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Using a Sandbox Account for Calling

Updated: Oct 31, 2025 Sandbox accounts are only available to Tech Partners.

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Overview

WhatsApp sandbox accounts provide Solution Partners with a mock WhatsApp Business Account to test integration. Sandbox accounts can be used for a variety of testing, but can also be used to test your calling integration. Use a calling sandbox account to Initiate and receive calls using the Calling API Validate calling webhook events Simulate onboarding flows without creating real business assets

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Differences in calling limits when using a sandbox account

LimitDescriptionProduction number limitPublic test number limit
Connected call limitNumber of calls a business is allowed to make on approved permissions.10 connected calls per 24 hrs100 calls per day
Call Permission Request message limitsLimits the number of call permission request messages that can be sent to the same consumer1 request per day
2 requests per week		25 requests per day
100 requests per week
Unanswered call limitsWhen 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 durationDuration until when a business can call the user after permission is approved.7 daysNo change

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How to setup your calling sandbox account

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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.

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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.

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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 string Your sandbox account WABA ID Your 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 permissions In 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
}

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Test Business-initiated calling (BIC)

Before you can test business-initiated calls, you must provide user calling permissions to your sandbox account. You can do this on client device you are using for testing by: 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. Learn more about how to make business-initiated calls.

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Test User Initiated Calling (UIC)

On your client device, open WhatsApp. Navigate to the message thread you have with your sandbox business phone number. Tap the phone icon in the upper right corner of the screen to call the sandbox business phone number. Confirm a successful call connection. Learn more about how to handle user-initiated calls. Did you find this page helpful? Thumbs up icon Thumbs down icon ON THIS PAGE Overview Differences in calling limits when using a sandbox account How to setup your calling sandbox account Step 1. Access the WhatsApp Developer Sandbox Step 2. Obtain credentials and identifiers for your sandbox account Step 3. Register your test phone number and subscribe to your WABA Step 4. Test your messaging functionality Step 5. Configure Webhooks and Permissions Finish: Enable calling features on your test phone number Test Business-initiated calling (BIC) Test User Initiated Calling (UIC)