After you create your Papo Global account (papo.global), connecting your first WhatsApp channel is done in Settings → Inboxes: add an inbox, choose WhatsApp – Cloud API (Meta), fill in your Meta account details, and save. Then test a message to confirm the conversation appears in the dashboard. The Papo account already starts with the first user free and no card required; WhatsApp activation depends on verifying the number with Meta.
Connection summary
| Step | Where | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create the inbox | Papo Global: Settings → Inboxes | Click Add inbox and choose WhatsApp – Cloud API (Meta) |
| 2. Prepare Meta | Facebook Business Manager | Verify the number, create an app, and activate WhatsApp |
| 3. Copy the credentials | Meta | Note the phone number ID, business account ID, and access token |
| 4. Save in Papo | New inbox form | Fill in the fields with your Meta data and associate agents |
| 5. Test | Meta or Papo | Send a test message and see the conversation in the corresponding inbox |
What you need before you start
- A Papo account created with the first user free.
- A WhatsApp number you control and that can receive an SMS or call for verification.
- Access to Facebook Business Manager to create an app and activate WhatsApp.
- Approved message templates if your company starts conversations or sends broadcasts.
Step-by-step to connect
1. Create the inbox in Papo
In the Papo Global dashboard, go to Settings → Inboxes. Click Add inbox (or Add new Inbox) and choose WhatsApp – Cloud API (Meta). This is the first step before preparing Meta.
2. Verify the number and create the app in Meta
Go to Facebook Business Manager and sign in with an existing account or create one. Confirm that the phone number you will use is verified. Then create an app in Meta's developer portal and activate the WhatsApp product. If you plan to start conversations from your company, register and approve the message templates.
3. Copy the Meta account credentials
After activating the Cloud API, Meta shows the three pieces of information Papo will ask for: phone number ID, WhatsApp Business account ID, and access token. Copy this data to use in the form.
4. Fill in and save the inbox in Papo
Return to the new inbox screen. Enter the inbox name, the number in international format (e.g., +5511999999999), the phone number ID, the account ID, and the token. Associate the agents who will handle conversations and click Save.
5. Test sending and confirm the inbox
Test a message through the test environment indicated in Meta or through the app you created. For messages started by your company, use an approved template. Then check that the conversation appears in the corresponding inbox inside Papo.
Permissions and best practices before saving
Before pasting the credentials, review these points:
- The number used is verified in Facebook Business Manager and can receive an SMS or call.
- You have access to the Meta account that created the app.
- The necessary message templates are registered and approved.
- The inbox agents are associated so no conversation is left without an owner.
How Papo organizes the connected WhatsApp
After saving, the inbox appears in Papo as a WhatsApp Cloud API channel. The platform lists the account's inboxes, uses Meta's official approved templates, and allows you to send official messages to one or several contacts, always with consent and opt-in. Conversations arrive in the Conversations module along with the other channels.
Who this guide is for
- Those who just created their Papo account and want to activate WhatsApp as their first channel.
- Companies that want to handle WhatsApp in the same dashboard as CRM, AI, and Kanban.
- Operations that need official approved templates for messages started by the company.
- Teams that want to move away from manual service on a cell phone and keep history and follow-up in Papo.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to have the WhatsApp Business App installed?
No. The connection uses Meta's official Cloud API; the number is verified in Facebook Business Manager, and service happens in Papo through the browser.
Can I use a personal number?
Use a number you control and that can receive an SMS or call during verification. For business service, prefer a company number that the team can manage.
Do I need a card to connect WhatsApp?
No. The first user in Papo Global is free and signup does not require a card. The channel connection can be validated with this first user.
Why do templates need to be approved?
For messages started by the company, Meta requires approved templates. Papo lists Meta's approved templates and allows official sending.
Where do WhatsApp messages appear after connection?
In the inbox you created. Through the Conversations module, messages from all channels stay in the same service queue.
What should I do if the integration does not save?
Check that the data copied from Meta is correct, that the number is verified, and that the login used has access to the app. Also review whether the inbox has associated agents.
Read also
- How to switch between WhatsApp, Instagram, and email inboxes in Papo
- How to create an interactive options menu on WhatsApp to route customers
First user R$ 0, no card required to connect your WhatsApp and test your operation.