When you add a new phone number to your WhatsApp account in the Facebook Business Manager, you assign it a display name. Depending on the type of business account, the display name will be shown to the user in different places.
This document covers:
The display name is required to create a certificate, which the WhatsApp Business API client will not work without, so you should know what it will be before registration. See Creating business names for guidance.
If you need to update the display name, contact Direct Support to make the change. You will then need to download a new certificate and go through registration again.
There are two types of WhatsApp business accounts:
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
Official Business Account | WhatsApp has verified that an authentic brand owns this account. |
Business Account | By default, any account that is using the WhatsApp Business API is a business account. |
Depending on your business account type, users will see different things. If a user has already saved the business number in their address book, the name from the address book will always be displayed. The phone number will still be visible in the contacts view. Please be prepared for users who may try to call this number and have a plan for how to handle these incoming calls.
If your WhatsApp account is an official business account, the display name will be visible in the chat list, chat screens, chat groups, and contacts view instead of the phone number. There will be a green checkmark beside the displayed name in the contacts view.
If your WhatsApp account is a business account, the display name will only be shown in the contacts view in smaller text; all other views will show the phone number. You can help customers learn more about your company by filling out your business info, including business website, address, and hours.
When you add a new phone number to your WhatsApp account in the Facebook Business Manager, you assign it a display name. The display name is required to create a certificate, which the WhatsApp Business API client will not work without. See Set up a Phone Number for your WhatsApp Business Account for more information about setting up a phone number and display name.
Setting up a phone number and display name for your WhatsApp account does NOT automatically make the account an official business account.
You can either get a base64-encoded certificate or you can download a certificate file. Keep it safe as it will be necessary for registration. For information on how to obtain your certificate, see the Registration documentation.
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | The name of your business as it will appear for users |
Please follow these instructions to request an official business account. For accounts managed by business solution providers, the process is initiated by the solution providers.
The request status will be available under Direct Support in Business Manager.
Note: We do not grant official business accounts to business employees or test accounts.