible to automated restrictions from Meta.
7
Enter Your Account Details
~1 minuteFill in the details for your new WhatsApp Business Account:
Field
What to Enter
Example
Account Name
Internal name for this account (customers won’t see this)
Account details form: name, country, category, and website
8
Add Your Phone Number, Set Your Display Name, and Verify
~2 minutes This screen is where you choose your phone number path, set the Display Name that customers will see when they chat with you, and verify your number.
Enter your phone number with country code (e.g., +1 555 123 4567)
Seeing an error like“This number is registered to an existing WhatsApp account”? The number needs to be disconnected from its current WhatsApp registration first. → See how to fix this
Set your Display Name — You’ll see an input field pre-filled with your Business Manager name. Replace it with the customer-facing name you want people to see when they receive your messages (e.g., “Acme Marketing” or “Mario’s Pizza Roma”).
Choose carefully! This name goes through Meta’s approval process and can only be changed a limited number of times per month. Make sure it follows the Display Name Guidelines — review them before entering your name if you haven’t already.
Choose your verification method:
📱 SMS — Receive a text message with a code
📞 Voice Call — Receive an automated call with a code
Enter the verification code when received
Verification tips:
Landline? Select Voice Call — landlines typically can’t receive SMS.
Auto-dialer or IVR on the line? Temporarily disconnect it before requesting the voice code — automated calls won’t get through otherwise. Reconnect after verification.
SMS not arriving? Wait 60 seconds, then switch to Voice Call — it’s more reliable and almost always gets through.
Take a moment to appreciate what you just built:✅ Your WhatsApp Business number is connected to Irelia
✅ Your AI agent can now handle WhatsApp conversations 24/7
✅ Every incoming message gets an instant, intelligent response
✅ Lead qualification, data capture, and follow-up happen automatically
Seeing warnings or restrictions? In rare cases, Meta may flag a new WABA. If this happens, don’t panic — see Dealing with a Flagged Account.
🛡️ Start Business Verification — If you haven’t already, head to Security Center and begin the process now. This is especially important for new Business Managers to avoid potential restrictions. → Full guide
📝 Need to change your Display Name later? If you want to update the name you entered during setup, see How to Change Your Display Name.
During the Embedded Signup, you set your WhatsApp Display Name — the name customers see when they chat with you. This section covers the guidelines your name must follow to be approved, plus how to change it later if needed.
Meta’s approval system checks the alignment between your Business Manager profile information and your Display Name. Here’s how it works:
Your BM profile contains your official company name (e.g., “SalesX SPA”)
Business Verification confirms this with official documents
Display Name should align with this verified company identity
For example: If your company is officially “SalesX SPA” and you’ve verified this with official documents through Business Verification, your Display Name should be consistent with this identity — like “SalesX”, “SalesX Support”, or “SalesX Italia”.
Select your WABA → scroll down → click “WhatsApp Manager”
Click the gear icon to access Business Settings
In WhatsApp Manager, click “Phone numbers” in the left menu
Click Phone numbers in the WhatsApp Manager sidebar
Click on your phone number to open its settings
Click the pencil/edit icon next to your current Display Name
Enter your new Display Name and click “Submit” for review (approval takes 24–48 hours)
Click the pencil icon to edit your Display Name
Display Name changes require re-approval, and you can only change it a limited number of times per month. If your account is flagged or restricted, fix those issues first before attempting a name change (see Dealing with a Flagged Account).
Business Verification is Meta’s process to confirm your business is legitimate. It involves submitting official documents to prove your business identity.
Reply to unlimited incoming messages; send templates to max 50 unique customers per day
Verified ✅
All of the above PLUS: send templates to 1K–100K+ unique customers per day
If the verification option is available to you, start it right away — ideally before or immediately after connecting WhatsApp. This is especially important for new Business Managers.Here’s why:
🛡️ Avoid future problems — New, unverified Business Managers are more likely to be flagged or restricted by Meta’s automated systems. Verifying early significantly reduces this risk.
📈 WhatsApp longevity — Verified accounts are more stable and less likely to face sudden restrictions down the road.
🔮 Future-proofing — Meta increasingly favors verified businesses with new features and higher limits.
📞 US number access — The free Meta-provided US phone number option may not appear if your Business Manager isn’t verified.
Yes — you can connect WhatsApp and start using it immediately without verification. You won’t be blocked from setting up.Without verification, you can still:
✅ Respond to unlimited customer-initiated conversations
✅ Send business-initiated messages to 50 unique customers per 24-hour rolling period
✅ Use your AI agent for all incoming conversations
The verification process runs in the background and typically takes 2–5 business days — so the sooner you start, the better.
If you don’t see the verification option, Meta doesn’t have enough information about your business yet. Complete your Business Manager profile:
Go to Meta Business Suite → “Business Settings” (gear icon) → “Business Info”
Fill in all required fields:
✅ Complete business address
✅ Working website URL
✅ Business details (legal name, phone, email)
Save your changes and wait 24–48 hours for the verification option to appear
Shortcut: Registering a new WABA through the Irelia connection process automatically provides Meta with key business information. This often immediately unlocks the verification option — so if you just completed the WhatsApp setup, check back in Security Center right away or within 24 hours.
Select your WABA → scroll down → click “WhatsApp Manager”
Open Business Settings via the gear icon
Click “Overview” — you’ll see warning banners if your account has been flagged
Click the blue link in the warning banner to review the specific restriction reason
Warning banner in WhatsApp Manager Overview
To request a review: Click the “Request Review” button and explain that you’ve fixed the root issue
Restriction details page with the Request Review button
Before requesting review — fix the root cause! Meta will reject your appeal if the underlying problem isn’t resolved. If Meta gives you a vague error like “policy violation,” check the two most common culprits: your website might have issues (see Issue 3 in Troubleshooting), or your Business Manager profile has incomplete or inconsistent information. Fix these first, then submit your appeal.
❌ Issue 1: "This number is registered to an existing WhatsApp account"
Your number is still active on another platform — only one platform at a time is allowed
What this means: Your phone number is still active on another WhatsApp platform, and a number can only be active on one WhatsApp platform at a time.You may see one of these messages:
“This number is registered to an existing WhatsApp account. To use this number, disconnect it from the existing account. Then, return to this page and re-enter the number.” — Number is active on the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app
“This phone number is already connected to another WhatsApp Business Account” — Number is tied to an existing WABA in a different Business Manager
“The phone number was already registered on our platform (i.e., WhatsApp Messenger, WhatsApp Business App or WhatsApp Business API)” — General variant covering any of the above
How to fix it:Step 1: Disconnect the number from its current registration
Number active on the WhatsApp app (smartphone)? Delete the account from the app: go to “Settings” → “Account” → “Delete Account” in WhatsApp. Wait 5–10 minutes.
❌ Issue 2: "I'm not receiving the verification code"
The SMS or voice call with your verification code isn't reaching your phone
What this means: The SMS or voice call with your verification code isn’t reaching your phone.How to fix it:Step 1: Switch to Voice Call
Voice Call is more reliable than SMS and almost always works.
Step 2: Remove interference from the line
Disconnect any auto-dialer or IVR system on the line — these intercept the automated verification call and prevent the code from reaching you. Temporarily disconnect, receive the code, then reconnect.
Step 3: Check common causes
Verify you entered the correct country code
Check if your carrier blocks automated messages
Make sure your phone number can receive calls or SMS
Make sure the phone has signal and service
Step 4: Request a new code
Wait 60 seconds, then request a new code.
❌ Issue 3: "My website is blocking the process"
Issues with your website are blocking Meta's signup flow
What this means: Meta requires a working website to verify your business, and issues with your site can block the entire signup flow.How to fix it:Step 1: Verify your site is accessible
Make sure your website is live and accessible — no downtime or server errors
Remove any password protection, “coming soon” pages, or maintenance mode
Check for a valid SSL certificate (https:// not http://)
Step 2: Verify your site content matches your business
Ensure the website clearly displays your business name (matching what you entered)
Make sure your site has real content (not just a single landing page with no info)
Step 3: Verify global accessibility
Verify the site loads properly on mobile devices
Make sure your site isn’t geo-blocked (accessible from different countries)
Check that Meta’s crawler can access your site — no robots.txt blocking
🔧 Debug tool: Use Meta’s official debugging tool to check how Meta sees your website: 👉 https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/. Enter your website URL and click “Debug” to see any errors or warnings. Fix the issues shown, then click “Scrape Again” to refresh Meta’s cache.
❌ Issue 4: "My display name was rejected"
Meta didn't approve your Display Name due to naming policies
What this means: Meta didn’t approve your chosen Display Name because it doesn’t align with their naming policies.How to fix it:Step 1: Review the guidelines
❌ Issue 5: "I don't see my (or my client's) Business Manager in the dropdown"
Your Facebook account doesn't have the required permission level
What this means: At Step 6, the Business Manager you need doesn’t appear in the dropdown because your Facebook account doesn’t have the required permission level for the Embedded Signup process.How to fix it:Step 1: Check quick fixes first
Logged into the wrong Facebook account? The dropdown only shows Business Managers where your Facebook account has admin access. Make sure you’re logged into the correct account.
Don’t have a Business Manager yet? No problem. Select “Create a new Business Manager” directly in the dropdown during signup.
You have a BM but it’s still not showing? You likely don’t have the right permission level. Read on.
Step 2: Identify the most common cause (agency or marketer connecting for a client)This is by far the most frequent reason. If you’re a marketer or agency setting up WhatsApp on behalf of a client, your client likely added you as a Partner on their Business Manager — which is exactly what Meta’s own guidelines recommend for agencies.The problem? Partner access is not enough for the Embedded Signup process.
Access Level
BM Appears in Dropdown?
Partner (Meta’s recommendation for agencies)
❌ No
Partial access (Employee)
❌ No
Full control (Admin) without finance
❌ No
Full control (Admin) with finance ✅
✅ Yes — this is what you need
Step 3: Ask your client to add you as Admin with finance permissionsShare the instructions below directly with your client:
Go to Meta Business Suite and click the gear icon (⚙️) to open “Business Settings”
In the left sidebar, click “People”, then click the “Invite People” button
Click Invite People in Business Settings
Enter the email address associated with the marketer or agency’s Facebook account
Select “Full control” (Admin access) — this is critical, don’t select “Partial access”
Make sure Finance permissions are enabled — toggle on both “Finance analyst” and “Finance editor” if shown as separate options. In some interfaces this appears as a “Finance access” toggle.
Select Full control and enable finance permissions
Click “Send Invitation”
Step 4: Accept the invitation and restart
Check your email and Facebook notifications for the invitation
Accept the invitation
Restart the WhatsApp connection process from Step 1
At Step 6, your client’s Business Manager should now appear in the dropdown
If you’re concerned about keeping elevated permissions long-term, you can ask your client to downgrade your access back to Partner after the WhatsApp setup is fully complete and working. The connection will continue to function as long as Gupshup or Text Wave remains as a Partner on the Business Manager.
Even after downgrading, make sure Gupshup or Text Wave (Irelia’s WhatsApp technology provider) remains listed as a Partner in the client’s Business Manager — never remove it, or the WhatsApp integration will stop working.
❌ Issue 6: "The connection process stopped or froze"
The Meta popup closed unexpectedly or got stuck during authorization
What this means: The Meta popup closed unexpectedly or got stuck during the authorization flow.How to fix it:Step 1: Reset your browser environment
Clear your browser cache and cookies
Disable browser extensions (especially ad blockers)
Your newly registered number isn't appearing in the activation list
What this means: Your newly registered number isn’t appearing in the “We are almost done” page selection list.How to fix it:Step 1: Wait and refresh
Wait 30–60 seconds and refresh the page.
Step 2: Restart if it persists
Repeat the process from Step 1 and make sure the phone verification completed successfully.
Step 3: Contact support if needed
If the issue continues, contact Irelia support (see Need Help?).
❌ Issue 8: "My WhatsApp integration has stopped working"
Your WhatsApp connection was working but stopped
What this means: Your WhatsApp connection was working before, but messages aren’t being sent or received through Irelia anymore.How to fix it:Work through these common causes in order. Each one includes instructions to check and fix the issue:
Gupshup or Text Wave removed as a partner — Someone may have accidentally removed Irelia’s technology provider from your Business Manager.
WABA flagged or restricted — Meta may have restricted your account.
Phone number registered on the WhatsApp app — Someone may have registered your business number on the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app, disconnecting it from the API.
WABA or phone number deleted — Another admin may have accidentally deleted the WhatsApp Business Account or removed the phone number.
3️⃣ The phone number was registered on the WhatsApp app
If someone registered your business number on the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app, it disconnects from the API.How to check: Open the WhatsApp app on your phone(s) and see if your business number is active there.How to fix:
Delete the account from the app: go to “Settings” → “Account” → “Delete Account”
Click into it and confirm your phone number is still listed
How to fix: Contact Irelia support. You may need to re-run the connection process.
❌ Issue 9: "My account was flagged or restricted immediately after setup"
Meta's automated systems flagged your WABA right after setup
What this means: Meta’s automated systems detected a potential policy issue with your new WABA, even though setup completed successfully.How to fix it:Don’t panic — it’s usually fixable! Check the complete guide: Dealing with a Flagged Account.
Why doesn't the Meta-provided US number option appear?
This option is sometimes only available for verified Business Managers. Complete Business Verification first, then try again.
Why is my messaging limit only 50 customers?
This is normal! Without Business Verification, you’re limited to 50 unique customers per 24-hour period for business-initiated messages. You can still respond to unlimited incoming conversations.Complete Business Verification. Limits increase automatically based on quality and volume.
If my WhatsApp account gets banned, will it affect my Meta ads and the rest of my Business Manager?
No — and this is a common worry. Your Ad Account (the part of your Business Manager that runs Facebook and Instagram campaigns) is completely independent from your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA). A WhatsApp restriction or ban won’t affect your ability to run ads, manage campaigns, or use any other Meta advertising features. They’re separate systems that happen to live under the same Business Manager roof.Here’s what actually happens when things go wrong on WhatsApp: depending on the severity, Meta may enforce compliance progressively — first flagging your WABA (a warning state where Meta monitors your messaging quality), then restricting it (reduced messaging limits), then blocking it (suspended entirely) — or it may block your account directly without prior warning. This can happen at the WABA level or at the Business Manager level — but either way, the consequences stay within WhatsApp. Your ads keep running, your Facebook Page stays live, your Instagram stays connected.If your account gets flagged, act fast: reduce your send volume, review your templates, and make sure you’re following the two golden rules in this guide. If your account is blocked, you can request a review through the Business Support Home section in your Meta Business Manager.
🆘 Need Help?
Irelia.ai Support:
Contact support in the WhatsApp priority support group or send an email to info@irelia.ai
Include: screenshots of your configuration, the error message, and what you expected vs. what happened
