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Set Up a Sandbox Account for Calling | Developer Documentation

Set Up a Sandbox Account for Calling

Updated: Oct 31, 2025
Sandbox accounts are only available to you if you are a Tech Partner.

Overview

A WhatsApp sandbox account is a mock WhatsApp Business Account that you can use to test your Calling API integration. Use a calling sandbox account to test the following features:
    Initiate and receive calls using the Calling APIValidate calling webhook eventsSimulate onboarding flows without creating real business assets

    Sandbox account calling limits

    The following table outlines the calling limits for sandbox accounts. These limits are subject to change.
    Limit Description Production number limit Public test number limit
    Connected call limit
    Number of calls a business is allowed to make on approved permissions.
    100 connected calls per 24 hrs
    No change
    Call Permission Request message limits
    Limits the number of call permission request messages that can be sent to the same consumer
    1 request per day
    2 requests per week
    25 requests per day
    100 requests per week
    Unanswered call limits
    When a business initiated call goes unanswered (In essence, is rejected by the user or missed by the user).
    Nudge on 2 consecutive unanswered calls
    Revoke permission on 4 consecutive unanswered calls
    Nudge on 5 consecutive unanswered calls
    Revoke on 10 consecutive unanswered calls
    Temporary call duration
    Duration a business can call the user after permission is approved.
    7 days
    No change

    Set up a sandbox account

    Step 1. Access the WhatsApp developer sandbox

      Navigate to the App Dashboard.Click the app you are using with WhatsApp.Select Use cases (pencil icon) from the sidebar.Under Connect with customers through WhatsApp, click Customize.In the left menu, select Partner tools.In the Claim a sandbox account section, under Features, click the dropdown. Select Cloud API and Calling.Click Claim sandbox account.Under Enable calling functionality click the dropdown, then click Manage phone number list.Add your phone number as a recipient.

      Step 2. Obtain credentials and identifiers for your sandbox account

        On the same page, under Customize a new onboarding flow, click Get started to open the Embedded Signup experience.
          Note: Keep this tab open and available as you will use it multiple times throughout this process.In the Embedded Signup Launch section, ensure that the Features dropdown is empty, then click Login with Facebook.A popup with the embedded signup experience will show. Under Business portfolio select Sandbox Business.Fill in the rest of the required information, then click Next.On the next screen, in the Create or Select a WhatsApp Business Profile dropdown, select Test Number.Once the login flow is complete, in the Exchange Token section, click Get Token.
            Note: Retain this token for future sandbox account API use.In the Fetch Shared WhatsApp Business Account section, click Fetch WABA details.Under WhatsApp business account field, copy the Value for the id row.
              Note: Retain this ID since it is the WhatsApp Business Account ID for the sandbox WABA.In the Fetch phone numbers section, click Fetch phone numbers.Under ID, copy the value.
                Note: Retain this ID since it is the phone number ID for your sandbox account test phone number.

                Step 3. Register your test phone number and subscribe to your WABA

                Prerequisites
                Ensure that you have the following information from the previous steps:
                  Your sandbox account token stringYour sandbox account WABA IDYour test phone number ID
                  To complete these next steps, you will use the Graph API Explorer tool.
                    Note: Keep this window open as you will use the configuration you created again in later steps in this guide.
                      Navigate to the Graph API Explorer tool.Ensure you are on the latest version of the API.Click Generate Access Token and follow the prompts.Under Permissions, add the whatsapp_business_management and whatsapp_business_messaging permissionsIn the endpoint builder, enter /<YOUR_SANDBOX_WABA_ID>/subscribed_apps, then click Submit.
                      {
  "success": true
}
                        Next, register your test phone number by entering /<YOUR_SANDBOX_TEST_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/register in the endpoint builder.In the left sidebar, click JSON, then enter the following JSON body, then click Submit:
                        {
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "pin": "123456"
}
                          You should receive a standard success response:
                          {
  "success": true
}
                          Step 4. Test your messaging functionality
                            In the Graph API Explorer tool, enter /<YOUR_SANDBOX_TEST_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages in the endpoint builder.In the left sidebar, click JSON, then enter the following JSON body, then click Submit:
                            {
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "YOUR_NUMBER", // Replace this value with phone number of your device.
  "type": "template",
  "template": {
    "name": "hello_world",
    "language": { "code": "en_US" }
  }
}
                              You will receive a response with a "message_status": "accepted" value, and you should receive a text message on your device.
                              Step 5. Configure webhooks and permissions
                                Navigate to the App Dashboard.Click the app you are using with WhatsApp.Select Use cases (pencil icon) from the sidebar.Under Connect with customers through WhatsApp, click Customize.In the left sidebar, click Configuration.Under Callback URL, add the callback URL for your webhook server.
    
                                  If you do not have a webhook server, you can follow our instructions to create a test webhook server.Under Verify token, add an arbitrary verification string.Click Verify and save.On the next page, in the Select product dropdown, click WhatsApp Business Account.Under Webhook fields, in the calls row, click the toggle button to subscribe to the calls webhook field.
                                  Finish: Enable calling features on your test phone number
                                    In the Graph API Explorer tool, enter /<YOUR_SANDBOX_TEST_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/settings in the endpoint builder.In the left sidebar, click JSON, then enter the following JSON body, then click Submit:
                                    {
  "calling": {
    "status": "ENABLED",
    "call_icon_visibility": "DEFAULT",
    "callback_permission_status": "ENABLED"
  }
}
                                      You should receive a standard success response:
                                      {
  "success": true
}
                                        Finally, under Access Token, copy the access token down for future use.
    
                                          Note: Retain this access token as you will use it to make API calls for testing your Calling API integration.
                                          Test business-initiated calling
                                          Before you can test business-initiated calls (BIC), you must provide user calling permissions to your sandbox account.
                                          You can do this on the client device you are using for testing:
                                            On your client device, open WhatsApp.Navigate to the message thread you have with your sandbox business phone number.At the top of the screen, tap the sandbox business phone number.Scroll down and tap Business Calling Permission.Tap Allow calls.
                                            You can now use your Calling API integration to call the client device and test your integration.
                                            Test user-initiated calling
                                            You can test user-initiated calls (UIC) on the client device you are using for testing:
                                              On your client device, open WhatsApp.Navigate to the message thread you have with your sandbox business phone number.Tap the phone icon at the top of the screen to call the sandbox business phone number.Confirm a successful call connection.
                                              
    
                                                      
                                              
        
                                              
    
                                              
        
                                              
            
                                              
                
                
                                              
                    
                    
                
                                              
            
                                              
            
            
                                              
                                            
                                              
        
                                              
    
                                              

    

                                              
    
                                              

    
            
                                              
            
                                              

    
                                              
        
                                              
            
            
        
                                              
            
                                              

    
                                              
        
                                              
                    
                                              

        
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