Key terms
WhatsApp Business Account (WABA): the account/asset that holds your WhatsApp presence, including your display name, your WhatsApp phone number(s), and your message templates.
WhatsApp phone number: the specific number registered under your WABA that customers message. It can be the same number already on your TextUs account (your provisioned SMS number) or a different number you own.
Overview
Connecting WhatsApp to TextUs has two parts:
Get your business ready on Meta: setting up a Meta Business Portfolio and completing Business Verification, which you complete directly with Meta.
Connect WhatsApp in TextUs: a quick guided flow launched from your TextUs account settings. This creates your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) and registers your WhatsApp phone number.
Complete the setup below, then follow the connection steps.
Getting started: TextUs account and Meta business portfolio setup
1. Your TextUs account and SMS number (handled by TextUs Support)
Your TextUs account and SMS phone number are set up by TextUs Support. This is required before WhatsApp setup because the WhatsApp connection happens inside your TextUs account's settings.
Your WhatsApp phone number can be this same SMS number or a different number you own, you choose during setup (see the connection steps below).
2. A Meta Business Portfolio (with full-control / admin access)
You'll need a Meta Business Portfolio (formerly "Business Manager"), and the person doing the setup must have Full control (admin) access to it — not just a login or partial access. Registration within TextUs will create your WhatsApp Business Account under this portfolio, register your phone number, and grant TextUs access to those assets, so it can only be completed by a portfolio admin.
If you don't have one, create it at business.facebook.com.
Check your access: in your Business Portfolio at business.facebook.com, open Settings → People (under Users), click your name, and confirm your access shows Full control.
If it doesn't, ask an existing portfolio admin to turn on Full control for you (Settings → People → your profile).
3. Meta Business Verification
Complete Business Verification with Meta before connecting WhatsApp from within TextUs. Verifying up front avoids low messaging limits and prevents interruptions.
In Meta Business Suite, open your business portfolio's Settings → Security Center, then in the Business Verification section click Start Verification.
Provide your legal business details and any documents Meta requests (e.g., proof of business).
Verification is reviewed by Meta and can take a few days, so start early.
4. A compliant WABA display name
Decide on the display name for your WhatsApp Business Account. This is what customers see in WhatsApp. It must follow WhatsApp's display name guidelines.
Connection steps: connect WhatsApp in TextUs
Once the prerequisites above are complete:
1. Choose your WhatsApp phone number. During signup, a new WABA is created and your WhatsApp phone number is registered under it. You can use the phone number already on your TextUs account (your provisioned SMS number), or use a different number you own. Whichever you choose, the number must:
be able to receive a one-time verification code by SMS or voice call.
not already be active on WhatsApp (the consumer WhatsApp app or the WhatsApp Business app). If it is, remove/deregister it from those apps first.
2. Open the WhatsApp settings in your organization account. In your organization account, go to Settings → Organization Settings → Brand → WhatsApp Business Account (WABA). WhatsApp is connected at the organization level.
3. Enter your details. Provide your WABA display name, choose the account that will use WhatsApp, and select your WhatsApp phone number.
4. Start the connection. Click Start connection to launch the guided Meta signup.
5. Complete the Meta flow. Continue with Facebook when prompted, follow the steps to create your WhatsApp Business Account, and verify your WhatsApp phone number when asked.
6. TextUs finishes connecting your number. Completing the Meta signup isn't quite the final step. TextUs then finishes wiring up your WhatsApp number on our end (registering it with our messaging provider so it can send and receive). Your number goes through a short provider verification before it becomes active; this is usually quick but can occasionally take a bit longer or need a retry. If the connection doesn't finish, or you see an error right after the Meta flow, contact TextUs Support and we'll sort it out.