Migrate an Existing WhatsApp Account - Share Your WABA with ChatMaxima

Overview

Some numbers cannot go through the standard Embedded Signup flow. This is common for hosted numbers, SIM-less setups, or numbers where you cannot receive the one-time verification code. Migrating lets you connect those numbers a different way.

Instead of signing in through Meta's popup, you share your existing WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) with ChatMaxima's Meta Business portfolio. ChatMaxima then reads the numbers you shared and lets you add each one with a single click. No OTP and no SIM are required.

If you can complete Embedded Signup, use WhatsApp Cloud API or Coexistence instead. Migration is for the cases those two cannot cover.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• A WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) that already exists in Meta Business Manager
• Admin access to the Meta Business portfolio that owns the WABA
• Your Business Portfolio ID or your WhatsApp Account (WABA) ID (either works)
• A few minutes to complete the asset share in Meta Business Suite

Note: You share the account to ChatMaxima. You never share any password or login. Access is granted through Meta's partner sharing, and you can revoke it at any time from Meta Business Suite.

Step 1: Open Migrate a WhatsApp Account

1. Go to Settings > Channels in the dashboard
2. Select WhatsApp
3. Click the Migrate a WhatsApp Account button

The page shows ChatMaxima's Business ID and a field to discover your accounts.

Step 2: Share Your WhatsApp Account with ChatMaxima

In a separate tab, open Meta Business Suite:

1. Go to Business Settings > Users > Partners
2. Click Add > Give a partner access to your assets
3. Paste ChatMaxima's Business ID: 183860804238874
4. Select your WhatsApp Account as the asset to share
5. Grant the Manage WhatsApp Business Account permission
6. Confirm the share

Note: The Business ID shown on the Migrate page is the value to paste. Use the copy button next to it so you do not mistype it.

Step 3: Discover Your Accounts

Back on the Migrate page, choose how you want ChatMaxima to find your accounts:

Mode	Enter this	Where to find it
Business Portfolio ID	Your 15 to 16 digit portfolio ID	Meta Business Suite > Business Settings > Business Info
WhatsApp Account ID	A single WABA ID	Meta Business Suite > WhatsApp Accounts

1. Pick the mode that matches the ID you have
2. Paste the ID and click Discover
3. ChatMaxima queries Meta and lists every shared WhatsApp Account and its phone numbers

Note: The Business Portfolio ID is not the same as a WhatsApp Account (WABA) ID. If discovery finds nothing, confirm you entered the right one for the mode you picked, and that the account was shared in Step 2.

Step 4: Claim Your Number

1. Find the number you want to connect in the results
2. Click Add to ChatMaxima next to it
3. ChatMaxima verifies the share with Meta, creates the channel, and subscribes to updates

Numbers that are already connected show an Already Connected label instead of a button.

Note: The first team to claim a number from a shared portfolio owns future claims from that portfolio. If a number is already linked to another ChatMaxima team, contact support.

Step 5: Start Messaging

Once claimed, the number appears in your WhatsApp accounts list and works like any other connected number. You can:

• Reply from the ChatMaxima Inbox
• Add a chatbot, routing rules, and team members
• Send message templates for business-initiated conversations

Troubleshooting

No accounts found

1. Confirm you completed the asset share in Step 2, granting Manage WhatsApp Business Account
2. Check that you entered the correct ID for the selected mode. A Business Portfolio ID and a WhatsApp Account (WABA) ID are different values.
3. Wait a moment after sharing, then click Discover again

The share is not visible to ChatMaxima

1. In Meta Business Suite, open Business Settings > Users > Partners
2. Confirm ChatMaxima (Business ID 183860804238874) is listed with access to your WhatsApp Account
3. Re-share the asset if it is missing, then discover again

Number already connected to another team

Each shared number can belong to one ChatMaxima team. If you see a message that the portfolio is linked to a different team, reach out to support so we can help sort out ownership.

Next Steps

• WhatsApp Cloud API setup →
• WhatsApp Coexistence setup →
• Send marketing messages →
• Back to all channels →