Prelude allows you to send OTP messages using your branded WhatsApp number by integrating with your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) through Meta’s Embedded Signup flow. This guide walks you through every scenario to ensure a smooth and successful connection.

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Prerequisites

Before beginning the onboarding flow, make sure:

  • You have contacted your Meta Account Manager to request access for your business.
  • You are a member of the Facebook Business Manager with the appropriate admin or developer permissions. If you are not, ask your Business Admin to grant you access.
  • You have access to the phone number you wish to use with WhatsApp Business, or are willing to use a free testing phone number provided by Meta.
  • You have a valid payment method associated with your WhatsApp Business Account. You can configure this here: WhatsApp Billing Settings. Messages will not be sent if billing is not configured correctly.
  • Your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) is approved by Meta. If your WABA is still pending approval, the integration will fail. You can check your WABA status in the WhatsApp Manager.

Note: Meta currently handles billing directly for WhatsApp messages. Prelude will not rebill for any usage.

⚠️ OTP WhatsApp message templates will be automatically created on your account by Prelude. Do not delete these templates — they are required for authentication flows.

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Step 1: Start the Integration in Prelude

  1. Log into your Prelude Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Settings → Integrations → Providers.
  3. Click Connect with Facebook. This will open Meta’s Embedded Signup popup.

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Step 2: Embedded Signup Deep Dive

This popup will guide you through linking your WhatsApp Business Account. Below we detail each possible scenario:

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🔧 Scenario 1: You already have everything set up

  • If you already have a Facebook Business Manager and a WhatsApp Business Account with an approved phone number:
  • Select your Business Manager.
  • Select your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).
  • Choose the Phone Number.
  • Approve all permissions.
  • Click the blue “Finish” button. The popup will close and the page will begin loading. This may take several tens of seconds—stay on the page until it completes.
  • Once the spinner disappears, the page will refresh and display your WhatsApp Business Account information, like this:

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🔧 Scenario 2: You don’t have a Facebook Business Account

  • The popup will prompt you to Create a Business Manager.
  • Fill in the basic details: business name, email, website (optional).
  • Submit the form and wait for the Business Manager to be provisioned.
  • Continue with selecting the new Business Manager in the next steps.

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🔧 Scenario 3: You don’t have a WhatsApp Business Account

  • You will be prompted to create a WABA linked to your Business Manager.
  • Name your WABA and continue.
  • Meta will create the WABA in real-time. You can then proceed to add a number.

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🔧 Scenario 4: You don’t have a Phone Number set up

  • You will be prompted to add a new number.
  • You can enter your own number or use a free number provided by Meta.
  • Free numbers behave like standard business numbers, but with some key differences:
  • Use a US country code (+1) and 555 area code.
  • Are verified automatically.
  • Cannot be migrated to another WhatsApp Business Account or used outside of the WhatsApp Business platform.
  • Display names must be approved, subject to conversation-based pricing and quality ratings.
  • Once verified, the number will appear in the dropdown for selection.

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Step 3: Finalize and Verify

After completing the onboarding popup:

  • Make sure to click the blue “Finish” button to trigger the account linking process.
  • Wait patiently for the page to reload—it may take several seconds.
  • The section will refresh automatically and display your linked WhatsApp account.
  • The connected phone number will appear in the list of available providers.
  • Prelude will start routing OTP messages through your branded WhatsApp number.

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Step 4: Open WhatsApp Channel on Routes

Once integration is complete, don’t forget to:

  • Navigate to Settings → Routes
  • Enable the WhatsApp channel for the routes where you want to use it

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Personalize Your WhatsApp Profile

You can customize your WhatsApp Business profile after onboarding by visiting the WhatsApp Manager.

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Troubleshooting

  • Phone number already in use? You must delete it from the current WABA or remove it from the WhatsApp app.
  • Missing permissions? Ensure all Facebook/Meta permissions were granted during the flow.
  • Not in the Business Manager? Ask your admin to add you with the appropriate permissions.
  • Stuck in redirect loop? Clear cookies or try using a private browser window.
  • Billing not configured? Ensure you added a valid payment method to the WhatsApp Business billing settings—not the ad account.

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Support

If you encounter any issues, contact Prelude support or reach out to your Meta Account Manager for assistance with account or number provisioning.