NXT Cloud Chat – Complete User Guide

Using NXT Cloud Chat, you can securely connect your WordPress site with the official WhatsApp Cloud API. This guide walks you through the complete process, including plugin installation, setting up your Meta WhatsApp app, configuring the required settings, connecting webhooks, and a quick overview of each module to help you get started smoothly.

Step-by-step

What You Will Achieve After This Guide

By completing this guide, you will successfully connect your WordPress website with the official WhatsApp Cloud API using the NXT Cloud Chat plugin.

  • Connect WordPress directly with the official WhatsApp Cloud API
  • Send and receive WhatsApp messages inside the WordPress dashboard
  • Manage contacts and groups for WhatsApp messaging
  • Send bulk WhatsApp messages using approved templates
  • Enable WhatsApp OTP login for your WordPress users

Pre-requisites (Before You Start)

To set up the WhatsApp Cloud API smoothly, make sure you have these ready before creating your Meta app:

  • Facebook Business Manager (Business Portfolio) access for your organization.
  • A valid phone number that is not currently used on a personal WhatsApp account.
  • Your website URL (used in app details, webhooks, and verification steps).
  • Meta Developer Account (developers.facebook.com) with profile verification completed.
Quick clarity: The phone number you add in WhatsApp Cloud API becomes a WhatsApp Business number for API usage. Don’t reuse a number tied to your personal WhatsApp app.

Installing NXT Cloud Chat Plugin

Install via WordPress Dashboard
  1. Log in to your WordPress admin
  2. Go to Plugins → Add New
  3. Click Upload Plugin
  4. Select nxt-cloud-chat.zip
  5. Click Install Now
  6. Activate the plugin
After activation: You’ll see a new menu item in WordPress admin called NXT Cloud Chat.

Creating and Setting Up the WhatsApp Cloud API App (Meta Developer Platform)

In this section you will create a Meta app, attach the WhatsApp product, add a WhatsApp Business phone number, and enable API access.

Create a Meta Developer Account
  1. Visit: https://developers.facebook.com/
  2. Log in with your Facebook Account
  3. Accept the terms and complete profile verification
Create a New App
  • Go to My Apps → Create App
    Meta Developer Dashboard showing My Apps and Create App option
    From the Meta Developer dashboard, click Create App to start a new integration.
  • Click Create App
    Create App button on Meta Developer Platform
    Choose the standard app creation flow (recommended for WhatsApp Cloud API).
  • Enter your App Name and App Contact Email, then click Next.
    Meta app creation Next step screen
    Use a name you can recognize later, like NXT Cloud Chat Integration.
  • Select Other and click Next
    Meta app creation choosing Other category
    This keeps the setup simple and avoids unnecessary product presets.
  • Select app type Business and click Next
    Meta app type selection showing Business option
    WhatsApp Cloud API works under Business apps tied to your Business Portfolio.
  • Choose your Business portfolio then click Create app
    Business portfolio selection and Create app button
    Select the correct portfolio where your WhatsApp Business Account should live.
  • Add WhatsApp product: scroll to WhatsApp and click Set Up.
    Add WhatsApp product setup on Meta app dashboard
    This enables WhatsApp Cloud API tools like phone number setup, tokens, and webhooks.
  • Open Quickstart under WhatsApp and click Start using the API.
    WhatsApp Quickstart showing Start using the API button
    The Quickstart page helps you generate the first token and add a business phone number.
  • On API Setup page, click Add phone number.
    API Setup screen with Add phone number button
    Add a WhatsApp Business number for Cloud API messaging. You will verify it via SMS.
  • In the popup, Create a WhatsApp Business profile, fill details, then click Next.
    WhatsApp Business profile creation form in popup
    This profile appears in WhatsApp when your business messages customers.
  • Add your new WhatsApp phone number, verify via SMS code, then proceed to token generation.

Generate Access Tokens

Temporary token (Quickstart)

In API Setup, generate the access token and set App Mode to LIVE. Copy values needed for plugin settings.

Meta App settings Basic page showing App secret
Go to App Settings → Basic and copy the App Secret. You’ll use it in the NXT Cloud Chat plugin settings.
API Setup showing WhatsApp number selection and token generation
On API Setup, select your WhatsApp number, click Generate access token, and set App Mode to LIVE.
Note: Quickstart tokens are temporary (often valid for ~24 hours). Messaging may require business verification and payment setup.
Generate a permanent access token

For production sites, create a system user in Business Settings, assign WhatsApp assets, and generate a token with expiration set to Never.

Meta dashboard showing permanent access token navigation
Open your app, then navigate to Business Settings where you can create a system user for long-term tokens.
Business Settings showing System users section
In your Business Portfolio, go to System Users and create a new user for API access.
Assign WhatsApp accounts to system user assets
Assign your WhatsApp accounts asset to the system user and grant full control.
Generate token workflow screen
Choose the app and permissions, then proceed to generate a token for the system user.
Token generation showing expiration set to Never
Set expiration to Never for a long-term production token (recommended).

Assign permissions: business_management, whatsapp_business_management, whatsapp_business_messaging (and whatsapp_business_manage_events optional).

Verify account step with phone number
Verify the system user token generation flow with your phone number when prompted by Meta.
Token generation approved message
Once approved, you can generate the permanent token and copy it securely.
Permanent token created confirmation screen
Token created: copy the permanent token and store it securely, then paste it into NXT Cloud Chat Settings.

Plugin Settings & Connection Check

Copy App ID, App Secret, Access Token, Phone Number ID, and WhatsApp Business Account ID into your WordPress plugin Settings, then click Save Settings.

NXT Cloud Chat plugin settings page in WordPress admin
Paste the copied values here. After saving, use the connection checks to confirm everything is working.

To confirm the configuration, click Check All Connections.

Check All Connections button in plugin settings
If any item fails, re-check token permissions, App Mode (LIVE), and webhook configuration steps.

Configure Webhooks (Receive Messages)

In Meta Developer Dashboard, click Configure webhooks. Copy Callback URL and Verify token from the plugin and paste them into Meta.

Meta webhooks configuration entry page
Start from the WhatsApp product page in your Meta app and open the webhooks configuration screen.
Plugin showing webhook callback URL and verify token fields
Copy Callback URL and Verify Token from NXT Cloud Chat and paste them into Meta.
Meta webhook configuration showing verify and save fields
Click Verify and Save. If verification fails, confirm the URL is reachable and the verify token matches exactly.

Once verified, subscribe the messages field (others are optional, for future use).

Webhook verified screen showing subscribed fields
After verification, webhook fields will appear. Subscribe to messages to receive incoming chat events.
Webhook fields list showing messages subscription option
Subscribe messages now. You can subscribe other fields later if needed.
Testing Your Connection (Important)

After the connection check succeeds, you may try sending a message from the Chat Window. However, in most cases this will fail or disabled if the recipient has not started a conversation first. This is due to WhatsApp Cloud API messaging rules.
Understanding the 24-Hour Messaging Window

WhatsApp only allows free-form outgoing messages within a 24-hour customer service window. This window begins when the user sends the first message to your WhatsApp Business number.

If no message has been received from a user, WhatsApp will block outgoing messages sent directly from the chat interface.

Recommended First Test
  1. Open WhatsApp on your phone.
  2. Send a message to your registered WhatsApp Business number.
  3. Go to NXT Cloud Chat → Chat Window in WordPress.
  4. You should now see the incoming message.
  5. Reply from the chat window to confirm messaging works.
Alternative Test Using Templates

If you want to test outgoing messages without waiting for a user message, you can send an approved WhatsApp template.

  1. Go to NXT Cloud Chat → Settings
  2. Open Connection Diagnostics
  3. Send the default template hello_world

Templates are allowed outside the 24-hour window and are typically used for notifications, alerts, and automated messages.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If something does not work during setup, check these common issues first. Most connection problems are related to token permissions, webhook configuration, or Meta app mode.

Messages not sending
  • Make sure your Meta app is set to LIVE mode.
  • Confirm the Access Token has the correct permissions.
  • Check that the recipient has started a conversation (24-hour window rule).
Connection check failed
  • Verify App ID, App Secret, and Access Token are copied correctly.
  • Make sure the WhatsApp phone number is properly added in the Meta dashboard.
  • Regenerate the access token if it has expired.
Webhook verification failed
  • Ensure the Callback URL is publicly accessible.
  • Verify that the Verify Token matches exactly between Meta and the plugin.
  • Check that your website allows incoming HTTPS requests.
Messages not appearing in Chat Window
  • Confirm webhook subscription includes the messages field.
  • Send a test message from your phone to the WhatsApp Business number.
  • Check server logs if webhook requests are blocked by firewall.
Still having issues?
Contact support at support@nxtwebsite.com and include screenshots of your Meta API setup and plugin settings.

Plugin Interface Guide

A quick tour of where each major module lives in the WordPress admin.

Dashboard
NXT Cloud Chat dashboard screen in WordPress admin
Dashboard gives you a high-level view of your WhatsApp activity and system status.
Chat Window
Chat window showing WhatsApp style inbox
Chat Window is your inbox—open conversations, reply, and manage messages inside WordPress.
Contacts
Contacts module showing contact list and filters
Contacts supports unlimited records with custom fields and import/export workflows.
Groups
Groups module showing groups list
Groups help you segment audiences for bulk messages and broadcast campaigns.
Templates
Templates module screen showing templates list
Templates are approved WhatsApp message formats used for notifications and campaigns.
Send Broadcast (Bulk Messages)
Broadcast module for sending bulk messages
Send Broadcast lets you target groups/contacts and run bulk messaging workflows.
History
History module showing message logs
History stores message logs and delivery insights for audit and reporting.
Authentication
Authentication settings page for WhatsApp login
Authentication settings control OTP login flows and WhatsApp-based verification screens.

Login Widget

WhatsApp login widget on a WordPress page
Add WhatsApp login using the Elementor widget or the shortcode for classic editors.

To add WhatsApp login, drag and drop the NXTCC: WhatsApp Login widget into your login page, or use shortcode [nxtcc_login_whatsapp].

WhatsApp Login Buttons for WordPress and WooCommerce Login Page

WhatsApp login buttons on a WordPress login page
Enables WhatsApp login buttons on the default WordPress login page and the WooCommerce My Account login page.

To display WhatsApp login buttons, enable “Show WhatsApp button on WordPress login page” and “Show WhatsApp button on WooCommerce login page” from the Authentication menu

Start Using WhatsApp with WordPress Today

You have now completed the full setup of WhatsApp Cloud API with WordPress using the NXT Cloud Chat plugin. You can start managing conversations, sending templates, and enabling WhatsApp login directly from your WordPress dashboard.

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