Overview
Connect your WhatsApp Business account to ConnectLoop so your AI agent can automatically respond to customer messages on WhatsApp.
Once connected, the same AI agent you configured in ConnectLoop will handle WhatsApp conversations using the same:
- AI training and knowledge sources
- Agent behavior and settings
- Appointment booking configuration
- Lead capture and qualification flows
Your customers can message your business through WhatsApp, and your ConnectLoop agent Lia will respond automatically on your behalf.
This guide uses the "Use a display name only" option.
With this option you do not need to provide or verify your own phone number. Meta automatically reserves a WhatsApp phone number for you, and you can start sending test messages right away while Meta reviews your business.
Important Requirements
Before connecting WhatsApp, please note the following:
No Personal Phone Number Needed
Because you are using the display name only option, you do not need an existing WhatsApp number. Meta reserves a fresh number for your business automatically.
If you would rather connect your own number instead, you can choose "Use a new or existing WhatsApp number" — but that number must not already be in use by any Personal WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, or WhatsApp Business Account.
Facebook Account Requirement
A Facebook account is required to connect WhatsApp.
If you do not already have a Facebook account, you can create one during the connection process.
Step 1: Log In to ConnectLoop
Log in to your ConnectLoop account:
https://agents.connectloop.ai/
Step 2: Open Connected Apps
From the left sidebar, navigate to:
Connected Apps
or visit:
https://agents.connectloop.ai/your-company/connected-apps
Step 3: Start the WhatsApp Connection
Locate WhatsApp in the Connected Apps page.
Click:
Connect with OAuth
Step 4: Sign In to Facebook
If you are already logged in to Facebook
A Facebook authorization window will open automatically.
If you are not logged in
You will be redirected to Facebook where you can:
- Log in to an existing account
- Create a new Facebook account
After logging in, the Facebook authorization window will open.
Step 5: Connect Your Facebook Account
You will see:
Seamlessly connect your account to ConnectLoop Inc
Review what you'll be able to do, then click:
Continue
Facebook onboarding — click Continue to begin
Step 6: Select Business Assets
You will see:
Select the business assets to share with ConnectLoop
You can use existing assets or create new ones.
Business Portfolio
Choose an existing Business Portfolio, or select Create a Business portfolio if you do not already have one.
WhatsApp Business Account
Select an existing WhatsApp Business account, or choose Create a WhatsApp Business account.
Select your Business Portfolio and WhatsApp Business account
Click:
Next
New Business Account
Select:
Create a WhatsApp Business Account
Click:
Next
Step 7: Enter Business Information (if prompted)
If you are creating new assets, you will see:
Enter business information for new assets
Fill in your business name, email, category, country, website, and time zone, then click Next. (If you selected existing assets, this step may be skipped.)
Step 8: Choose How You Want to Be Identified
You will see:
Add your WhatsApp phone number
Choose how you want to be identified when sending messages. Two options are available:
- Use a display name only — people only see a display name in the chat (no phone number needed).
- Use a new or existing WhatsApp number — connect your own number (verification may be required).
"Use a display name only" selected, with your display name entered
Select "Use a display name only"
Choose the first option: Use a display name only.
A note titled Additional verification required appears. Meta will review your business name and display name — this can take up to 1 business day. During the review you can send up to 5 business-initiated test messages every 24 hours. You'll receive an email once the review is complete.
Enter Your WhatsApp Business Display Name
In the WhatsApp Business display name field, enter your business name.
Your display name should match your business name and comply with WhatsApp Business naming guidelines.
The two identification options — select the first one
Click:
Next
If you see a "delete an existing number" error:
If you (or your business) connected a WhatsApp number to this Business Portfolio before and then disconnected it in ConnectLoop, Meta still keeps that number assigned to your portfolio. Before it can process the connection again, that old number has to be removed. You'll see an error like:
"To use this phone number, you'll need to delete an existing one from Meta Business Suite or request additional numbers on your account."
Follow Step 8a below to remove the old number, then come back and continue.
The error shown when a previously connected number is still assigned to your portfolio
Step 8a: Remove the Previously Connected Number (only if you got the error above)
You need to delete the old number from your Meta Business Portfolio, then retry the connection. If you did not see the error, skip this and go to Step 9.
1. Open your Business Portfolio settings
In a new tab, go to Meta Business Suite → Settings. In the left menu, open Accounts → WhatsApp accounts and select your WhatsApp Business account (e.g. MyBuis).
Meta Business Suite → Settings → Accounts → WhatsApp accounts
2. Check the assigned numbers
Click the Phone numbers tab to see the numbers currently assigned to this account. This tab only lets you view the numbers — the delete option is not here.
Phone numbers assigned to the WhatsApp Business account (view only)
3. Open WhatsApp Manager
Click the WhatsApp Manager button (bottom-right of the account's Summary tab).
Important: the delete option only appears inside WhatsApp Manager — you cannot delete a number from the Phone numbers tab in Settings.
4. Delete the old number
In WhatsApp Manager, open Account tools → Phone numbers. Next to the number you want to free up, click the trash / delete icon. A Delete phone number dialog appears — review the warning, then click Next and confirm the deletion.
Delete phone number dialog in WhatsApp Manager — click Next and confirm
Deleting the number removes its display name & profile, official business account status, messaging limit tier & quality rating, and chat history & insights data. Only delete a number you intend to reconnect.
5. Retry the connection
Go back to ConnectLoop and start the WhatsApp connection again from Step 3. This time the number will no longer be blocked and you can continue.
Step 9: Review Permissions
You will see:
Review what you'll share with ConnectLoop
ConnectLoop will be able to manage your WhatsApp accounts, manage and access conversations in WhatsApp, and log events on your WhatsApp business account's behalf.
Review the information, then click:
Confirm
Review the permissions and click Confirm
Step 10: Finish Setup
Once completed, you will see:
Your account is connected to ConnectLoop Inc
Meta reserves a WhatsApp phone number for you. You can immediately start sending up to 5 messages within a rolling 24-hour period — this limit applies to both business-initiated messages and responses to user-initiated messages, until Meta finishes reviewing your business.
Click:
Finish
Account connected — Meta reserves a phone number for you. Click Finish
Step 11: Verify the Connection in ConnectLoop
The Facebook window will close and return you to ConnectLoop.
Back on the Connected Apps page:
- Refresh the page
- Locate WhatsApp
You should now see a Connected badge next to WhatsApp, along with your reserved phone number and WABA ID. While Meta review is pending, the status shows AVAILABLE_WITHOUT_REVIEW — this is normal and you can already send test messages.
WhatsApp shows as Connected with your reserved number and WABA ID
Step 12: Test Your WhatsApp Agent
To confirm everything is working correctly:
Test the WhatsApp Number
Send a WhatsApp message to the phone number you connected.
Ask a question about your business and verify that the AI agent responds.
Verify the Conversation in ConnectLoop
Navigate to:
Leads
or visit:
https://agents.connectloop.ai/your-company/leads
The WhatsApp conversation should appear in your Leads list.
What Success Looks Like
Your WhatsApp account shows as Connected in Connected Apps.
Your AI agent responds to WhatsApp messages automatically.
WhatsApp conversations appear in your Leads dashboard.
Customers can now communicate with your business through WhatsApp and receive AI-powered responses from your ConnectLoop agent.
Common Issues & Fixes
WhatsApp Does Not Show as Connected
Try the following:
- Refresh the Connected Apps page
- Wait a few minutes and refresh again
- Confirm the Facebook connection process was completed successfully
If the issue persists, contact ConnectLoop Support.
"You'll need to delete an existing number" Error
This happens when a WhatsApp number was previously connected to your Meta Business Portfolio and then disconnected in ConnectLoop — Meta still keeps it assigned, so it must be removed before you can reconnect. Open Meta Business Suite → Settings → Accounts → WhatsApp accounts → Phone numbers, delete the old number in WhatsApp Manager, then retry the connection. Full steps with screenshots are in Step 8a above.
Only 5 Messages Allowed
The 5-message-per-24-hours limit is expected while your business is under Meta review. Once Meta finishes reviewing your business name and display name (usually within 1 business day), these limits are lifted. You'll receive an email when the review completes.
Facebook Shows an Error
If an error occurs during the Facebook setup process, carefully review the error message and follow Facebook's instructions to resolve the issue before continuing.
Important Notes
With the display name only option, Meta reserves and manages the phone number — you do not need your own.
A Facebook account is required to complete the connection.
Your business name and display name are subject to Meta review; a 5-message rolling limit applies until that review is complete.
Your WhatsApp agent uses the same AI training, knowledge, settings, and appointment booking configuration as your ConnectLoop agent.
Any future updates you make to your ConnectLoop AI agent will automatically apply to WhatsApp conversations as well.
Need Help?
If you run into any issues, chat with our Guide Agent inside the ConnectLoop portal.
You can also contact our support team at:
We'll be happy to help you get everything connected and running successfully.