Setup Guides

Step-by-step instructions to connect your channels. Each org brings their own Meta developer app (no business verification required).

Create your Meta developer app

Do this once, then you can use it for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger.

No business verification needed. We use the Consumer app type which works immediately for testing and development.
1
Go to developers.facebook.com/apps and sign in with your Facebook account.
2
Click Create App → choose Other as the use case → pick Consumer as the app type → click Next.
3
Give it a name (e.g. “My InboxWeave”) → enter your email → click Create App. You might need to enter your Facebook password.
4
From your app dashboard, click App Settings → Basic in the left sidebar. Copy these two values:
  • App ID (visible at the top)
  • App Secret (click “Show” → enter password)
5
In InboxWeave, open Settings → Meta App and paste:
  • Your App ID
  • Your App Secret
  • A Verify Token — any random string you make up (you'll use it again below)
Click Save.
6
Back on the Meta app dashboard → scroll down to App Domains → add your InboxWeave domain (e.g. inboxweave.com). Click Save Changes at the bottom.
Now you're ready to add products (WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram) to the app. Follow whichever channel(s) you need below.

WhatsApp Cloud API

Free tier available · ~10 minutes

1
On your Meta app dashboard, click Add Product on the left sidebar → find WhatsApp → click Set Up. Select or create a Meta Business account.
2
In the WhatsApp section → API Setup, you'll get a test phone number. Copy the Phone number ID (numeric string).
3
On the same page, copy the Temporary access token (it expires in 24 hours but works for testing).
4
Still in the WhatsApp section → Configuration → set webhook:
  • Callback URL: https://inboxweave.com/api/webhooks/whatsapp
  • Verify token: use the same verify token you saved in InboxWeave's Meta App settings
  • Subscribe to: messages
5
In InboxWeave → Channels → fill in the WhatsApp form with display name, Phone Number ID, and the access token. Click Connect WhatsApp.
Test it: Add your own phone to “To” recipients in the API Setup page first (Meta requires this for testing), then send a WhatsApp message to the test number. You'll get an AI reply.
For permanent tokens: Once you've tested, create a System User in Business Settings → generate a permanent token with whatsapp_business_messaging permission → replace the temporary token in InboxWeave.

Instagram DMs & Facebook Messenger

~10 minutes · OAuth-based connection

You need: A Facebook Page (create one at facebook.com/pages/create). For Instagram DMs, the Page must be linked to an Instagram Business account.
1
On your Meta app dashboard → Add Product → add Facebook Login for Business (or the classic “Facebook Login”).
2
In Facebook Login → Settings, add to Valid OAuth Redirect URIs:https://inboxweave.com/api/meta/oauth/callbackEnable Client OAuth Login + Web OAuth Login. Save.
3
Add Product → add Messenger. In Messenger Settings → Webhooks:
  • Callback URL: https://inboxweave.com/api/webhooks/messenger
  • Verify token: same as the one in InboxWeave settings
  • Subscribe to: messages, messaging_postbacks
4
If using Instagram DMs: Add Product → Instagram → configure webhook:
  • Callback URL: https://inboxweave.com/api/webhooks/instagram
  • Subscribe to: messages
5
In InboxWeave → Channels → click Connect with Facebook. Approve the permissions prompt and select which Page(s) to connect. Done.
Your app is in Development Mode. This works fine for testing with yourself + any “App Administrator/Developer/Tester” you add in App Roles. For public use, you'd need App Review (not required for personal / small-team use).
SMS

SMS via Twilio

Pay-as-you-go · ~5 minutes

1
Sign up at twilio.com. Free trial includes a phone number and credits.
2
Console → Phone Numbers → Buy a Number → pick one with SMS capability. Note the E.164 format (e.g. +14155551234).
3
From the Twilio Console dashboard, copy your Account SID and Auth Token.
4
Your phone number's settings → Messaging → A MESSAGE COMES IN webhook:https://inboxweave.com/api/webhooks/smsMethod: HTTP POST.
5
In InboxWeave → Channels → SMS → paste Account SID, Auth Token, phone number. Save.
@

Email (IMAP/SMTP)

Works with Gmail, Outlook, custom · ~5 minutes

1
For Gmail: enable 2FA → create an App Password for “Mail”. Use this instead of your regular password.
2
Settings depending on provider:
Gmail: IMAP imap.gmail.com:993, SMTP smtp.gmail.com:587
Outlook: IMAP outlook.office365.com:993, SMTP smtp.office365.com:587
3
In InboxWeave → Channels → Email → paste email, hosts, ports, and app password. Save.

OpenAI API Key (Required)

Pay-as-you-go · ~2 minutes

1
Sign up at platform.openai.com.
2
Settings → Billing → add a payment method and load $5-10.
3
API Keys → Create new secret key → copy the sk-... key.
4
In InboxWeave → Settings → paste into the OpenAI API key field → Save. It's encrypted immediately.
Cost: GPT-4o-mini is ~$0.15 per 1M input tokens. Typical small business: $1-5/month. Track usage in your Dashboard.
Get started free →