Question
Can I register my own phone number for WhatsApp on Twilio?
Product
Programmable Messaging
Answer
Registering your own number on the WhatsApp Business API with Twilio is known as Bringing Your Own Number (BYON). To complete the BYON process, you will need to verify the number with an OTP code. You can most likely complete the BYON process if your number can:
- receive SMS, or
- receive voice calls
If your non-Twilio phone number is only capable of outbound calls, it is not possible to activate it for WhatsApp.
Note that if the phone number is currently connected to the WhatsApp Business API, you should follow this guide instead: Can I move my approved WhatsApp Number to Twilio?
How to register non-Twilio phone numbers on WhatsApp
The ability to activate a non-Twilio number on the WhatsApp Business API with Twilio depends on whether you have onboarded via Self Sign-up or Guided Onboarding. To see which onboarding path applies to your account, please see the documentation here. If you have not yet onboarded to the WhatsApp Business API with Twilio, you will be eligible to onboard via Self Sign-up if you are sending messages on behalf of your own brand. See here for how to get started.
BYON on Self Sign-up Onboarding
Self Sign-up onboarding allows you to activate your non-Twilio number via the console following the instructions here.
BYON on Guided Onboarding
If you have been using the Guided Onboarding method for adding new Senders to WhatsApp on Twilio, you should now upgrade to Self Sign-up through the Twilio Console. See the article here for more information. Once you've upgraded, you will be able to onboard your own numbers yourself in minutes.