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Connect WhatsApp Business

Connect your WhatsApp Business number to Thenexi (Meta Cloud API) step by step — IDs, permanent token, app secret, webhook and going live.

Your AI answers customers on WhatsApp, sends promotions with approved templates, turns your voice notes into tasks and sends your morning briefing. You need about 15 minutes.

What you need from Meta (4 values)

1. Phone number ID and WhatsApp Business Account ID — at developers.facebook.com → your app → WhatsApp → API setup (or Step 2. Production setup). Choose your real number in "From".
2. Permanent access token — business.facebook.com/settings/system-users:
   1. Add a system user (role Admin).
   2. Assign assets: your app (full control) and your WhatsApp account (full control).
   3. Generate token: choose the app, expiry Never, tick whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management. Copy it — Meta shows it once.
3. App secret — your app → App settings → Basic → App secret → Show.

The number must be registered in WhatsApp Manager and not used in the WhatsApp app.

Connect in Thenexi

AI Employee → WhatsApp, paste the 4 values and click Connect WhatsApp. The token is stored encrypted.

Add the webhook (so messages arrive)

1. In Thenexi WhatsApp → Settings → Connection, copy the Callback URL and Verify token.
2. Meta app → WhatsApp → Configuration → Webhook → Edit → paste both → Verify and save.
3. Webhook fields → Manage → messages → Subscribe.
4. Thenexi shows Webhook verified and the header says Live.

Go live

In App settings → Basic add an app icon, privacy policy URL, category and data-deletion URL, then switch the app to Live (Publish). Add a payment method in WhatsApp Manager → Payment methods — Meta charges for conversations you start.

Profile picture and description

Set them in WhatsApp Manager → Phone numbers → your number → Profile. The display name needs Meta's approval.

Chats and settings

• Chats — every conversation, with filters (Open, Need you, Unread, Closed). AI replies are marked; you can jump in any time. Your sent messages show WhatsApp ticks — one grey (sent), two grey (delivered), two blue (read); hover for the times, and the last message shows "Read 14:05". Free replies are only allowed within 24 hours of the customer's last message.
• Settings → When a customer writes: AI answers (recommended), AI drafts, you send, or Just collect.
• Your own WhatsApp: add your mobile number — voice notes and texts from it become tasks; message "briefing" for today's summary.

Next: Templates · Campaigns