Issue with WhatsApp Cloud API - Webhook Receives Payloads but n8n Trigger Does Not Fire for Real Messages

Questions
1

Issue with WhatsApp Cloud API - Webhook Receives Payloads but n8n Trigger Does Not Fire for Real Messages

Hello,

I am using the WhatsApp Cloud API to integrate a chatbot via n8n (I’m using the latest version). Test messages from the Meta dashboard work correctly and are received in my n8n workflow. Additionally, I can see the payloads of real messages (sent from a personal test number) in Meta’s Webhook Payload. However, the WhatsApp Trigger node in n8n does not trigger for these real messages, even though webhook tests from Meta return a 200 OK.

  • Mode: Development (test mode), with a personal number added as a test recipient.

Steps to Reproduce the Issue:

  1. I send a message from a personal test number to the business number linked to the API.
  2. In the Meta dashboard (under WhatsApp > Configuration or via debug tools), the message appears in the sent webhook payload.
  3. In n8n, the workflow does not execute; no log of execution for this event.
    Note: Test messages sent directly from Meta are received and processed by the n8n workflow.

I have no specific errors in Meta logs, but the issue persists only for real messages (simulated tests work). Could you check if there is a known bug on the WhatsApp Cloud API side, a general restriction, or a missing configuration?

Thank you for your assistance!
Best regards

2

Hi Barek

This is expected in WhatsApp Cloud API’s Development mode. Only messages from approved test numbers trigger the n8n workflow. Real messages won’t fire until the number is added as a test user or the app is switched to Production mode.

3

Hi @YOUNESS_AIT_M_BAREK,

Silly question, but did you activate your workflow in pre-version 2 and “Publish” in version 2? Your workflow needs to be Active/Published for real messages to come through.