How to add a WhatsApp Channel or connect official Meta groups
Set up a WhatsApp Channel to publish to it through Cognizy, or connect the official Meta groups on an official API number.
2 min readBasicUpdated on November 12, 2026
Where to find it in Cognizy
Video lesson coming soon. For now, follow the steps below.
Besides groups, Cognizy also publishes to WhatsApp Channels (the follower kind, with an ID ending in @newsletter) and, on an official API number with a green checkmark, to official Meta groups. The channel is included in publications, offer posts, and the pilot, with its own short link.
Where to find it in Cognizy
Before you start
- For WhatsApp Channel: a number connected via QR Code that is an admin of the channel.
- For official groups: an official Meta API number with a green checkmark, plus the Meta app details (phone number ID, access token, app secret key).
Step by step
- Step 1:
Open and click Add channel.
- Step 2:
Under Number, choose the number that is the channel's admin. Cognizy checks whether the number accepts channels. Click Search channels to see the channels that number has already published to; for a new channel, paste the Channel ID (ends in @newsletter).
- Step 3:
Click Use this on the channel found. Under Name in Cognizy, give it a name so you can find the channel in lists (WhatsApp doesn't provide the name), choose the Purpose and click Add channel.
- Step 4:
For official Meta groups, click Official groups (Meta).
- Step 5:
Read Before connecting: each group has a maximum of 8 members, and only accounts with a green checkmark can use groups via the API. Choose the Official API number and fill in the Phone number ID, the Access token and the App secret key, which are found in the Meta app. Under Webhook verification token, make up a text with 16 or more characters. Click Connect official groups.
How to know it worked
The channel appears in Your groups and can now be selected in publications. With official groups connected, the window shows the webhook address to set up in the Meta app, and that number's groups appear in the list.
If something goes wrong
It says channels require a newer Evolution version.
The number's server is on an old version. Ask Cognizy support for an update.
It says channels aren't available on the official API.
Channels only work on a number connected via QR Code. Choose another number.
The new channel doesn't show up in the search.
The search only finds channels the number has already published to. Paste the channel ID, which ends in @newsletter. The invite link won't work.
Next step
Publish the first post to the channel through the group publications.
Sign in with your Cognizy account to save your progress.
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