> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://novu-c5de82d9-docs-homepage-redesign.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WhatsApp Business Chat Integration with Novu

> Connect WhatsApp Business to Novu to send chat notifications through notification workflows. Step-by-step credential setup.

<Note>
  Check out the [agents](/agents) documentation for more information on how to build agents using WhatsApp.
</Note>

## Getting Started

To integrate WhatsApp Business with Novu, You will have to create a facebook developer app and obtain the necessary credentials.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a Facebook developer app">
    Visit the [Facebook Developer Portal](https://developers.facebook.com/apps/) and create a new app.

    Select "Other" for "What do you want your app to do?" and select "Business" for "Select an app type".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Setup WhatsApp product">
    On the App Setup page, click on "Set Up" under the "WhatsApp" product. You will need to create or
    add a Facebook Business Account to your app.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send a sandbox message">
    Copy the following pieces and paste them in the Novu WhatsApp Business integration settings:

    * Temporary access token - Access API token field
    * Phone Number ID - Phone number identification field

    <Warning>
      It's important to note that the test credentials for whatsapp cannot be used
      in production and will expire in 24 hours. You will need to submit your app
      for review to obtain production credentials.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a test phone number">
    You can add a test phone number to the sandbox by clicking on the **"Add Phone Number"** button.
    This number can be used to test your integration with Novu before submitting for a review.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send a test notification from Novu">
    You can now create a new workflow with a "chat" node, and add your content. Save your workflow, and click on **"Trigger Notification"** button.

    In the to field, specify the phone number you added in the sandbox, and click on "Send Notification".

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "subscriberId": "TEST_SUBSCRIBER_ID",
      "phone": "+11111111111"
    }
    ```

    and in the `overrides` field, add the following:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "chat": {
        "template": {
          "name": "hello_world",
          "language": {
            "code": "en_US"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    <Note>
      For test credentials you can only used the built in Whats App Template.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Going to production

<Steps>
  <Step title="Register a business phone number">
    To go live you will need to add a real business phone number and submit your app for review.
    Follow the [Facebook Instructions](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/get-started/add-a-phone-number) on how to proceed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate a permanent access token">
    Follow the [Facebook
    Instructions](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/business-management-api/get-started/)
    on how to generate a permanent access token. Depending on your use case.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a WhatsApp template">
    You will need to create a WhatsApp Template to send notifications to your customers. Create a template in the [Business Manager](https://business.facebook.com/wa/manage/message-templates) and submit it for review.
    After your template is approved, you can use the `template_name` to send notifications to your customers.

    To send a notification with a template, you will need to add the following to the `overrides` field:

    ```typescript theme={null}
    import { Novu } from '@novu/api';

    const novu = new Novu({
      secretKey: "<NOVU_SECRET_KEY>",
      // Required if using EU region
      // serverURL: "https://eu.api.novu.co",
    });

    await novu.trigger({
      workflowId: "workflowId",
      to: {
        subscriberId: "subscriberId",
        phone: '+11111111111',
      },
      payload: {},
      overrides: {
        chat: {
          template: {
            name: 'template_name',
            language: {
              code: 'en_US',
            },
          },
        },
      },
    });
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using WhatsApp with agents

WhatsApp is a supported [agent provider](/agents/get-started/agents-and-providers). Connect your WhatsApp Business account to an agent so users can message your number and get replies in the same thread — without building Meta webhook handling yourself.

<Card title="Build agents on WhatsApp" icon="bot" href="/agents">
  Learn how Novu agents work, including managed and custom code agents.
</Card>

### What you get

When WhatsApp is connected to an agent:

* Users message your WhatsApp number and your agent responds in the same chat
* Conversations appear in the dashboard under **Agent Conversations**
* Supported content includes text, markdown, and interactive buttons; inbound media is surfaced via attachments

See [agent conversations](/agents/conversations#supported-platforms) for capabilities across all providers.

### Agent conversations vs. workflow notifications

| Use case                  | What happens                                                                                         |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Agent conversation**    | The user messages your WhatsApp number and your agent replies in the same chat.                      |
| **Workflow notification** | You trigger a workflow with a Chat step and Novu sends a one-way template message to the subscriber. |

## Related

<Card icon="bot" href="/agents/get-started/agents-and-providers" title="Agents and providers">
  Connect WhatsApp and other providers to an agent.
</Card>