At a glance
Overview
- 1 Connect WhatsApp first, then open WhatsApp Suite → Load more → WhatsApp Flows (Manage flows). Plan feature required.
- 2 Click Create flow (or Sync from Meta if flows already exist in Business Manager).
- 3 Enter Basic information, build screens in the form builder, then Create flow — new flows auto-publish to Meta when creation succeeds.
- 4 Send a published flow from Chatbots using the Flow node (select flow + button text).
- 5 Open Flow entries to review submissions; optional auto-create/update contact mapping runs on submit.
Step by step
How to use Flows
Create and publish, review entries, then send from a chatbot.
Create and publish a flow
Path: Create new flow → form builder → publish to Meta. Statuses include Draft, Published, Deprecated, Blocked, and Throttled.
- 1 On Create new flow, fill Flow name and Category. Endpoint URI is usually auto-filled to your webhook; Application ID is optional.
- 2 Click Proceed to form builder. Start from Contact Form, Appointment Booking, Customer Survey, or Start blank.
- 3 Add screens (+ Add screen) and fields: Text Input, Email, Phone Number, Number, Date Picker, Dropdown, Checkbox, Radio Buttons, Text Area. Use Flow preview as you build.
- 4 In Settings, optionally turn on Auto-create/update contact when form is submitted and map Name / Email / Phone fields.
- 5 Click Create flow. On success the flow is created and published. Later: Edit form builder → Save changes → Update flow on Meta (or Publish flow for drafts).
Library, sync, and deprecate
Manage flows lists your Flow library with search and status/category filters.
- 1 Use Sync from Meta after changes in Business Manager; check Last synced on the list.
- 2 Open a card with View flow for Flow information, Meta Preview, Flow assets, or Update flow JSON (upload a .json file from Meta if needed).
- 3 Published flows cannot be deleted — use Deprecate flow instead. Draft flows can be deleted from the library.
- 4 After editing a published flow in the builder, always Update flow on Meta so WhatsApp serves the latest screens.
Flow entries
Submissions arrive through your Flows webhook and appear under Flow entries.
- 1 From Manage flows or a flow detail page, open View entries / Flow entries.
- 2 Filter the table (Flow name, Contact, Phone, Submitted) and open Submission details for the full answers.
- 3 Delete an entry if you need to remove a test or unwanted submission.
- 4 If contact mapping was enabled on the flow, check Manage Contacts for the created or updated contact.
Send a flow from Chatbots
The primary in-app send path is the Chatbot builder Flow node. Inbox can display received flow messages; there is no separate Inbox “send flow” button.
- 1 Publish the flow first so it appears in the chatbot picker.
- 2 In Chatbots, add a Flow node from the palette.
- 3 Select Flow, set Button Text (default Start, max 30 characters), and optional Header / Body / Footer.
- 4 Save and activate the bot, then test on WhatsApp. Completions land in Flow entries.
- 5 For template or campaign sends that already include a FLOW button from Meta, sync those templates — the template/campaign builders here do not add Flow buttons themselves.
Tips
- Keep each screen short — one job per screen. Long forms drop completion.
- Always tell the user what happens after they submit (confirmation copy or next bot step).
- If the library is empty after Meta work, Sync from Meta; if create fails, confirm WhatsApp setup and that Flows is included on your plan.
- Keep the Endpoint URI reachable so Flow submissions and data exchange can complete.