# `bird whatsapp numbers create`

## Usage

```bash
bird whatsapp numbers create <number-id> [flags]
```

## Description

Create a WhatsApp number connection

Connect a number the workspace already holds to WhatsApp. Take the number's id from `bird numbers list`, where a connectable number is a dedicated one (`nda_` prefix) that can receive text messages; WhatsApp proves ownership for you, so no verification code is asked for. The number comes back `preparing` and takes a couple of minutes. Read it back with `bird whatsapp numbers get` until it reports `awaiting_signup`, at which point it carries `finish_setup_url` (a browser flow behind an OAuth screen that a person must complete, and that no operation here can substitute for). `failed` means it could not be prepared and `error` says why.

Build the request from the &lt;number\_id> argument and flags, a JSON WhatsAppNumberCreate body via
--body-file ("-" reads stdin), or both — an inline value overrides the matching
body field. Run --example to print a ready-to-edit body, or --dry-run to print
the resolved request without sending it.

## Procedure

Step 2 of 3 of "Connect a number you hold to WhatsApp". Previous: bird numbers list. Next: bird whatsapp numbers get.

## Examples

```bash
# print the body shape (no credentials needed)
bird whatsapp numbers create --example

# the body it prints:
```

```json
{
  "data_localization_region": "DE",
  "name": "Sales EU",
  "number_id": "nda_01krdgeqcxet5s7t44vh8rt9mg"
}
```

## Options

#### Request

| Name                | Description                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `--body-file`       | Read the JSON request body from this file; "-" reads stdin   |
| `--example`         | Print a complete example request body, then exit             |
| `--dry-run`         | Print the resolved request without sending it, then exit     |
| `--idempotency-key` | Deduplication key; a retry with the same key won't act twice |

#### Options

| Name                         | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `--name`                     | Your workspace's own label for the number while we prepare it, used until you finish connecting it. Leave it out and the number's own phone number stands in. Finishing embedded signup replaces it with the label given there, and renaming the number afterwards sets the one that lasts. This has no bearing on what WhatsApp displays to people the number messages. |
| `--data-localization-region` | Store this number's message content at rest in a specific country, given as its two-letter ISO 3166 code. Leave it out to use WhatsApp's default storage. This cannot be changed once the number is connected, so set it now if your organization requires it. Possible values: AU, ID, IN, JP, SG, KR, DE, CH, GB, BR, BH, ZA, AE, CA.                                  |
| `--response-schema`          | Print the fields this command returns, then exit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

## Related

| Name                                                                              | Description                         |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| [`bird whatsapp numbers delete`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-numbers-delete)     | Delete a WhatsApp number connection |
| [`bird whatsapp numbers get`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-numbers-get)           | Get a WhatsApp number               |
| [`bird whatsapp numbers list`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-numbers-list)         | List WhatsApp numbers               |
| [`bird whatsapp numbers precheck`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-numbers-precheck) | Check a number against WhatsApp     |
| [`bird whatsapp numbers update`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-numbers-update)     | Update a WhatsApp number name       |