Receive messages with webhooks

Webhooks push events to your server in real time: inbound messages from customers, and status updates (sent, delivered, read) for messages you sent. You host an endpoint that accepts POST requests, and the platform calls it on each event.

Set up the webhook

Go to Channels → Webhook and click Add Webhook.

Paste your endpoint URL, give the webhook a title, and select the channel events you want (incoming messages, calls, outgoing messages, etc.).

Click Add Webhook to save. Once confirmed, events start appearing instantly.

Critical: your server must echo the challenge query

During setup, your server URL is sent a verification request with a challenge query parameter. Your endpoint must respond with that exact value, or webhook verification will fail silently.

// PHP
<?php
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] === 'GET') {
    if (isset($_GET['challange'])) {
        echo $_GET['challange'];
    } else {
        echo "no challange";
    }
}
?>

// Node.js
app.get('/your_webhook_endpoint', (req, res) => {
  try {
    res.send(req.query['challange']);
  } catch (error) {
    res.send(error.message);
  }
});

Inbound message payload

When a customer messages you, your endpoint receives a JSON body with the sender and the message content.

{
  "object": "whatsapp_business_account",
  "entry": [{
    "changes": [{
      "value": {
        "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
        "messages": [{
          "from": "919867800451",
          "id": "wamid.HBgL...",
          "type": "text",
          "text": { "body": "Hi, is this available?" }
        }]
      }
    }]
  }]
}

Status update payload

For messages you sent, status events tell you when they were delivered or read, keyed by the message ID (WAMID) from the send response.

Respond fast with 200

Your endpoint should reply 200 quickly and process the event asynchronously. Slow responses can cause retries.

Prefer no code? The automation builder catches inbound events without you hosting anything. See the webhook trigger guide.

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