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Prelude lets you send OTP verification messages from your branded WhatsApp number by connecting your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) through Meta’s Embedded Signup flow. This guide covers each onboarding scenario to help you connect successfully.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin the onboarding flow, make sure:
  • You have contacted your Meta account manager to ensure access is enabled for your business.
  • You are a member of the Meta Business Manager (formerly 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 plan to use with WhatsApp Business, or you’re willing to use a free test 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 verification flows.

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Step 1: Start the Integration in Prelude

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

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Step 2: Embedded Signup Deep Dive

This popup guides you through linking your WhatsApp Business Account. Here’s what you may encounter:

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🔧 Scenario 1: You already have everything set up

  • If you already have a Meta 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 linking your account. This can take up to a minute—stay on the page until it completes.
  • After the spinner disappears, the page will refresh and display your WhatsApp Business Account details.

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🔧 Scenario 2: You don’t have a Meta Business Manager

  • 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 by 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 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, with some important differences:
  • Typically use a US country code (+1) and a 555 area code.
  • Are verified automatically.
  • Can’t be migrated to another WhatsApp Business Account or used outside of the WhatsApp Business platform.
  • The display name must still be approved, and the number remains 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 popup:
  • Make sure you clicked the blue “Finish” button to trigger the account linking process.
  • Wait for the page to reload—it can take up to a minute.
  • 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 begin 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? Remove it from the current WABA in WhatsApp Manager, or release it from the WhatsApp app.
  • Missing permissions? Ensure all Meta/Facebook 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 your ad account.

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Support

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