How to connect WhatsApp to Klaviyo
Connect a WhatsApp Business number to Klaviyo and get your account ready to use the channel. This guide covers what you need, the steps in Meta and how to check that the connection works.
By Dídac AntonBefore you start
You need Owner or Admin access in Klaviyo. If someone else on your team will set this up, give them the right role using our guide to users and permissions instead of sharing login details.
Prepare a personal Facebook account, a Meta business portfolio and your business details: legal name, address and website. If you have just created your Facebook account, Klaviyo recommends waiting at least one hour before starting the connection.
You will also need the name you want customers to see on WhatsApp and a number owned by your business. The number must be able to receive international calls or SMS and cannot be the number you use to send SMS from Klaviyo.
1. Choose the number to connect
You can use an existing business number, create a Meta 555 test number or get one from a compatible provider such as Twilio or Infobip. A 555 number is for testing the setup, not for communicating with customers.
The number cannot be a short code or active on another WhatsApp account. If it is already used in WhatsApp Business, the mobile app or by another provider, follow the appropriate migration process before connecting it to Klaviyo. Do not delete the previous account without checking that process.
| Option | When to use it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Existing number | You want to keep a number your customers recognise. | It belongs to the business, can receive the code and is not still active on another WhatsApp account. |
| Meta 555 number | You only need to test the connection. | Do not use it as the permanent number for support or campaigns. |
| External provider | You need a new production number. | It can receive international SMS or calls for the verification code. |
2. Start the WhatsApp connection in Klaviyo
In Klaviyo, open the account menu in the bottom-left corner and go to Settings → WhatsApp. Select Connect to WhatsApp, review the permissions requested by the integration and select Get started.
Make sure you are in the right Klaviyo organisation before you continue. Menu labels may differ if your account uses another interface language.
3. Complete the setup in Meta
Sign in with your personal Facebook account. Meta will ask you to select an existing business portfolio or create a new one. Then select or create the WhatsApp Business account associated with that portfolio.
Complete the profile with the display name, category and business details. Use your real legal name and company information: discrepancies between the portfolio, website and documents can delay verification.
4. Verify the number
Choose to receive the code by SMS or phone call, enter the number and type the six-digit code into Meta. If you use Google Voice, choose the voice call.
Once the code is accepted, finish the wizard and return to Klaviyo. The connection may exist before Meta approves your business and display name; check both statuses before preparing campaigns.
5. Verify your business in Meta
New WhatsApp Business accounts must start business verification within 30 days. In Meta Business Settings, open Security Center and select Start verification.
Confirm the country, organisation type, tax identification, legal name, address and a contact method. If Meta requests documents, provide official records with details that match the portfolio.
The review can take up to 30 days and Meta allows up to three attempts. Klaviyo cannot speed up or approve this check, so correct your details in Meta if your application is rejected.
6. Check the display name
Meta reviews the name your customers will see. It should represent your business, clearly relate to your brand and follow Meta’s rules. Avoid slogans, unnecessary symbols and names that could be confused with another company.
You can edit it under Settings → WhatsApp in Klaviyo. Meta must approve the change, which can take several days. The name appears once approved and either the portfolio is verified or the account reaches 2,000 business-initiated conversations in 24 hours. Meta limits changes to ten per 30 days.
7. Set up consent before sending
Connecting the number does not give you permission to message every contact. Before sending WhatsApp marketing messages, collect explicit consent that clearly names your brand and the type of messages the person will receive.
Record the source and date of consent, provide an easy way to opt out and keep this permission separate from email or SMS consent. If you are also preparing email, check your sending domain before activating campaigns and automations.
If something goes wrong
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| The code does not arrive | Confirm the country code, that the number can receive international calls or SMS, and that an automated system is not blocking the call. |
| The number is already in use | Check whether it is connected to the WhatsApp Business app, another WABA or another provider, then follow the migration process. |
| You cannot start the connection | Check that you are an Owner or Admin in Klaviyo and that your personal Facebook account can manage the right portfolio. |
| Verification is rejected | Make sure the legal name, address, website and tax ID match your official business documents. |
| The display name does not appear | Check its approval status and whether the portfolio is verified or the conversation threshold set by Meta has been met. |
Check the connection before launching campaigns
Confirm in Klaviyo that the number is connected, that there are no pending actions for the business or display name, and that consent is recorded. New accounts usually start with a limit of 250 business-initiated conversations per 24 hours; Meta raises tiers based on verification, account quality and activity.
Run an internal test, check the sender identity and prepare the required templates before messaging customers. If you want WhatsApp to be part of your retention strategy, a Klaviyo agency for ecommerce can help.
Sources and further reading
AI-assisted translation
Article by Dídac Anton. The English, German, Dutch and French versions were translated from Spanish with the help of AI.
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