Phone Numbers on the WhatsApp Cloud API: Add, Verify and Register

To use a number on the WhatsApp Cloud API you add it to your WhatsApp account, verify it with a code sent by SMS or voice call, and register it with a 6-digit two-step verification PIN. The number must be one you own, with a country code, able to receive the code, and not active on WhatsApp, unless you connect a Business app number through coexistence.

This guide covers each step, the API calls behind them, the limits (2 numbers to start, up to 20 after verification) and the mistakes that lock numbers, from Meta’s phone number docs updated in 2026.

Which numbers can you use?

• You own it and can receive an SMS or a voice call on it for the verification code.
• It has a country and area code: Indian mobile numbers and landlines both work. Short codes don’t.
• IVR and toll-free numbers need extra steps, because they can’t receive a normal code.
• Not active on WhatsApp: a number used on WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Business app must be deleted there first. It can take a few minutes to become free, and the chat history isn’t moved.

Step by step: add, verify, register

Adding a number doesn’t register it: until step 4, it can’t send or receive messages. Requesting a code for a number that’s already verified returns an error.

The two-step verification PIN

• You set a 6-digit PIN when you register; change it with POST /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID> and { "pin": "123456" } (use your own).
• Turning two-step verification off is done in WhatsApp Manager through an email link, not the API.
• Wrong PINs return error 133005; too many guesses lock attempts for a while (133008).
• Meta is phasing out the PIN for eligible numbers. Once yours is eligible, the PIN tab disappears and Meta ignores the PIN at registration, but you should still send a valid 6-digit pin.

Data localisation in India

When registering, you can add data_localization_region to ask Meta to store message content at rest in a specific country. India (IN) is one of the supported regions, alongside others such as Singapore, Japan, Germany and the UK. It’s optional, and it matters most for regulated sectors with data residency requirements. Deregistering a number turns local storage off.

How many numbers can you have?

Messaging limits are shared across all numbers in your business portfolio; adding numbers doesn’t add capacity. See WhatsApp broadcast limits.

Deregistering and deleting

• Deregister (POST /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/deregister) stops the number working on the API without deleting its history. It shares the 10-per-72-hours limit with registering (error 133016 when exceeded) and can’t be used on coexistence numbers.
• Delete is done by a business portfolio admin in WhatsApp Manager, not through the API, and not within 30 days of a paid message.

Meta’s new account model (2026)

Meta is splitting the old WhatsApp Business Account in two: a WhatsApp account that holds one phone number (with its quality rating and conversation history), and a Messaging account that holds templates, billing and webhooks and keeps the old account ID. The rollout started on 23 September 2026; new IDs in API paths follow in 2027 and 2028.

• Moving a number between business accounts the old way is no longer supported; instead the WhatsApp account is shared with a provider (up to 5 Solution Partners) or linked to another Messaging account in the same portfolio.
• Templates belong to the Messaging account. Copying them to another with Meta’s Template Migration API resets their quality and pacing for a few weeks.

If you’re choosing or changing providers, see how to choose a WhatsApp Business API provider.

Phone numbers with Automate AI

Automate AI connects your number through Meta’s Embedded Signup: you sign in with Facebook, pick or create your business portfolio, verify the number by SMS or call and choose a display name, and we register it for you. You can also connect an existing WhatsApp Business app number with coexistence. Settings then shows the number, display name, messaging limit and quality rating.