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Who can use this?
  • Gallabox users with channel management permissions.
  • Roles: Owners and Admins
  • Plans: Available on all Gallabox plans. Note: messaging limits differ before and after Meta Business verification.

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Plan Availability

Available on all Gallabox plans.
Messaging limits before verification: After connecting, you can reply to customer-initiated conversations (unlimited) and send business-initiated messages to up to 250 unique customers per 24-hour rolling period. Completing Meta Business verification raises that to 2,000, after which it increases automatically as you send more. See Meta Business Verification.

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What is the WhatsApp Business API?

The WhatsApp Business API (also called WhatsApp Cloud API) lets your business send and receive WhatsApp messages at scale through a platform like Gallabox — instead of a single phone. Compared to the WhatsApp Business App:

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Prerequisites

Before you connect, make sure you have:
  1. A Facebook Business Manager account — this is where your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) will live. Create one at business.facebook.com if you don’t have one yet.
  2. A phone number to use — this must be a mobile number that is not already connected to WhatsApp Business API via another provider. If you want to keep the WhatsApp Business App on the same number, see WhatsApp Co-existence instead.
  3. Access to that phone number — you’ll receive an OTP during setup. The SIM must be active.
  4. A verified Meta Business — for higher messaging limits. You can connect before verifying, but your sending limits will be restricted.

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How to Connect

1

Start the connection

  1. Go to WhatsApp Channel in the left navigation of Gallabox.
  2. Click Connect Your WhatsApp.
  3. Choose Connect by Yourself (the standard Cloud API setup).
2

Fill in your business information

  1. Enter your Business Name — this will appear as your display name on WhatsApp.
  2. Enter your Business Website — must be active and show your business name.
  3. Enter your Business Address and Phone Number.
  4. Click Next.
The business name and details you enter here will be reviewed by Meta. They must match the documents you submit for Business verification. Inconsistencies between your business profile, website, and verification documents are a common cause of rejection.
3

Create or select your WABA

  1. You’ll be redirected to Meta’s WhatsApp Manager.
  2. Sign in with your Facebook Business Manager account. If you don’t have one, create it at business.facebook.com.
  3. Choose one of:
    • Use existing WABA — if you already have a WhatsApp Business Account connected to your Business Manager
    • Create new WABA — enter a name and select your business use case
4

Add your phone number

  1. Enter the mobile number you want to connect.
  2. Select the country code from the dropdown.
  3. Click Send Code — an OTP will be sent to that number via SMS or call.
  4. Enter the 6-digit OTP to verify ownership.
  5. Wait 3–5 minutes for your WhatsApp instance to be provisioned.
5

Authorize Gallabox

  1. Once your instance is ready, you’ll be redirected to authorize Gallabox.
  2. Click Authorize to allow Gallabox to send and receive messages on behalf of your WABA.
  3. You’ll be redirected back to Gallabox — your WhatsApp channel will now appear as Connected.
Pro tip: Once connected, go to Channel configuration to set up your greeting message, away message, and business hours — before you start receiving customer messages.

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What Happens After Connection

To check your connection status and messaging limits, go to WhatsApp Channel → [your channel] → Settings.

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Meta Business Verification

Completing Meta Business verification raises your messaging limit and is a prerequisite for the blue checkmark. Verification is separate from connecting your channel — you can do it after connecting.

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What you’ll need

  • A Facebook Business Manager account with admin access
  • A business website served over HTTPS, matching your business name
  • Business registration documents — accepted documents vary by country. Common ones: Certificate of Incorporation, Business License, Business Bank Statement
Facebook cross-checks submitted documents against government records (e.g., MCA in India). Ensure all details — legal name, address, phone number — match exactly what appears on your registration documents.

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How to verify

  1. Go to business.facebook.com → Business Settings → Security Center.
  2. Click Start Verification.
  3. Fill in your business details — name, address, phone, website. Must match your documents.
  4. Select your business from the matched list Facebook generates.
  5. Submit documents for Legal Business Name, Address, and Phone verification.
  6. Choose a verification method: Email, Phone call, or Domain verification.
  7. Enter the code and submit.
Review time: 3 business days to 4 weeks. You’ll receive an email when Facebook makes a decision.

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What verification unlocks

  • A higher messaging limit — from 250 to 2,000 unique customers per 24 hours, with further increases happening automatically
  • Eligibility for the blue checkmark — verification is one of the requirements for Official Business Account status

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How Your Messaging Limit Grows

Your messaging limit is the number of unique customers you can start a conversation with in a rolling 24-hour period. Replies inside an open customer service window don’t count against it. A new business starts at 250. To reach 2,000, do either of these:
  • Complete Meta Business verification, or
  • Send 2,000 delivered business-initiated messages to unique customers over a rolling 30-day period, using templates with a high quality rating
After you reach 2,000, Meta raises your limit on its own — to 10,000, then 100,000, then unlimited. Each increase happens within about six hours of you meeting two conditions: you’re sending high-quality messages across all your numbers and templates, and you used at least half your current limit in the last 7 days.
Your messaging limit is shared across every number in your Meta business portfolio. It is not set per number. If you have three WhatsApp numbers under one portfolio and one of them sends a large broadcast, it can consume the whole allowance for all three. Plan big campaigns with this in mind.
Quality rating still works per number. A drop in quality rating no longer reduces your messaging limit, but it can restrict or block sends — see Broadcast limits. To see your current limit, go to WhatsApp Manager → Account tools → Messaging limits.

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Official Business Account (Blue Checkmark)

An Official Business Account (OBA) is a WhatsApp number that Meta has confirmed belongs to an authentic and notable business. OBA numbers show a blue checkmark beside their name in the customer’s contacts view.
The blue checkmark is a separate application from Meta Business verification. Verifying your business does not grant it — you apply for it afterwards, and Meta reviews the request separately.

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Why it matters

Customers can find you in WhatsApp search. A number without OBA status does not appear when someone searches for your business inside WhatsApp. It only shows your display name if the customer has already saved your number as a contact. This is the most common reason a business finds itself invisible in WhatsApp search. It also builds recognition — customers are less likely to ignore or dismiss a message from a checkmarked account.

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Eligibility

Before you can apply, all of these must be true:
  • Your business follows the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy
  • Your number has been registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days
  • The business portfolio that owns the number has completed Meta Business verification
  • Two-step verification is enabled on the number
  • Your display name has been approved
Meta does not grant OBA status to individuals, test accounts, or WhatsApp Business App numbers — your display name must belong to the business, not a person.
Meeting these requirements lets you apply — it does not mean you’ll be approved. Meta grants the checkmark to businesses it considers notable, and the application asks for 5 to 10 supporting links that evidence this.

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How to apply

  1. Go to WhatsApp Manager → Overview and click your business phone number.
  2. Enable two-step verification if it isn’t already on.
  3. Go to Phone numbers → Profile → Official business account and click Submit Request.
Have ready your official business website, your primary country of operation, your parent business or brand if you have one, and the supporting links. Meta reviews the request and notifies you of the decision. If you can’t apply from WhatsApp Manager, contact Gallabox support.

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If your request is denied

A denial means Meta reviewed your account and decided it doesn’t meet the bar at this time. It isn’t a penalty, and it doesn’t restrict anything — your messaging, limits, and templates carry on exactly as before. You must wait 30 days before submitting another request. Use that time to strengthen the supporting links you’ll submit with the next one. In the meantime, you can still make your business look complete and trustworthy to customers. Your business profile carries a profile picture, business description, email, website, and address, and you can edit all of those at any time from WhatsApp Manager → Account tools → Phone numbers → your number → Profile.
Once your number has OBA status, you can no longer change your display name yourself. Changes have to go through Meta support. Settle on the display name you want before you apply.

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Connecting Multiple Numbers

You can connect multiple WhatsApp numbers to Gallabox — each as a separate channel. Each number:
  • Has its own WABA
  • Has its own quality rating and display name
  • Can be managed independently in Gallabox
Messaging limits, however, are not per number — every number in the same Meta business portfolio draws on one shared limit. See How your messaging limit grows. To add another number: go to WhatsApp Channel → Add Channel → Connect Another Number.

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Using the WhatsApp Business App on the Same Number

To keep the WhatsApp Business App on your phone while using Gallabox on the same number, use Co-existence — see WhatsApp Co-existence.

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FAQs

Wait up to 5 minutes after entering the OTP. If it stays stuck for more than 10 minutes:
  1. Check that the phone number hasn’t been used with another WhatsApp Business API provider (this blocks new connections).
  2. Try clearing your browser cache and starting again.
  3. If the issue persists, contact Gallabox support with your phone number and screenshot.
  1. Make sure the phone has a working SIM and mobile data is enabled for SMS reception.
  2. Check that the country code is correct.
  3. If you have an IVR (auto-attendant) on that number, disable it temporarily — it can block SMS OTPs.
  4. Try requesting the OTP again after 2 minutes.
  5. If it still doesn’t arrive, try the Call Me option to receive the code via a phone call instead.
Because your number doesn’t have Official Business Account status yet. Without the blue checkmark, your business doesn’t appear in WhatsApp’s in-app search — customers only see your display name if they’ve already saved your number as a contact. Apply for Official Business Account status to become searchable.
Blue. Meta’s Official Business Account badge is a blue checkmark shown beside your business name in the customer’s contacts view. The green badge some businesses remember is no longer what WhatsApp uses.
Business verification and the blue checkmark are two separate applications. Verification confirms your business is real and raises your messaging limit — it makes you eligible to apply for the checkmark, nothing more. The checkmark is a further request you submit from WhatsApp Manager, and Meta grants it based on whether your business is notable, not just genuine. See Official Business Account.
Messaging limits are set on your Meta business portfolio, not on individual numbers. Every WhatsApp number in the portfolio draws on the same 24-hour allowance, so a large send from one number leaves less for the others. Check the shared limit in WhatsApp Manager → Account tools → Messaging limits.
Typically 3 business days to 4 weeks. New businesses or businesses with incomplete documents may take longer. You’ll receive an email from Meta with the outcome. Check your status in Facebook Business Manager → Security Center.
No. WhatsApp requires a mobile phone number with SMS or voice call capability for OTP verification. Landlines and VoIP numbers (Google Voice, etc.) are not supported.
With standard Cloud API setup, no existing chats are imported. Only new conversations after connection will appear in Gallabox. For chat history sync options, see what syncs with WhatsApp Coexistence.