How to troubleshoot Unable to send OTP to verify Whatsapp number on the sub-account

Modified on: Fri, 3 Jul, 2026 at 2:23 AM

Not Receiving the WhatsApp Verification OTP

What to do when a number is already registered with the regular WhatsApp Business app

Issue:

Users are unable to receive the OTP required to verify a WhatsApp number on a sub-account.

Cause:

This issue typically occurs when the WhatsApp number is already registered with the regular WhatsApp Business app.

Solution

To resolve this issue, follow the steps below:

Verify WhatsApp Registration Status

Check if the phone number is already active on WhatsApp.
You can use the online tool at 2Chat WhatsApp Checker to verify if the number is registered.
Alternatively, check directly via the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app.

If the Number Is Already Registered

The WhatsApp number cannot be used for the WhatsApp Business API (WABA) while it is registered with the regular WhatsApp Business app. You'll need to either:

Use a different phone number to register for WABA, or
Deactivate the existing WhatsApp account associated with the number before attempting registration again.

Note: It may take some time for the number to be fully released after deactivation before it can be used for WABA registration.