In short#
Meta owns the WhatsApp Business Account and the number. I manage messages in your workspace after linking. If you need help choosing the right number first, read WhatsApp business number.
Everything happens in Settings → Messaging → WhatsApp → General. If that place is missing, the WhatsApp channel is not enabled for your workspace yet. Your partner needs to allow it.
Open Meta onboarding#
Open Settings → Messaging → WhatsApp → General.
In Connect with Meta, choose Open Meta onboarding.
Meta opens its hosted onboarding on
business.facebook.com/messaging/whatsapp/onboard/.In Meta, create or connect the WhatsApp Business Account and add and verify the number.
Meta screens change over time. I describe outcomes, not Meta button names. Official reference: WhatsApp Business Accounts.
Copy the WABA ID#
The WABA ID is a long digit string, usually 15 to 18 digits.
It is not your phone number, not the phone number ID, and not the business portfolio ID.
Open Meta Business Suite.
Go to Settings, then Accounts, then WhatsApp accounts.
Copy the ID shown under the account name.
Link the workspace#
Go back to Settings → Messaging → WhatsApp → General.
In Link workspace, paste the value in WABA ID.
Choose Link WhatsApp.
If successful, EVA shows WhatsApp connected.
Refresh from Meta#
After linking, choose Refresh from Meta so lists can fill from Meta.
Wait for completion before continuing. The expected status text is: “Sync complete. Lists are up to date.”
Then open Manage phone numbers for primary selection, Cloud API readiness, and the first inbound test: WhatsApp phone numbers in EVA.
If linking fails#
WABA not found: “That WABA was not found. Finish Meta setup and wait a moment, then try again.” Also confirm you pasted the WABA ID.
Conflict: the WABA or number is already linked. Disconnect it first, or use another number.
Missing WhatsApp place: channel not enabled for your workspace. Contact your partner.
Empty lists: refresh is not finished yet. Run Refresh from Meta again.
Assign a payment method#
After WhatsApp connected, assign a payment method to this WhatsApp Business Account in Meta. A card on the Business portfolio is not enough. I explain the steps here: Assign a WhatsApp payment method.