---
title: "WhatsApp virtual 555 area code numbers"
description: "Meta's free US 555 numbers send only a few messages until their display name is approved, so use them to try WhatsApp rather than in production."
canonical: "https://bird.com/docs/knowledge-base/whatsapp/555-numbers"
---

# WhatsApp virtual 555 area code numbers

A 555 business phone number is a free US number that Meta gives you during WhatsApp signup. We recommend against using these numbers for production traffic.

## How the number works

Meta creates one when you choose **Use a display name with a virtual number instead** in the **Phone number** field on the **Add your WhatsApp phone number** screen of WhatsApp signup. Meta offers this option only to businesses it considers eligible. It does not publish the criteria. The number:

- Has the US country calling code `+1` and the area code `555`.
- Is verified automatically, so no verification code is sent to it.
- Is limited to two for each business.
- Cannot move to another WhatsApp Business Account or be used outside the WhatsApp Business Platform.
- Otherwise works like any other business number. The same pricing applies. Its [quality rating](/docs/knowledge-base/whatsapp/number-quality-and-messaging-limit) works the same way.

Meta describes these numbers in its [Embedded Signup overview](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/embedded-signup/overview#555-business-phone-numbers).

## Display name review

Meta reviews the number's display name on its own. You do not have to do anything. Meta says the review can take up to five business days and emails you when it finishes. To follow it, open the number under [**WhatsApp > Numbers**](https://bird.com/dashboard/w/whatsapp/numbers) and check the status next to **Display name** on the **Business profile** tab.

Until the name is approved, the number can send around five template messages. After that, WhatsApp refuses its sends with error `131037`, which Meta describes as "The 555 business phone number used to send the request does not have an approved display name." Each refused message shows as **Failed** on the [**Messages**](https://bird.com/dashboard/w/whatsapp/messages) page. We do not retry it or resend it after the approval.

Because of this limit, we recommend against using a 555 number in production. Use it to try WhatsApp. [Connect a number of your own](/docs/guides/whatsapp/numbers/connect) before you message customers.

## Next steps

- [Phone number setup](/docs/guides/whatsapp/numbers/connect): connecting a number of your own for production
- [Message status events](/docs/guides/whatsapp/events/message-status#failure-events): how a failed message reports its error code
- [Number quality and messaging limit](/docs/knowledge-base/whatsapp/number-quality-and-messaging-limit): the allowance that applies once the number can send

## Related resources

- [Connecting WhatsApp to Bird: from buying a number to a live channel](/learn/whatsapp/connecting-whatsapp-to-bird) (video)
- [Connect WhatsApp](/whatsapp-api) (product)
- [Build your first integration](/learn/paths/integration) (course)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=whatsapp-connect)