How to Change My WhatsApp Display Name for a Live WhatsApp Number?

Objective

This article outlines the steps to change your WhatsApp display name. The WhatsApp Business display name is your business name that customers see on your WhatsApp Business profile. When you add a new phone number to your WhatsApp Business account in the Meta Business Manager, you assign a display name to it.

Applies To

• Messages API
• WhatsApp

Prerequisites

• Access permission to WABA Manager: The customer/user who is trying to change the display name needs to have access to the WhatsApp Manager(WABA Manager) of the specific WABA (WhatsApp Business Account) that contains their phone number.
• Verified Business:  Business needs to be verified to request a display name change
• Display Name guidelines: The new display name should adhere to these Meta Display Name guidelines.

Note: WABA Customers can change their display name 10 times per 30-day period

Note: Self-service for Display Name changes is only available for Verified businesses. Official Business Accounts need to submit a request through our help desk.

Process for Verified Business Accounts

Customers who have Verified Business accounts can request a Display name change via self-service through their WhatsApp Manager by following the steps below:

1. From your Meta Business Manager home page, navigate to the WhatsApp Business Accounts, which hosts the number you wish to amend

2.  In the left-hand navigation banner, navigate to “Phone Numbers” and select the settings as shown below

3. Under the profile, click the edit button as shown below and enter the new desired display name, and click "submit”

Meta will then review the name, as per their display name guidelines. This is normally completed within 24 hours. The customer will receive an email from Meta when the review is complete.

Handling the "Register Your Number" Notification in WABA Manager

On rare occasions, after a new display name is approved, the WhatsApp Manager may show a notification stating: "The new display name 'xxxxx' has been approved. Register your number to start using it."

If you see this message, please contact our support team so they can register the number for you. 

Refer to the KB article: What to do if you see "The new display name has been approved. Register your number to start using it".

Display Name Rejection and Appeal Process for Verified Business Accounts

If the display name is rejected, you will see a notification with the rejection reason as shown in the screenshot below:

From here, you have two options:

• Edit and resubmit — Update the display name to comply with Meta's guidelines and submit it for review again via your WhatsApp Manager.

• Appeal the rejection — If you believe your display name adheres to Meta's Display Name Guidelines and the rejection was made in error, please contact our support team. We will appeal the rejection on your behalf.

Process for Official Business Accounts

For accounts with OBA (blue check) status, customers cannot self-serve display name changes. They need to reach out to support by submitting a WhatsApp Support Form or via the Vonage Support Form.

Prerequisites for OBA Display Name Change

• Verified Business — Businesses need to be verified to request changes.

• Display Name Guidelines — The new display name must adhere to Meta's Display Name Guidelines.

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) must be enabled for the phone number.

Information Required

Please include the following details when submitting your display name change request for your OBA:

• API Key

• WhatsApp Account Name

• WhatsApp ID (WABA ID)

• WhatsApp Phone Number

• New Display Name

• 5 recent news articles showing your company is a notable and relevant topic in the news — the more recent, the better.

Once submitted, the Vonage Support Team will open a Meta Direct Support Ticket and request the new display name. Meta will then review it and either approve or reject it. This can take up to 24 hours.

• If Meta approves the display name, they will update it in the WABA.

• If Meta rejects the display name, you can request an appeal (see below).

Appeals for Official Business Accounts

If the display name is rejected by the Meta team for any reason, the WhatsApp number in question will retain its current display name.

If you believe your display name adheres to Meta's Display Name Guidelines and the rejection was made in error, please contact our support team. You are advised to provide any relevant documents showing the association of the new display name with your business. We will appeal the rejection on your behalf by raising it with the Meta team.

Unverified Businesses

Unverified Businesses are not eligible for display name change or display name approval. Display name approval requires completing the WhatsApp display name verification process, which is only available for accounts that have reached a higher messaging limit.

Note: For 1 555 WABA test numbers, Display name approval is mandatory, and there is more scope for display name approval if their business is verified and the account is scaled to high messaging limits from the previous customer experiences.

Additional Information

What to do if you see "The new display name has been approved. Register your number to start using it"?