> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://whatsapp-docs.kap.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Sandbox
# Using a Sandbox Account for Calling
Updated: Oct 31, 2025
Sandbox accounts are only available to Tech Partners.
## 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
## Differences in calling limits when using a sandbox account
| Limit | Description | Production number limit | Public test number limit |
| -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Connected call limit | Number of calls a business is allowed to make on approved permissions. | 10 connected calls per 24 hrs | 100 calls per day |
| Call Permission Request message limits | Limits the number of call permission request messages that can be sent to the same consumer | 1 request per day
2 requests per week | 25 requests per day
100 requests per week |
| Unanswered call limits | When 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 duration | Duration until when a business can call the user after permission is approved. | 7 days | No change |
## How to setup your calling sandbox account
### Step 1. Access the WhatsApp Developer Sandbox
Navigate to the [App Dashboard](https://developers.facebook.com/apps).
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.
### 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.**
### 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](https://developers.facebook.com/tools/explorer/).
**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](https://developers.facebook.com/tools/explorer/).
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
}
```
### Step 4. Test your messaging functionality
In the [Graph API Explorer tool](https://developers.facebook.com/tools/explorer/), 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.
### Step 5. Configure Webhooks and Permissions
Navigate to the [App Dashboard](https://developers.facebook.com/apps).
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](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/webhooks/set-up-whatsapp-echo-bot).
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.
### Finish: Enable calling features on your test phone number
In the [Graph API Explorer tool](https://developers.facebook.com/tools/explorer/), 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.**
## 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.](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/business-initiated-calls)
## 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.](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/user-initiated-calls)
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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)
***