Zero-Tap Authentication Templates

Zero-tap authentication templates allow your users to receive one-time passwords or codes via WhatsApp without having to leave your app.

When a user in your app requests a password or code and you deliver it using a zero-tap authentication template, the WhatsApp client simply broadcasts the included password or code and your app can capture it immediately with a broadcast receiver.

From your user's perspective, they request a password or code in your app and it appears in your app automatically. If your app user happens to check the message in the WhatsApp client, they will only see a message displaying the default fixed text: < code > is your verification code.

Like one-tap autofill button authentication templates, when the WhatsApp client receives the template message containing the user's password or code, we perform a series of eligibility checks. If the message fails this check and we are unable to broadcast the password or code, the message will display either a one-tap autofill button or a copy code button. For this reason, when you create a zero-tap authentication template, you must include a one-tap autofill and copy code button in your post body payload, even if the user may never see one of these buttons.

Limitations

Zero-tap is only supported on Android. If you send a zero-tap authentication template to a WhatsApp user who is using a non-Android device, the WhatsApp client will display a copy code button instead.

URLs, media, and emojis are not supported.

Best Practices

• Do not make WhatsApp your default password/code delivery method.
• Make it clear to your app users that the password or code will be automatically delivered to your app when they select WhatsApp for delivery.
• Link to our About security codes that automatically fill on WhatsApp help center article if your users are worried about auto-delivery of the password or code.
• After the password/code is used in your app, make it clear to your app user that it was received successfully.

Here are some examples that make it clear to an app user that their code will automatically appear in the app.

Template Creation

Use the WhatsApp Business Account > Message Templates endpoint to create a zero-tap authentication template.

Request Syntax

POST /<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_ACCOUNT_ID>/message_templates

Post Body

{
  "name": "<TEMPLATE_NAME>",
  "language": "<TEMPLATE_LANGUAGE>",
  "category": "authentication",
  "message_send_ttl_seconds": <TIME_TO_LIVE>, // Optional
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "body",
      "add_security_recommendation": <SECURITY_RECOMMENDATION> // Optional
    },
    {
      "type": "footer",
      "code_expiration_minutes": <CODE_EXPIRATION> // Optional
    },
    {
      "type": "buttons",
      "buttons": [
        {
          "type": "otp",
          "otp_type": "zero_tap",
          "text": "<CODY_CODE_BUTTON_TEXT>", // Optional
          "autofill_text": "<AUTOFILL_BUTTON_TEXT>", // Optional
          "zero_tap_terms_accepted": <TERMS_ACCEPTED>,
          "supported_apps": [
            { 
              "package_name": "<PACKAGE_NAME>",
              "signature_hash": "<SIGNATURE_HASH>"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Note that in your template creation request the button type is designated as otp, but upon creation the button type will be set to url. You can confirm this by performing a GET request on a newly created authentication template and analyzing its components.

Properties

Example Request

curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/v21.0/102290129340398/message_templates' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer EAAJB...' \
-d '
{
  "name": "zero_tap_auth_template",
  "language": "en_US",
  "category": "authentication",
  "message_send_ttl_seconds": 60,
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "body",
      "add_security_recommendation": true
    },
    {
      "type": "footer",
      "code_expiration_minutes": 5
    },
    {
      "type": "buttons",
      "buttons": [
        {
          "type": "otp",
          "otp_type": "zero_tap",
          "text": "Copy Code",
          "autofill_text": "Autofill",
          "zero_tap_terms_accepted": true,
          "supported_apps": [
            { 
              "package_name": "com.example.luckyshrub",
              "signature_hash": "K8a/AINcGX7"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}'

Example Response

{
  "id": "594425479261596",
  "status": "PENDING",
  "category": "AUTHENTICATION"
}

App Signing Key Hash

./sms_retriever_hash_v9.sh --package "com.example.myapplication" --keystore ~/.android/debug.keystore

Supported Apps

"buttons": [
  {
    "type": "otp",
    ...
    "supported_apps": [
      { 
        "package_name": "<PACKAGE_NAME_1>",
        "signature_hash": "<SIGNATURE_HASH_1>"
      },
      { 
        "package_name": "<PACKAGE_NAME_2>",
        "signature_hash": "<SIGNATURE_HASH_2>"
      },
      ...
    ]
  }
]

"buttons": [
  {
    "type": "otp",
    ...
    "package_name": "<PACKAGE_NAME>",
    "signature_hash": "<SIGNATURE_HASH>"
  }
]

Handshake

You must signal to the WhatsApp client to expect imminent delivery of a password or code. You can do this by initiating a "handshake".

A handshake is an Android intent and public class that you implement but that the WhatsApp client can start.

When a user in your app requests a password or code to be delivered to their WhatsApp number, first initiate the handshake, then call our API to send the authentication template message. When the WhatsApp client receives the message, it will perform an eligibility check, and if there are no errors, start a broadcast.

If you do not initiate the handshake before sending the message, or the message fails an eligibility check, the broadcast will not be started. Instead, the delivered message will display a one-tap autofill button, if able to do so. If unable to do so, it will display a copy code button.

Eligibility Check

The WhatsApp client performs the following checks when it receives an authentication template message. If any check fails, it will attempt to display the one-tap autofill button in the message. If unable to do so, it will fall back to a copy code button.

• The handshake was initiated no more than 10 minutes ago (or no more than the number of minutes indicated by the template's code_expiration_minutes property, if present).
• The package name in the message (defined in the package_name property in the components array upon template creation) matches the package name set on the intent. The match is determined through the getCreatorPackage method called in the PendingIntent object provided by your application. See One-Tap Autofill Button Class.
• The app signing key hash in the message (defined in the signature_hash property in the components array upon template creation) matches your installed app's signing key hash.
• Your app has defined a one-tap autofill button activity and class to receive the password or code.
• Your app has defined a zero-tap broadcast receiver and class to receive the password or code.

Android Notifications

Android notifications indicating receipt of a WhatsApp authentication template message will only appear on the user's Android device if:

• The user is logged into the WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app with the phone number (account) that the message was sent to.
• The user is logged into your app.
• Android OS is KitKat (4.4, API 19) or above.
• Show notifications is enabled (Settings > Notifications) in the WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app.
• Device level notification is enabled for the WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app.
• Prior message threads in the WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app between the user and your business are not muted.

Using the SDK (Beta)

The OTP Android SDK is available in beta. It can be used to perform handshakes, as well as other functions in both one-tap and zero-tap authentication templates.

To access SDK functionality, add the following configuration to your Gradle file:

dependencies {
  …
  implementation 'com.whatsapp.otp:whatsapp-otp-android-sdk:0.1.0'
  …
}

To your repositories, add mavenCentral():

repositories {
  …
  mavenCentral()
  …
}

Zero-Tap Broadcast Receiver

Declare a Receiver and intent filter that can receive the one-time password or code. The intent filter must have the action name com.whatsapp.otp.OTP_RETRIEVED.

<receiver
   android:name=".app.receiver.OtpCodeReceiver"
   android:enabled="true"
   android:exported="true">
   <intent-filter>
       <action android:name="com.whatsapp.otp.OTP_RETRIEVED" />
   </intent-filter>
</receiver>

This is the receiver that the WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app will start once the authentication template message is received and it passes all eligibility checks.

Zero-Tap Receiver Class

Using the SDK (Preferred)

Define a class that extends BroadcastReceiver, then define the onReceive method, passing in your context and intent. Instantiate a WhatsAppOtpIncomingIntentHandler object, then run the .processOtpCode() method which will receive the intent, validate the OTP code, and handle errors.

public class OtpCodeReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {

    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
      WhatsAppOtpIncomingIntentHandler whatsAppOtpIncomingIntentHandler = new WhatsAppOtpIncomingIntentHandler();
      whatsAppOtpIncomingIntentHandler.processOtpCode(intent,
         // call your function to validate
         (code) -> validateCode(code),
         // call your function to handle errors
         (error, exception) -> handleError(error, exception));
   }
}

Without the SDK

The broadcast receiver class should look something like this:

public class OtpCodeReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver

    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
       PendingIntent pendingIntent =     intent.getParcelableExtra("_ci_");
       // verify source of the pendingIntent
       String pendingIntentCreatorPackage = pendingIntent.getCreatorPackage();

       String creatorPackage = pendingIntent.getCreatorPackage();
       if ("com.whatsapp".equals(creatorPackage) ||
           "com.whatsapp.w4b".equals(creatorPackage)) {
          // use OTP code
          String otpCode = intent.getStringExtra("code");
          // ...
       }
    }
}

One-Tap Autofill Button Activity (Optional)

If you want the delivered message to be able to fall back to a one-tap autofill button if the message fails the eligibility check, implement this activity and intent filter in your app to receive the one-time password or code.

The intent filter must have the action name com.whatsapp.otp.OTP_RETRIEVED.

<activity
   android:name=".ReceiveCodeActivity"
   android:enabled="true"
   android:exported="true"
   android:launchMode="standard">
   <intent-filter>
       <action android:name="com.whatsapp.otp.OTP_RETRIEVED" />
   </intent-filter>
</activity>

This is the activity that the WhatsApp client will start if the message fails the eligibility check but is still eligible to display a one-tap autofill button.

One-Tap Autofill Button Activity Class (Optional)

If you want the message to be able to display a one-tap autofill button if the if fails an eligibility check, define the activity public class that can accept the code once the user taps the button.

public class ReceiveCodeActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
       super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
       Intent intent = getIntent();
       // retrieve PendingIntent from extras bundle
       PendingIntent pendingIntent = intent.getParcelableExtra("_ci_");
       // verify source of the pendingIntent
       String pendingIntentCreatorPackage = pendingIntent.getCreatorPackage();
       // check if creatorPackage is "com.whatsapp" -> WA consumer app Or
       // "com.whatsapp.w4b" -> WA business app
       if ("com.whatsapp".equals(creatorPackage) || "com.whatsapp.w4b".equals(creatorPackage)) {
         // use OTP code
         String otpCode = intent.getStringExtra("code");
       }
   }
}

Initiating the Handshake

Using the SDK (Preferred)

Performing a handshake can be done by instantiating a WhatsAppOtpHandler object and passing in your context to the .sendOtpIntentToWhatsApp() method:

WhatsAppOtpHandler whatsAppOtpHandler = new WhatsAppOtpHandler();
whatsAppOtpHandler.sendOtpIntentToWhatsApp(context);

Without the SDK

This example demonstrates one way to initiate a handshake with the WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app.

public void sendOtpIntentToWhatsApp() {
   // Send OTP_REQUESTED intent to both WA and WA Business App
   sendOtpIntentToWhatsApp("com.whatsapp");
   sendOtpIntentToWhatsApp("com.whatsapp.w4b");
}

private void sendOtpIntentToWhatsApp(String packageName) {

  /**
  * Starting with Build.VERSION_CODES.S, it will be required to explicitly
  * specify the mutability of  PendingIntents on creation with either
  * (@link #FLAG_IMMUTABLE} or FLAG_MUTABLE
  */
  int flags = Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.S ? FLAG_IMMUTABLE : 0;
  PendingIntent pi = PendingIntent.getActivity(
      getApplicationContext(),
      0,
      new Intent(),
      flags);


  // Send OTP_REQUESTED intent to WhatsApp
  Intent intentToWhatsApp = new Intent();
  intentToWhatsApp.setPackage(packageName);
  intentToWhatsApp.setAction("com.whatsapp.otp.OTP_REQUESTED");
  // WA will use this to verify the identity of the caller app.
  Bundle extras = intentToWhatsApp.getExtras();
  if (extras == null) {
     extras = new Bundle();
  }
  extras.putParcelable("_ci_", pi);
  intentToWhatsApp.putExtras(extras);
  getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(intentToWhatsApp);
}

Checking if WhatsApp is Installed

You can check WhatsApp installation before offering WhatsApp as an option if you expect both WhatsApp and your app to be on the same device.

First, you need to add the following to your AndroidManifest.xml file:

<queries>
    <package android:name="com.whatsapp"/>
    <package android:name="com.whatsapp.w4b"/>
</queries>

Instantiate the WhatsAppOtpHandler object:

WhatsAppOtpHandler whatsAppOtpHandler = new WhatsAppOtpHandler();

Check if the WhatsApp client is installed by passing the .isWhatsAppInstalled() method as the clause in an If statement:

If (whatsAppOtpHandler.isWhatsAppInstalled(context)) {
    // ... do something
}

Error Signals

See Error Signals that can help with debugging.

Sending Zero-Tap Authentication Template Messages

Use Cloud API or On-Premises API to send authentication template messages.

• Sending authentication template messages with Cloud API
• Sending authentication template messages with On-Premises API

Note that you must first initiate a handshake between your app and the WhatsApp client. See Handshake above.