Whatsapp connexion ok but trigger doesn't works

Questions
1

Hi,

I want to create a whatsapp agent.

I set the connexions and it’s sucessful however i sent a message to the test number set by meta and the trigger doesn’t work.

Do you have any idea ?

Thanks

2

The WhatsApp Business API trigger requires proper webhook configuration with Meta (Facebook). Here’s exactly how to fix this:

Problem: Webhook Not Receiving Messages

When you can send messages but the trigger doesn’t fire, it means:

  1. :white_check_mark: Your API credentials are correct
  2. :cross_mark: The webhook subscription isn’t properly configured in Meta

Solution: Complete Webhook Setup

Step 1: Get Your n8n Webhook URL

  1. In your WhatsApp Trigger node, you’ll see a Webhook URL like:

    https://your-n8n-instance.com/webhook/whatsapp-trigger-id

  2. Copy this URL - you’ll need it for Meta

Step 2: Configure Webhook in Meta Business Suite

  1. Go to Meta App Dashboard: Meta for Business (formerly Facebook for Business)
  2. Select your WhatsApp app
  3. Navigate to WhatsApp > Configuration
  4. Under Webhook, click Edit
  5. Enter your n8n Webhook URL
  6. Set Verify Token: Use any random string (e.g., n8n_verify_12345)
  7. Save this token - you’ll add it to n8n

Step 3: Add Verify Token to n8n

Back in your n8n WhatsApp Trigger node:

  1. Click Webhook Settings (Advanced)
  2. Add the same Verify Token you created in Step 2
  3. Save and activate your workflow

Step 4: Subscribe to Webhook Events

This is the critical step most people miss:

  1. In Meta Dashboard → WhatsApp → Configuration
  2. Find Webhook Fields
  3. Subscribe to these events:
    • messages ✓ (Required for incoming messages)
    • message_status ✓ (Optional: delivery status)
    • messaging_postbacks ✓ (Optional: button clicks)
  4. Click Subscribe

Step 5: Test the Trigger

  1. Activate your n8n workflow (must be active!)
  2. Send a test message to your WhatsApp Business number
  3. Check n8n executions - you should see it trigger

Common Issues & Fixes:

Issue 1: Webhook Returns 404

Solution: Your workflow isn’t active or the webhook URL changed. Always keep the workflow activated.

Issue 2: Meta Says “Verification Failed”

Solution: The Verify Token in Meta doesn’t match the one in n8n. They must be identical.

Issue 3: Still No Triggers After Setup

Solution: Check Meta webhook subscriptions. The messages event MUST be subscribed.

Issue 4: Works for Test Number Only

Solution: Your WhatsApp Business number is in “Test Mode”. You need to:

  • Add your App for Business Verification in Meta
  • OR add phone numbers to your test users list

Pro Tip: Webhook Logs

In Meta Dashboard, check Webhooks → Recent Deliveries to see if Meta is actually sending webhooks to n8n. If you see:

  • :white_check_mark: 200 OK → n8n is receiving them (check your workflow logic)
  • :cross_mark: 4xx/5xx errors → n8n URL is wrong or workflow is inactive
  • :cross_mark: No deliveries → Events aren’t subscribed

Building a WhatsApp Agent

For a complete WhatsApp agent, your workflow should look like:

WhatsApp Trigger → AI Node (ChatGPT/Claude) → WhatsApp Send Message

Key considerations:

  • Store conversation context (use n8n’s memory or external database)
  • Handle message types (text, images, location, etc.)
  • Implement rate limiting (WhatsApp has messaging limits)
  • Set up proper error handling

I build these conversational agents regularly for businesses - the most critical part is getting the webhook configuration right, which trips up most developers on their first attempt.

Let me know if you’re still seeing issues after following these steps, and share any error messages from Meta’s webhook logs!

3

Hi,

Thanks for your detailed answer.

Step 1: Get Your n8n Webhook URL

Do i use test or prod ? and get or post ?

Step 2: Configure Webhook in Meta Business Suite

In WhatsApp > Configuration

Unable to validate the callback URL or the verification token. Please check the information provided or try again later.

Step 3: Add Verify Token to n8n

I don’t have
Webhook Settings (Advanced)

Step 4: Subscribe to Webhook Events

I don’t find
Webhook Fields

Just in case, this is my mail: [email protected]

Thanks for your help

n8n_Capture2
n8n_Capture2788×410 36.5 KB

n8n_Capture1
n8n_Capture11288×686 52 KB

4

Step 1: Test vs Prod & GET vs POST

Production URL - Always use the production webhook URL (not test).

The WhatsApp Trigger node in n8n shows you the webhook URL - copy it exactly as shown. You don’t choose GET/POST - Meta uses GET for verification and POST for actual messages automatically.

Step 2: “Unable to validate callback URL”

This error happens during Meta’s verification process. The fix:

Critical: Your workflow MUST be ACTIVE during verification!

  1. In n8n, activate your workflow (toggle to green/active state)
  2. Then go to Meta and try adding the webhook URL
  3. When Meta tries to verify, it sends a GET request to test the connection
  4. If your workflow isn’t active, n8n returns 404 and Meta shows that error

Also check:

  • Your n8n instance must be publicly accessible (not localhost)
  • If using n8n Cloud, this should work automatically
  • If self-hosted, make sure your domain/IP is reachable from the internet

Step 3: No “Webhook Settings (Advanced)”

This is version-specific! Looking at your screenshots, you’re using the WhatsApp Business Cloud Trigger node.

For the WhatsApp Business Cloud node, the verify token is handled differently:

  1. In your WhatsApp node, look for a field called “Verify Token” or “Webhook Verify Token” in the main parameters (not advanced)
  2. If you don’t see it, you might need to update your n8n version - verify token support was added in recent versions
  3. Alternative: Use the “WhatsApp Trigger” node (not “WhatsApp Business Cloud Trigger”) - it has better webhook verification support

Step 4: Can’t Find “Webhook Fields” in Meta

Important: You need to subscribe to webhook events AFTER the webhook URL is successfully verified.

The correct flow:

  1. :white_check_mark: Add webhook URL in Meta (with verify token)
  2. :white_check_mark: Wait for Meta to verify it (shows green checkmark)
  3. :white_check_mark: THEN scroll down on the same Configuration page
  4. :white_check_mark: You’ll see “Webhook fields” section with checkboxes for events

If you’re still getting the verification error, you won’t see the webhook fields section yet - they only appear after successful verification.

Quick Diagnostic Checklist:

In n8n:

  • Workflow is ACTIVE (green toggle)
  • Using production webhook URL (copy from the node)
  • n8n instance is publicly accessible

In Meta:

  • Using the exact webhook URL from n8n (no typos)
  • Verify token matches (if your node version supports it)
  • App is in “Live” mode (not “Development” mode)

Your Screenshots

I can see you uploaded 2 screenshots - they’ll help me give more specific advice. Looking at typical issues:

Screenshot 1 (n8n_Capture1): Should show your WhatsApp trigger node
Screenshot 2 (n8n_Capture2): Likely shows the Meta webhook configuration

Can you share:

  1. What n8n version you’re using? (Settings > About)
  2. Are you on n8n Cloud or self-hosted?
  3. When you activate the workflow and copy the webhook URL, does the URL start with https://?

Temporary Workaround

While we troubleshoot the verification:

If your n8n version doesn’t support verify tokens well:

  1. Create a simple Webhook node (not WhatsApp-specific)
  2. Set it to respond to GET requests
  3. Use that URL for Meta verification
  4. Once verified, switch back to WhatsApp trigger for actual messages

I build WhatsApp agents for clients regularly - this verification step is always the trickiest part! Once we get past this, the rest flows smoothly.

Feel free to share more details about your setup and I’ll walk you through it step-by-step!