# Send WhatsApp Call Button Messages and Deep Links | Developer Documentation

<div id="bkmrk-send-whatsapp-call-b">## Send WhatsApp Call Button Messages and Deep Links

<div><span>Updated: Feb 25, 2026</span></div><div id="bkmrk-overview"><div id="bkmrk-overview-1"><div>### Overview

</div></div></div><div>After you adopt Cloud API Calling features, you can raise awareness with your customers in two core ways:</div>
<span>Send them a message with a WhatsApp call button</span><span>Embed a calling deep link into your brand surfaces (website, application, and so on)</span><div id="bkmrk-send-interactive-mes"><div id="bkmrk-send-interactive-mes-1"><div>### Send interactive message with a WhatsApp call button

</div></div></div><div>Use this endpoint to send a free-form interactive message with a WhatsApp call button during a [customer service window](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/sending-messages-developer-documentation) or an [open conversation window](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/pricing-on-the-whatsapp-business-platform-developer-documentation).</div><div>When a WhatsApp user clicks the call button, it initiates a WhatsApp call to the business number that sent the message.</div><div>A standard [message status webhook](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/status-messages-webhook-reference-developer-documentation) will be sent in response to this message send.</div><div>![Screenshot showing WhatsApp call button message on mobile device](https://support2.chatarchitect.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-04/embedded-image-rt4bhfpb.jpeg)</div><div id="bkmrk-body-parameters"><div id="bkmrk-body-parameters-1"><div>##### Body parameters

</div></div></div><div>[Learn more about sending interactive free form messages](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/sending-messages-developer-documentation)</div><div><table><thead><tr><th><span>Parameter </span></th><th><span>Description </span></th><th><span>Sample Value </span></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><div><div>`to`</div><div>*Integer*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required**</div><div>  
The phone number of the WhatsApp user you are messaging.</div><div>[Learn more about formatting phone numbers in Cloud API](/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/reference/whatsapp-business-phone-number/whatsapp-business-account-phone-number-api)</div></div></td><td><div><div>`"17863476655"`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`type`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required**</div><div>  
The type of interactive message you are sending.</div><div>In this case, you are sending a `voice_call`.</div><div>[Learn more about interactive messages](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/sending-messages-developer-documentation)</div></div></td><td><div><div>`"voice_call"`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`action`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required**</div><div>  
The action of your interactive message.</div><div>Must be `voice_call`.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`"voice_call"`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`parameters`</div><div>*JSON Object*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Optional**</div><div>Optional parameters for the WhatsApp calling button sent to the user.</div><div>Contains three values: `display_text`, `ttl_minutes`, and `payload`</div><div>`display_text` — (*String*) **Optional**</div><div>The display text on the WhatsApp calling button sent to the user.</div><div>Default is “Call Now”</div><div>Max length: 20 characters</div><div>`ttl_minutes` — (*Integer*) **Optional**</div><div>Time to live for the call-to-action (CTA) button in minutes.</div><div>Must be between 1 and 43200 (30 days)</div><div>Default value is 10080 (7 days)</div><div>`payload` — (*String*) **Optional**</div><div>An arbitrary string, useful for tracking.</div><div>Any app subscribed to the `calls` webhook field on the WhatsApp Business Account can get this string, as it is included in the `connect` and `terminate` webhook payloads under the `cta_payload` field.</div><div>Cloud API does not process this field, it just returns it as part of the webhooks.</div><div>Maximum 512 characters.</div><div>Payload is only available to WhatsApp client starting on version 2.25.27.</div></div></td><td><div><div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

</div><div id="bkmrk-success-response"><div id="bkmrk-success-response-1"><div>##### Success response

</div></div></div><div>[Learn more about messaging success responses](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/sending-messages-developer-documentation)</div><div id="bkmrk-error-response"><div id="bkmrk-error-response-1"><div>##### Error response

</div></div></div><div>Possible errors that can occur:</div><div>Sending this message to users on older app versions results in an error webhook with error code `131026`.</div><div>[View general Cloud API error codes](/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/support/error-codes)</div><div id="bkmrk-create-and-send-what"><div id="bkmrk-create-and-send-what-1"><div>### Create and send WhatsApp call button template message

</div></div></div><div>Use these endpoints to create and send a WhatsApp call button template message.</div><div>Once your call button template message is created, you can send a message to a WhatsApp user, inviting them to call your business.</div><div>[Learn more about creating and managing message templates](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/templates-developer-documentation)</div><div id="bkmrk-create-call-button-m"><div id="bkmrk-create-call-button-m-1"><div>#### Create call button message template

</div></div></div><div>Use this endpoint to create a call button message template.</div><div id="bkmrk-body-parameters-3"><div id="bkmrk-body-parameters-4"><div>##### Body parameters

</div></div></div><div>You can create and manage template messages through both Cloud API and the WhatsApp Business Manager interface.</div><div>When creating your call button template, ensure you configure `type` as `voice_call`.</div><div>[Learn more about creating and managing message templates](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/templates-developer-documentation)</div><div><table><thead><tr><th><span>Parameter </span></th><th><span>Description </span></th><th><span>Sample Value </span></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><div><div>`type`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required**</div><div>  
The type of template message you are creating.</div><div>In this case, you are creating a `voice_call`.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`"voice_call"`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`text`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Optional**</div><div>  
The display text on the WhatsApp calling button sent to the user.</div><div>Default is “Call Now”</div><div>Max length: 20 characters</div></div></td><td><div><div>`"Call Now"`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`ttl_minutes`</div><div>*Integer*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Optional**</div><div>  
Time to live for the CTA button in minutes.</div><div>Must be between 1440 (1 day) and 43200 (30 days).</div><div>You can override this value when sending the message.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`1440`</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

</div><div id="bkmrk-success-response-3"><div id="bkmrk-success-response-4"><div>##### Success response

</div></div></div><div></div><div>[*Learn more about messaging success responses*](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/sending-messages-developer-documentation)</div><div id="bkmrk-error-response-3"><div id="bkmrk-error-response-4"><div>##### Error response

</div></div></div><div>Possible errors that can occur:</div>
<span>Invalid `whatsapp-business-account-id`</span><span>Permissions/Authorization errors</span><span>Template structure/component validation alerts</span><div>[View general Cloud API error codes](/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/support/error-codes)</div><div id="bkmrk-calling-deep-links"><div id="bkmrk-calling-deep-links-1"><div>### Calling deep links

</div></div></div><div>Calling deep links are hyperlinks that route WhatsApp users to call your business.</div><div>The process to create a calling deep link is similar to a [chat deep link<span>⁠</span>](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffaq.whatsapp.com%2F5913398998672934%2F%3Flocale%3Den_US&h=AT55bCfphq4HFZzZyyeAV8v8FEB_7Aky-XZSSALR56S6zcPUYSREt-BiusaRcW-Eg5-m7AljaLV7O5b5H85UEUR7_qY2-HIN1B2EepBQvxo_RxS3fgTxwWDNzOAs7sJX-JGBLnpu8YgUyGrMRVnG4Q), except the format for the call deep link is `wa.me/call/<BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER>`</div><div>Note that deep links are not supported on WhatsApp desktop clients.</div><div id="bkmrk-embed-calling-deep-l"><div id="bkmrk-embed-calling-deep-l-1"><div>#### Embed calling deep links

</div></div></div><div>You can use calling deep links to advertise WhatsApp calling for your business.</div><div>Use these links anywhere where calling can be useful, like your website, primary application, or even as a QR code to be shared.</div><div>![Example of calling deep link embedded on a business website](https://support2.chatarchitect.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-04/embedded-image-9ridndqq.jpeg)</div><div id="bkmrk-send-calling-deep-li"><div id="bkmrk-send-calling-deep-li-1"><div>#### Send calling deep links

</div></div></div><div>You can also send messages to WhatsApp users with a calling deep link.</div><div>Since deep links can be made per business phone number, you can use calling deep links to prompt WhatsApp users to contact a different phone number with voice enabled.</div><div>The `wa.me/call/<BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER>` format is easy to copy, paste, and send, and does not require you to make a template in Business Manager.</div><div>![Screenshot showing WhatsApp message with calling deep link](https://support2.chatarchitect.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-04/embedded-image-wfxv6tzn.jpeg)</div><div id="bkmrk-send-payload-data-in"><div id="bkmrk-send-payload-data-in-1"><div>#### Send payload data in call deep link

</div></div></div><div>You can also send a payload with the deep link. You can use the `biz_payload` query string when sending the call deep link to any user (`wa.me/call/<BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER>?biz_payload=payload`).</div><div>When a user calls using the provided deep link with the `biz_payload` any app subscribed to the `calls` webhook field on the WhatsApp Business Account can get this string, as it is included in the `connect` and `terminate` webhook payloads under the `deeplink_payload` field.</div><div>Payload in call deep link is only available to WhatsApp client starting on version 2.25.27.</div></div>