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An approved application can connect its WhatsApp Business Account from the dashboard and send approved template messages through the API. Tawked validates the template against the number’s live template list, charges the fee, sends through Meta on your behalf, records the message, mirrors it into your Tawked Chat inbox, and tracks delivery and read. Your code never holds a Meta token.
One-time codes are not sent here. Authentication templates are refused with template_category_not_allowed; use the Verify API for codes. This surface is for utility and marketing templates: order updates, reminders, receipts.

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Getting started

1

Connect your number

Dashboard, then Applications, your approved application, WhatsApp, Connect WhatsApp. Meta opens a window where you pick or create the business and the number. Tawked registers it and sets up the inbox. You keep full access in WhatsApp Manager and pay Meta directly for conversations.
2

Create a template

On the application’s Templates page, or in WhatsApp Manager. Meta reviews it, usually within minutes; only an approved template can be sent.
3

Use the application's live key

WhatsApp sends need a tk_live_ key of the application the number is connected to. A tk_test_ key is refused with 403 live_key_required; there is no WhatsApp sandbox.
4

List, then send

GET /v1/whatsapp/templates shows every template with the placeholders it expects. POST /v1/whatsapp/messages sends one and answers 202 with an id. Read the status back with GET /v1/whatsapp/messages/{id}, or receive message.* webhooks.

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What the API carries today

  • Body placeholders, named ({{name}}) or positional ({{1}}), never mixed.
  • A text header placeholder.
  • The dynamic suffix of URL buttons.
Media headers and buttons that take a non-text parameter (copy code, flow, catalog, carousel, limited-time offer) are refused with 422 unsupported_template.

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Billing

The fee, if any, is for the send. Delivery and read cost nothing more, and a failed send refunds the fee once. Meta bills you for conversations separately, on your own WhatsApp Business Account.