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
+1and the area code555. - 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 works the same way.
Meta describes these numbers in its Embedded Signup overview.
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 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 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 before you message customers.
Next steps
- Phone number setup: connecting a number of your own for production
- Message status events: how a failed message reports its error code
- Number quality and messaging limit: the allowance that applies once the number can send