How to Connect WhatsApp Business Cloud Credentials to N8N

Setting Up WhatsApp Business Cloud Credentials in n8n

To connect WhatsApp Business Cloud features in n8n, you will need specific credentials that authorize two different node types:

• WhatsApp Business Cloud node
• WhatsApp Trigger node

What You'll Need Before Getting Started

To create these credentials, make sure you have access to the following Meta platforms and tools:

1. A Meta Developer Profile

This is needed to manage apps and link WhatsApp services.

How to create one:

1. Go to the Facebook Developers portal
2. Click Getting Started in the top right corner. If it says My Apps, your developer account is already active
3. Agree to the platform's terms
4. Provide a valid phone number for account verification
5. Choose your professional role or area of work

2. A Verified Meta Business Portfolio

WhatsApp tools require a business portfolio, previously called Business Manager. Depending on the interface, you may see either term.

To create one:

1. Head over to the Facebook Business portal
2. Click Create an account
3. If you already manage a business account but need an additional portfolio, open the left menu, choose the portfolio dropdown, and click Create a business portfolio
4. Provide a name, your full name, and a business email
5. Submit the form to complete the setup

3. A Meta App Linked to WhatsApp

Once you've created your developer profile and business portfolio, the next step is to build a Meta app and attach WhatsApp to it.

Steps to follow:

1. Navigate to the Apps dashboard on the Meta for Developers site
2. Click Create App
3. In the product list, find WhatsApp and click Set up
4. This takes you to the WhatsApp Quickstart page. Choose your business portfolio and continue
5. Under App Settings, go to the Basic section
6. Provide URLs for your privacy policy and terms of service
7. Change the app mode from development to live

Authentication Options for WhatsApp Nodes

There are two ways to authenticate:

• Option 1: API Key (for the WhatsApp Business Cloud node)
• Option 2: OAuth2 (for the WhatsApp Trigger node)

Option 1 – Authenticating with API Key

To use this method, you'll need two things:

• An access token for the API
• A WhatsApp Business Account ID

Steps to generate these:

1. Go to the Meta Apps dashboard
2. Choose your app
3. In the left menu, select WhatsApp, then API Setup
4. Click Generate access token, accept the requested permissions
5. Copy the token and paste it into the Access Token field in n8n
6. Copy the Business Account ID and add it to the appropriate field in n8n

For a full app launch, additional setup is required. See Meta's Steps 5 and up under their guide for Tech Providers, and consult the App Review documentation to complete verification.

Option 2 – Authenticating with OAuth2

To use the WhatsApp Trigger node, set up OAuth2 credentials with the following details:

• Client ID
• Client Secret

How to get them:

1. Go to the Meta for Developers dashboard
2. Open your app
3. From the side menu, go to App Settings, then Basic
4. Copy the App ID and use it as the Client ID in n8n
5. Copy the App Secret and enter it as the Client Secret in n8n

Just like with the API method, a full app launch requires more steps. Make sure to read Meta's full documentation for Tech Providers and go through the official App Review process for final approval.

Additional Resources

If needed, you can always refer to the WhatsApp Cloud API documentation for technical reference, usage guidelines, and advanced configuration.

Next Steps

Now that you have WhatsApp Business Cloud credentials set up in n8n, you can:

• Build automated customer service workflows
• Create order notification systems
• Implement marketing automation campaigns
• Integrate with your CRM and database systems

Ready to build a complete chatbot? Check out our guide: Build Your Own WhatsApp Chatbot with N8N