Dynamic dropdown via API — WA.Expert Help

A dynamic dropdown fetches its options from an external API in real time, instead of showing a hardcoded list. Use it for available appointment slots, in-stock products, or any list that changes over time.

Critical limitation: not on the first screen

API calls cannot be executed on the first screen of a Mini App. If your dynamic dropdown needs to appear early, add a simple first screen with just a button, and put the actual API call and dropdown on the second screen.

Step 1: Create the Mini App and navigation screen

Go to WhatsApp Mini App and click Create New, add a category, and create the workflow.

On the first screen, add a footer button. Set its action to Data Exchange → New Screen so it navigates to your second screen.

Step 2: Call the API on the second screen

On the second screen, go to Data Source → Add New Data Source.

Enter your API URL, choose the method (GET/POST), and the body type as required by your API.

Click Run & Save. This fetches a sample response so you can map fields against real data.

Add a Dropdown component and open its Settings.

Set the label (e.g., "Options"), set Data Source Type to Dynamic, and select the API you just added as the data source.

Set the Dynamic Data Accessor to the main array in your API response.

Step 4: Map the dropdown fields

From your API response, map:

•

ID Field — a unique identifier (e.g., id).

•

Title Field — the display value shown to the customer (e.g., label).

•

Image Field — optional, can be skipped.

Map from the first object in the array

Always map your fields from the first object of the response array — this is what the mapping UI uses as its reference.

Step 5: Add submission and test

Add another footer button with action Data Exchange → New Submission to submit the selected value.

Click Save & Apply.

Test the flow to confirm the API data loads, the dropdown shows live options, and selection works correctly.

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Want the bigger picture? See the WhatsApp Flows guide for use cases and strategy.

Create a dynamic dropdown in a Mini App using an API

Step 1: Create the Mini App and navigation screen

Step 2: Call the API on the second screen

Step 4: Map the dropdown fields

Step 5: Add submission and test

Store Mini App responses in the CRM

Create a template that includes a Native Flow

Conditional calculations and dynamic logic

What are WhatsApp Mini Apps?

Create a Mini App

Make an API call from a bot

Store responses in CRM

Create a dynamic dropdown in a Mini App using an API

Step 1: Create the Mini App and navigation screen

Step 2: Call the API on the second screen

Step 3: Configure the dropdown

Step 4: Map the dropdown fields

Step 5: Add submission and test

Store Mini App responses in the CRM

Create a template that includes a Native Flow

Conditional calculations and dynamic logic

What are WhatsApp Mini Apps?

Create a Mini App

Make an API call from a bot

Store responses in CRM