What do I need before I connect WhatsApp?
Updated 1 September 2026
The Short Answer
You need a Facebook account you can sign in to, a phone number you control and can receive a code on, that number not already connected to another WhatsApp Business API tool, and about ten minutes uninterrupted. Missing any one is where most attempts fail.
The connect flow is short. Getting these four right beforehand is what makes it short.
What do I actually need?
- A Facebook account you can sign in to. Meta runs the sign-in.
- A phone number you control and can receive a code on right now.
- That number not already connected to another WhatsApp Business API tool. One number, one API connection.
- About ten minutes, uninterrupted — the code expires.
Can I use my personal number?
Yes. What matters is that you control it and can receive the verification code, and that it is not already wired to another API tool.
Many agents use the number clients already have for them, which is the point — see Can I still use WhatsApp on my phone?
What if the number is on another tool?
Disconnect it from that tool first. A number can hold one WhatsApp Business API connection at a time, so the old one has to let go before PropKaki can take it.
This is the single most common reason a connect attempt stops.
How long does it take?
About ten minutes with everything in place. Do it somewhere you can receive a code and will not be interrupted — a code that expires means starting the flow again.