WABA registration and management

When to migrate

• You are switching from another BSP to Alibaba Cloud and want to keep the same display name, quality rating, and approved templates.

• You are consolidating numbers from multiple BSPs under a single Alibaba Cloud WABA.

Prerequisites

• A WhatsApp channel and a WABA are already created on Alibaba Cloud, and the WABA is APPROVED.

• The source BSP cooperates with the migration. You may need to coordinate with the source BSP to obtain a migration code or to release the number.

• You can prove ownership of the phone number through SMS or voice verification.

What is preserved

• Display name, quality rating, and current messaging limits.

• Official Business Account (OBA) status and the verified badge if previously granted.

• All high-quality message templates that have been approved by Meta.

Console procedure

1. On the WABA Management page, select the target WABA and click Phone Number Migration.

2. In the Phone Number Migration dialog box, configure the following parameters and then click OK.

   Parameter	Description	Example	Required
   Country/Region	The country or region of the phone number to migrate. Determines the dialing code prefix.	Select from the dropdown list. Example: Singapore (+65).	Yes
   Phone number	The phone number to migrate from the source BSP. Enter the number without the country code.	Digits only, no spaces or hyphens. Example: 81234567.	Yes
   WABA ID	The WhatsApp Business Account ID of the source WABA where the number is currently registered.	Obtain from the source BSP or Meta Business Manager. Example: 123456789012345.	Yes
   Verification code	The verification code sent by Meta to the phone number to confirm ownership. Choose SMS or voice delivery.	Enter the code received via SMS or voice call. Example: 654321.	Yes

   Note

   After you submit the migration request, Meta processes the transfer. The number appears in your Alibaba Cloud WABA once the migration completes.

When registration is required

• Starting May 1, 2025, businesses that have not completed MML registration cannot create new marketing message templates.

• Starting July 1, 2025, businesses that have not completed MML registration cannot send marketing messages.

Where to register

Open the WABA Management page of your WhatsApp channel and submit the MML registration form. The form is available in all countries and regions where WhatsApp business messaging is supported.

MML vs. regular marketing templates

MML uses a separate template approval pipeline that prioritizes message quality and read rate. Existing marketing templates approved before MML rollout continue to work, but new marketing templates created after May 1, 2025 must be submitted under MML.

Add a phone number

1. Log on to the Chat App Message Service console.

2. In the left navigation pane, choose Channel Management. Click Manage in the Actions column. Then, choose WABA Management > Phone Number Management > Add Phone Number.

3. In the Add Phone Number dialog box, configure the following parameters and then click OK.

   Parameter	Description	Validation and example	Editable after verification
   Display name	The business name shown to recipients in WhatsApp. Use the legal or commonly recognized name of your business.	Up to 25 characters. Example: Acme Coffee.	Yes, but each change is reviewed by Meta.
   Country/Region	The country or region of the phone number. Determines the dialing code prefix.	Select from the dropdown list. Example: Singapore (+65).	No.
   Phone number	The phone number to register. Enter the number without the country code; the country code is added from the Country/Region selection.	E.164 format (digits only, no spaces or hyphens). Example: 81234567 for a Singapore number.	No. To use a different number, add it as a new entry.

   Note

   The newly added number appears in the list with the status Phone Number Unverified. Verify the number before you can use it to send messages.

Enable local storage

Local storage controls the geographic region where message content is stored. By default, content can be processed in any of Meta's global data centers. After you enable local storage and select a region, content is retained only in that region's data center.

1. Choose Phone Number Management > Settings > Local Storage.

2. On the local storage page, toggle the switch to enable Local Storage, and select the storage region.

3. Click Save.

Verify a phone number

A phone number must be verified before it can send messages. Meta sends a verification code via SMS or voice call during this process.

1. On the Phone Number Management page, select the number you want to verify and click Verify Phone Number.

2. In the dialog box, select the language for the notification, and then click Send Verification Code or Obtain Voice Verification Code.

   Note

   If the number is a landline, select Obtain Voice Verification Code. Mobile numbers can use either option.

3. Enter the verification code you received.

   Note

   • After verification succeeds, the status changes to Phone Number Verified, and you can start sending messages.

   • If verification fails, follow the on-screen prompt to retry.

Disconnect a phone number

Disconnecting a number removes it from active use. After disconnection, you cannot use the number to send messages. To reactivate it, verify the number again.

Configure number settings

Number settings control the metadata, behavior, and visibility of a verified phone number.

On the Phone Number Management page, select the number you want to configure and click Settings. The following sections describe each settings tab.

Sync phone numbers

If you add or change phone numbers directly in Meta Business Manager (instead of through the console), use this action to pull the latest numbers from your approved WABA into the console.

On the Phone Number Management page, click Synchronize Phone Number.

Voice Call Settings

On the Phone Number Management page, click Settings to configure voice call-related parameters for the number.