Connect your WhatsApp number

Your community's members message one WhatsApp Business number to join, ask for introductions and answer offers. As the owner, you connect that number yourself in Settings → WhatsApp number. It takes about 30 minutes in Meta's business tools, then one click in Milvao. If you'd rather not, Milvao staff can connect it with you during pilot setup.

Meta changes its screens often. The labels below are the ones Meta used in November 2026; if one differs slightly, look for the closest match.

Overview#

Open Settings → WhatsApp number. The Connect your number form is at the top, with the six steps of How to set it up below it (on very wide screens, side by side: the form on the left, the steps on the right).

1. Choose the number#

Not sure which number to use, or whether you can reuse one you already have? Read Choosing a number for your community first. It covers existing numbers, landlines, numbers on other platforms, display names, limits and costs.

Deleting a number from the WhatsApp Business app: in the app open Settings → Account → Delete account. Chats on that phone are lost. Wait a few minutes before adding it to Meta.

Start business verification early. In Business settings open Security Centre → Start verification. Until Meta verifies your business, the number can only start conversations with a small number of people each day. Members who message first can always get replies.

2. Create the WhatsApp Business Account#

1. Open business.facebook.com and sign in with Facebook. No business portfolio yet? Click Create a business portfolio and enter your community's name, your name and a business email.
2. Go to Business settings (business.facebook.com/settings), then Accounts → WhatsApp accounts. Click Add, then Create a new WhatsApp Business account.
3. Name the account after your community, pick your time zone and a category.
4. Set the display name to your community's name as people know it. Members see it at the top of the chat. Meta reviews it, usually within a day or two.
5. Add the number: country code, number, then Text message or Phone call, and enter the 6-digit code.
6. Check it in WhatsApp Manager (business.facebook.com/wa/manage) under Account tools → Phone numbers. You can also add the number from there with Add phone number.

3. Connect Milvao's app to your business#

Your members' messages reach Milvao through Milvao's Meta app, so the token you make next must be for that app.

1. In Business settings, open Accounts → Apps.
2. Click Add, then Request access to an app ID.
3. Enter Milvao's app ID. It is shown in step 3 of How to set it up, with a Copy button. If it isn't, Milvao support sends it to you.
4. Milvao approves the request, usually within a working day. The Milvao app then appears in your Apps list.

This doesn't give Milvao access to anything else in your business.

4. Create a system user and its token#

1. In Business settings, open Users → System users and click Add. Name it Milvao and choose the Employee role. If Generate token stays greyed out later, change the role to Admin.
2. Select the system user and click Assign assets:
   • Apps: pick Milvao and turn on Manage app.
   • WhatsApp accounts: pick your new account and turn on full control.
   • Click Save changes.
3. Click Generate token. Choose the app Milvao, set Token expiration to Never, and tick:
   • whatsapp_business_management
   • whatsapp_business_messaging
4. Click Generate token and copy it. Meta shows it once.

Paste the token straight into Milvao. Don't send it by email or chat, to Milvao or anyone else.

5. Find your WhatsApp Business Account ID#

• WhatsApp Business Account ID: in Business settings open Accounts → WhatsApp accounts and click your account. The ID is the long number under its name, usually 15 or 16 digits.
• Phone number ID: you can leave it empty. Milvao lists the numbers in your account and uses the only one, or asks you to choose. It is an ID, not the phone number itself.

6. Paste and check#

In Connect your number:

Click Check connection. If your number is already live, Milvao first asks Replace your live number?: pointing it at a different number pauses introductions until Milvao switches the new one on. The same number changes nothing.

Milvao then shows What Milvao found. Nothing is saved unless the token works and the number belongs to the account. When it saves, the token is encrypted and the form empties. Later, Check again reruns everything with what is saved.

If your account has several numbers, Milvao asks Which number will members message? Choose one and click Check connection again. Your token is still in the form.

What the check covers#

When the first five pass, the result says Your number is connected and the status moves from Being set up to Testing.

Register the number#

If the number is verified but not registered, enter a 6-digit PIN and click Register number. The PIN becomes the number's two-step verification PIN; keep it safe. If you already set a two-step verification PIN for this number in WhatsApp Manager, enter that one.

Message templates#

WhatsApp only lets a business start a conversation, or write more than 24 hours after a member's last message, with a template Meta has approved. Milvao uses four. Click Submit Milvao's templates to send any missing ones to Meta for review (category Utility, in your community's reply language; English today). Meta usually reviews them within minutes, sometimes up to a day. Click Check again to see the result.

Milvao recognises templates named milvao_offer_v1, milvao_disclosure_v1, milvao_request_update_v1 and milvao_profile_link_v1 (and later versions). This is the exact wording it submits:

Introduction offer (milvao_offer_v1), with two quick reply buttons in this order: Accept, Decline

A member of {{1}} is looking for help:

"{{2}}" Service: {{3}} City: {{4}}

Would you like an introduction? If you accept, we'll share your WhatsApp number with them and theirs with you. If you decline, nothing is shared.

This offer is open for 48 hours.

Contact disclosure (milvao_disclosure_v1)

You're now introduced to {{1}}. Their WhatsApp number is {{2}}

This is about: "{{3}}".

They have your number too, so either of you can say hello first.

Request update (milvao_request_update_v1)

An update on your request: "{{1}}".

{{2}}

Reply here if you need anything else.

Profile link (milvao_profile_link_v1)

Here is your private profile link: {{1}}

It works for 60 minutes, once. Reply PROFILE for a new one.

The {{1}} style placeholders are filled in by Milvao for each message: community name, request summary, service, city, the other person's name and number, or the profile link.

Going live#

1. With the status at Testing, send any message from your personal WhatsApp to the business number. Milvao records it automatically and Receiving messages gets a tick.
2. Milvao staff check that a reply reaches you, then switch the number on. The status shows Active.

Only Milvao staff switch a number to Active, Needs attention or Turned off. Your check never does.

What members see#

• Your display name at the top of the chat (the number until Meta approves the name).
• Replies from Milvao's assistant in the chat, and the template messages above when Milvao writes first.
• Nothing changes for members if you click Check again. Pointing the connection at a different number means members must message the new number.

Troubleshooting#

Connect with Facebook (coming soon)#

A quicker option is on the way: one Connect with Facebook button that lets you sign in, pick or create your WhatsApp Business Account and number, and skip copying IDs and tokens. It appears in Settings → WhatsApp number once Meta has approved Milvao. Until then, use the steps above.

Frequently asked questions#

Who can connect the number?#

Only the workspace owner. Operators who open Settings → WhatsApp number see "Only the workspace owner can connect the business number."

Can Milvao staff see my token?#

No. It is encrypted before it is stored and never shown again, to you, your operators or Milvao staff. Milvao only uses it to talk to Meta for your number.

Can I keep using this number in the WhatsApp Business app?#

No. A number connected to Milvao works through Meta's Cloud API only. Use a new number. See Choosing a number for your community.

Why does Milvao need its own app connected to my business?#

Members' messages reach Milvao through Milvao's Meta app. The token you create must be for that app, which is why step 3 comes first.

What does it cost?#

Meta charges for some business-initiated messages on your WhatsApp Business Account. Add a payment method in WhatsApp Manager under Overview → Add payment method. Milvao's own pricing is separate.

Can I change the number later?#

Yes. Paste the new account ID or token and click Check connection. A live number goes back to Testing until Milvao switches the new one on.