WhatsApp Manager and Messaging Account: Give a Partner Access, Step by Step

, Editorial Team

Where WhatsApp Manager lives since the WhatsApp Business Account split, how to give a provider access to both accounts and which payment method every Messaging account needs. With nine interactive animations, a checklist and the API changes through 2028.

TL;DR

Since October 2026, every business in Meta Business Suite has two kinds of account instead of one WhatsApp Business Account: a WhatsApp account for the number and one Messaging account per provider for templates and billing. You now open WhatsApp Manager per Messaging account, under Settings › Accounts › Messaging accounts. A provider can only send once you give it access to both accounts, and every Messaging account needs its own payment method. Templates stay in the Messaging account where they were created. Developers have until December 31, 2026 to replace paid_messaging_account_id with messaging_account_id.

If you have looked for WhatsApp Manager in the last few weeks, you found it somewhere new. In September and October 2026, Meta split the WhatsApp Business Account into two accounts for every business, and Meta Business Suite now shows two new sections for them. We have already explained what the new account model is and why it makes switching providers easier. This post is the hands-on companion: where to find things, how to give a partner access, what to check and what developers need to change before 2028. Nine animations show every step, and you can try most of them yourself.

What is new about the WhatsApp Business Account?

The WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) is now split into two accounts. The WhatsApp account holds exactly one phone number with its profile, catalog and quality rating, and it always belongs to your business. The Messaging account holds templates, payment method, analytics and webhooks, and every provider gets its own.

Meta made the new model generally available on September 23, 2026 and moved every existing account over by mid-October 2026. You did not have to do anything. Your old WABA ID still exists; it now identifies your Messaging account. The animation below shows the split. Use "Before" and "After" to switch between the two models.

Before: one WhatsApp Business Account with one ID and one bill. It held the phone number, business profile, catalog, quality rating, templates, payment method, analytics and webhooks.

After: two accounts. The WhatsApp account (always owned by your business) holds exactly one phone number, the business profile, the catalog, the username once it arrives, and the quality rating and chat history. The Messaging account (owned by you or your provider) holds templates, payment method, analytics and webhooks, and keeps the old WABA ID.

One account becomes two: the number lives in the WhatsApp account, templates and billing live in the Messaging account. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026 · Mockup with sample data

What does this mean if I use several providers?

One number can be connected to several providers, and each one sends from its own Messaging account. Your customers do not notice: they see one number, one profile and one chat, whether the shipping update comes from your shop system or the appointment reminder from SendSeven. Each Messaging account is billed separately.

A business portfolio with one WhatsApp account (number +1 415 555 0134, yours, up to 5 partners) and two Messaging accounts: SendSeven with 42 templates and Shop system with 7 templates, each with its own billing.

In customer Emma M.'s chat, both messages arrive from the same number: "Your order #4711 is on its way." via the shop system and "Reminder: your appointment is tomorrow at 10 am." via SendSeven. She replies in the same chat: "Thanks, works for me!"

One number, two providers, one chat. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026 · Mockup with sample data

Where is WhatsApp Manager in Meta Business Suite?

You now open WhatsApp Manager through the Messaging account: in Meta Business Suite, go to Settings › Accounts › Messaging accounts, select the account and click "WhatsApp Manager" in its summary. It only ever shows the templates, insights and billing of that one Messaging account.

  1. Open Business Suite. Sign in at business.facebook.com and select the business portfolio your number belongs to in the top left.
  2. Open Settings. Click Settings in the left navigation.
  3. Expand Accounts. Under Accounts you will find two entries: "WhatsApp accounts" for your numbers and "Messaging accounts" for your providers' accounts.
  4. Select a Messaging account. Open "Messaging accounts" and click the account of the provider whose templates or billing you want to see.
  5. Launch WhatsApp Manager. In the Messaging account's summary, click "WhatsApp Manager". Use the selector in the top right to switch between your Messaging accounts.

Try it in the replica below. Meta calls the two sections "WhatsApp accounts" and "Messaging accounts" in its documentation; the labels in your account may differ depending on your language.

Replica of Meta Business Suite. Left navigation: Home, Inbox, Settings. Under Settings › Accounts you find Pages, Ad accounts, Data sources and the new entries "WhatsApp accounts" and "Messaging accounts".

  • WhatsApp accounts shows numbers, business profile and catalog, for example +1 415 555 0134 (Store SF, 2 partners) and +1 212 555 0187 (Customer service, 1 partner).
  • Messaging accounts shows templates, payment and analytics per provider, for example SendSeven (42 templates, payment added), Shop system (7 templates, payment added) and Support test (0 templates, no payment).
Settings › Accounts in Meta Business Suite, ready to try. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026 · Mockup with sample data

Why don't I see all my templates in WhatsApp Manager?

Because WhatsApp Manager now works per Messaging account. It only shows the templates, insights and billing of the account selected in the top right. To see another provider's templates, select that provider's Messaging account there. You still manage phone numbers in the WhatsApp account.

Replica of WhatsApp Manager with the tabs Templates, Insights, Billing and Phone numbers. You choose the Messaging account in the top right.

  • SendSeven (ID 104 882 317): autumn_newsletter (Marketing), appointment_reminder (Utility), cart_reminder (Marketing).
  • Shop system (ID 209 554 610): order_shipped (Utility), invoice_ready (Utility).

Only the templates of the selected Messaging account are shown.

WhatsApp Manager shows one Messaging account at a time. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026 · Mockup with sample data

How do I give a partner access to both accounts?

A provider can only send if it has access to both accounts: the WhatsApp account for the number and a Messaging account for templates and billing. You grant access in Business Suite on each account with "Assign partner", using the partner's business portfolio ID.

Do this for each of the two accounts: open the account in Settings, choose "Assign partner", enter the partner's business portfolio ID, set the permissions and confirm with "Assign". If the partner is already added, you can instead assign the accounts under Settings › Users › Partners with "Assign assets". Your provider gives you its portfolio ID.

Partner SendSeven (portfolio ID 7741 0093) is to get access. Two accounts can be shared one by one: the WhatsApp account with the number +1 415 555 0134 and the SendSeven Messaging account (ID 104 882 317).

  • No account shared: no sending, the partner has no access.
  • One account shared: no sending yet, 1 of 2 accounts shared.
  • Both accounts shared: sending possible.

Limits: a WhatsApp account can be shared with up to 5 partners, a Messaging account with up to 2.

The partner can only send once both accounts are shared. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026 · Mockup with sample data

You remove access in the same place. Meta notifies the partner by email and by webhook. Before you do, check whether any campaigns or automations still run through that partner, because without access to both accounts it can no longer send anything.

Which payment method does each Messaging account need?

Every Messaging account needs its own payment method. Without one, it cannot send paid messages, so no paid template either. Meta bills each Messaging account directly and separately. Per-message prices do not change because of the split.

Three details matter when you set it up:

  • One currency per account. Each Messaging account bills in exactly one currency. Who owns the account, you or your provider, is also fixed once it is created.
  • Your provider's credit line. If your provider pays through its own credit line, it has to share that credit line with your account before the account can send paid messages. A Messaging account owned by your business that runs on a partner's credit line cannot be shared with a second partner, and the credit line cannot be swapped later.
  • No payment, no paid messages. A new Messaging account without a payment method looks like any other in Business Suite. You only notice when a send fails. The animation above marks such accounts with "No payment".

Where are my templates after the split?

Templates belong to the Messaging account where they were created and do not move on their own. Meta can copy approved templates in good standing between Messaging accounts of the same business. If the accounts belong to different businesses, you create the message templates again in the new account and submit them for review.

Templates in the new account model (Source: Meta for Developers)
QuestionAnswer according to Meta
Where do templates live?In the Messaging account, separately for each provider
How many templates are allowed?250 per Messaging account for an unverified business portfolio, up to 6,000 for a verified business portfolio with an approved display name
When can Meta copy templates?Between Messaging accounts of the same business, for approved templates with "green" or "unknown" quality
What happens to quality?It starts over in the new account; expect a ramp-up of about 2 to 4 weeks
Does the number keep its quality?Yes, the quality rating stays with the number in the WhatsApp account

Plan for the ramp-up: when you move to a new provider, send your most important templates to recipients who expect them during the first weeks, such as order confirmations or appointment reminders.

What stays the same and what is new?

For your customers nothing changes: same number, same display name, same chat history. For you, the phone number ID, business verification and the messaging limit at business portfolio level stay the same. What is new: templates and payment method per provider, and a sign-up in which the number is set right at the start.

The WABA ID 104 882 317 is now called the Messaging account ID: same value, new name.

Stays the same: phone number ID; chat history and quality rating; display name and business verification; messaging limits (still at business portfolio level); access tokens and API paths (until the mandatory change in 2028).

New: templates per provider; payment method per provider; sign-up with the number first; the 2FA PIN is phased out.

The old WABA ID lives on as the Messaging account ID. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026 · Mockup with sample data
What the split changes (Source: Meta for Developers)
TopicBeforeNow
WABA IDID of the WhatsApp Business AccountID of the Messaging account, same value
Adding a number"Add phone number later" was possibleThe number is entered and verified at the start of sign-up
Two-step verification PINTab in WhatsApp ManagerTab disappears for eligible numbers, the PIN is phased out gradually
Delivery receiptsTo the connected appTo the app that sent the message
Messaging limit and throughputPer business portfolio and numberUnchanged, all providers on a number share them

Meta's documentation does not yet describe how incoming messages are routed when several providers share one number. Clarify this with your providers before you run two systems side by side for good.

Checklist: five things to check on your account

Check five things once after the switch: payment method, access, old providers, templates and number. Tick off what is done in the checklist. Your progress is saved in your browser only.

  • Payment method added? Every Messaging account has its own payment method. Without one, the account cannot send paid messages. If in doubt, ask your provider.
  • Both accounts shared? Your provider needs access to your WhatsApp account (for the number) and to a Messaging account (for templates and billing). If either is missing, nothing gets sent.
  • Old providers checked? Look at who still has access to your accounts. Whether an earlier provider stays is your decision. If you no longer need it, remove its access.
  • Templates planned for the switch? Templates belong to the Messaging account and do not move on their own. Meta copies approved templates only between Messaging accounts of the same business; otherwise you create them again. After that, the quality rating needs about 2 to 4 weeks to build up.
  • Number at hand? A new number is entered and verified at the very start of sign-up. "Add phone number later" no longer exists.
The checklist only stores your ticks locally in your browser. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026

The third point matters most: every partner with access to your WhatsApp account can deregister your number. A deregistration hits every provider on that number at once.

What does Coexistence mean when you switch providers?

If your number runs in the WhatsApp Business app and through a provider at the same time, you are using Coexistence. To switch, disconnect the previous platform in the app, then connect the app in the new provider's sign-up. No new Messaging account is created, and your accounts stay in place.

  1. Back up your chats: create a backup in the WhatsApp Business app first.
  2. Disconnect in the app: App › Settings › Account › Business Platform › Disconnect.
  3. Connect with the new provider: in its sign-up, choose your existing WhatsApp Business app. Linked devices are logged out in the process.
  4. Bring your chat history: up to 6 months can be synced, and only once.

Do not delete: leave the number, the WhatsApp account and the Messaging account in place. The switch does not need it, and Meta does not describe what deleting does to templates and billing.

Error about an old credit line? Meta Direct Support helps, request type "Embedded Signup - Coexistence Onboarding".

Switching providers with a number from the WhatsApp Business app. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026

When you connect, WhatsApp logs out all linked companion devices. You can link most of them again afterwards; WhatsApp for Windows and Wear OS are not supported. You keep using the app on your phone, and Meta syncs the chat history once, within 24 hours. How Coexistence works day to day and where its limits are is covered in our Coexistence guide.

Who do I contact if the switch gets stuck?

Meta Direct Support. For errors when connecting through Coexistence, choose the request type "Embedded Signup - Coexistence Onboarding"; for general questions about the new account model, choose "New Account Model on WhatsApp Business Platform". Your provider can also file the request for you.

What changes for developers through 2028?

By December 31, 2026, replace the paid_messaging_account_id parameter in your send requests with messaging_account_id. From the first half of 2027, the newest API version requires it whenever a number is connected to several Messaging accounts. From the first half of 2028 this applies to all versions, and API paths use the WhatsApp account ID.

  • Phase 1, H2 2026: automatic migration since September 23, 2026. Code changes are only needed with several Messaging accounts.
  • Deadline December 31, 2026: replace paid_messaging_account_id with messaging_account_id.
  • Phase 2, H1 2027: new API version with WhatsApp account IDs, the whatsapp_account webhook and separate permissions.
  • Phase 3, H1 2028: all versions, WhatsApp account ID instead of phone number ID in API paths.

Example request: POST /v26.0/{phone-number-id}/messages with messaging_product "whatsapp", a recipient, the template appointment_reminder (language en) and the new field messaging_account_id "104882317".

Timeline of the API changes and a send request with messaging_account_id. Graphic: SendSeven · Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026 · Sample data
Timeline for developers (Source: Meta for Developers, as of November 4, 2026)
PhaseWhenWhat you need to do
Phase 1Since September 23, 2026messaging_account_id is optional. Without it, a send on a number with several Messaging accounts may be billed to the wrong account or rejected.
DeadlineDecember 31, 2026Replace paid_messaging_account_id with messaging_account_id. If a request contains both, messaging_account_id wins.
Phase 2First half of 2027Newest API version: messaging_account_id required with several Messaging accounts, new WhatsApp account IDs, whatsapp_account webhook, separate permissions
Phase 3First half of 2028All API versions: messaging_account_id required with several Messaging accounts, WhatsApp account ID instead of phone number ID in API paths

Where do I find the WABA ID and messaging_account_id?

Your existing WABA ID is the messaging_account_id; the value has not changed. In Business Suite you find it under Settings › Accounts › Messaging accounts on the account itself. To check whether a Messaging account can send paid messages, call GET /<MESSAGING_ACCOUNT_ID>?fields=primary_funding_id: if the field is missing from the response, no payment method is set up.

Two more points for integrations: when a customer revokes access to your account, you receive the PARTNER_REMOVED webhook. Keep sending the 6-digit PIN when you register a number for now, even though Meta is phasing it out. If you process webhooks per account, map them to the Messaging account; that is where they sit now.

How do you connect your number to SendSeven?

Through Embedded Signup right inside SendSeven. If your number already runs on the API with another provider, Meta creates a separate Messaging account for SendSeven when you connect, and your current provider stays connected. You test SendSeven with your real number while your current provider is still running, and switch when you are ready.

What applies:

  • Number on the API with another provider: connect it to SendSeven as well. Then add a payment method to the new Messaging account.
  • Number in the WhatsApp Business app: connect it through Coexistence and use the app and SendSeven side by side. It is the lowest-risk way to try SendSeven.
  • Templates: Meta copies approved templates only between Messaging accounts of the same business. Otherwise, create them again in SendSeven and submit them for review.
  • Billing: for a number on the API, Meta bills the messages of the SendSeven Messaging account directly to you, at unchanged prices.

The WhatsApp setup guide walks through each step with screenshots. You can try SendSeven free for 14 days. If you have questions about your account, get in touch.

The point in one sentence: number and profile now live in the WhatsApp account, templates and billing in one Messaging account per provider, and a provider can only send once you have shared both accounts with it and added a payment method.

Further reading:

Frequently asked questions

Where is WhatsApp Manager since the change?

In Meta Business Suite under Settings › Accounts › Messaging accounts. Select the Messaging account there and click "WhatsApp Manager" in its summary. In the top right of WhatsApp Manager you switch between your Messaging accounts.

Why can't my provider send messages?

Usually one of two access grants or the payment method is missing. The provider needs access to the WhatsApp account and to a Messaging account, and that Messaging account needs a payment method for paid messages. Check both in Business Suite under Settings › Accounts.

Do I need to do anything after the change?

Meta moved your accounts over automatically. Still check that every Messaging account has a payment method, who has access to your accounts and that your providers have access to both accounts. Developers replace paid_messaging_account_id with messaging_account_id by December 31, 2026.

How many providers can I connect to one number?

A WhatsApp account can be shared with up to five partners, a Messaging account with up to two. Each provider sends from its own Messaging account. All providers share the number's messaging limit and throughput.

Is my WABA ID no longer valid?

It is still valid. Your existing WABA ID now identifies your Messaging account, and the value stays the same. The WhatsApp account gets its own ID, which Meta adds to the API step by step from 2027.

Do WhatsApp prices change?

No. Per-message prices stay the same. What is new is that Meta bills each Messaging account separately, through the payment method in that account.

Does Coexistence create a new Messaging account?

No. When you connect a number from the WhatsApp Business app to a new provider through Coexistence, Meta's documentation says no new Messaging account is created. Your existing accounts stay; do not delete them to switch.

Sources

  1. Meta for Developers: Account model evolution, accessed November 4, 2026. developers.facebook.com
  2. Meta for Developers: Account model evolution, Onboarding, accessed November 4, 2026. developers.facebook.com
  3. Meta for Developers: Account model evolution, Messaging, accessed November 4, 2026. developers.facebook.com
  4. Meta for Developers: WhatsApp Business Accounts, accessed November 4, 2026. developers.facebook.com
  5. Meta for Developers: Share and revoke credit lines, accessed November 4, 2026. developers.facebook.com
  6. Meta for Developers: Business customer support, accessed November 4, 2026. developers.facebook.com
  7. Meta for Developers: Onboarding WhatsApp Business app users (Coexistence), accessed November 4, 2026. developers.facebook.com