# Connect WhatsApp — Manual setup

> Connect using your Phone Number ID, WhatsApp Business Account ID, and access token.

_Source: https://hexafloww.com/docs/connect-accounts/connect-whatsapp-manual_

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Manual setup connects a WhatsApp number using three values from Meta Business Manager: the Phone Number ID, the WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) ID, and a permanent System User access token. Use this when Automatic Setup isn't available or your number is already set up in Meta.

> [!TIP]
> **Before you start**
> - You need the **Admin** or **Manager** role.
> - Your number must already exist in **Meta Business Manager → WhatsApp Manager** with a verified phone number.
> - You need access to create a **System User** and generate a permanent token in Business Settings.

## Find your credentials in Meta

In Meta Business Manager, open **WhatsApp Manager → API Setup**. Next to your phone number you'll see:

- **Phone Number ID** — a long numeric value.
- **WhatsApp Business Account ID** — also numeric.

For the token, go to **Business Settings → Users → System Users**, create or pick a System User, click **Generate new token**, select your app, and grant the `whatsapp_business_messaging` and `whatsapp_business_management` permissions. Copy the token — it's shown only once.

![Meta WhatsApp Manager API Setup page showing Phone Number ID and WABA ID](https://hexafloww.com/docs/connect-accounts/whatsapp-api-setup.webp)

> [!WARNING]
> Use the **permanent System User token**, not the temporary 24-hour token on the API Setup page. The temporary one stops working the next day and your sending will fail.

## Enter them in HexaFloww

1. **Open the WhatsApp connect page.** Sidebar → **Connect Accounts** → **WhatsApp**.
2. **Open the manual form.** Click **Add WhatsApp Account** (or the manual-entry option). The **Connect WhatsApp Business** form opens.
3. **Paste the three values.** Fill in **Phone Number ID**, **WABA ID**, and **System User Access Token**. Optionally add a **Display Phone Number** — this is only a label for your own reference and doesn't affect sending.

   ![Connect WhatsApp Business form with Phone Number ID, WABA ID and token fields](https://hexafloww.com/docs/connect-accounts/whatsapp-manual-form.webp)
4. **Click Connect.** HexaFloww verifies the credentials, subscribes the number to webhooks, and adds it to **Connected Numbers**. An error here almost always means a wrong ID or an expired/under-permissioned token.

## One WhatsApp number per project

> [!WARNING]
> Each project can have **one active WhatsApp number**. Disconnect the current one before connecting a different number, or use a separate project.

## Common problems

- **"Invalid token" or permission errors** — the System User is missing the two WhatsApp permissions, or the token was generated for the wrong app.
- **Wrong number connected** — the Phone Number ID belongs to a different number on the same WABA. Re-check the value next to the correct number on the API Setup page.
- **Sending fails a day later** — you used the temporary token. Disconnect, generate a permanent System User token, and reconnect.

> [!TIP]
> **Next steps**
> - [WhatsApp overview & account health](https://hexafloww.com/docs/whatsapp/whatsapp-overview.md)
> - [Create a message template](https://hexafloww.com/docs/whatsapp/whatsapp-templates.md)