# Run Click-to-WhatsApp Ads with Meta Ads

Run Facebook and Instagram ads that open a WhatsApp chat with you. AI writes the ad, the audience and the greeting; you check it and publish.

_Last updated: 2026-10-25_


## Overview

Meta Ads (formerly WhatsApp Ads) runs Facebook and Instagram ads with a Send message button that opens a chat with your WhatsApp number. Connect your Meta ad account and Facebook Page once, describe your offer in a line, and AI writes the ad, the audience and the greeting. Add a photo, check it and publish. You then see the money spent, the chats started and the new contacts each ad brought.

> **NOTE: You only pay Meta, and only after you publish**
> Ads are paid by Meta from your own ad account. Nothing is spent until you publish an ad, and you can pause it any time.

## Before you begin

- A Meta ad account and a Facebook Page, and a Facebook login that manages both.
- Your WhatsApp Business number connected to Automate AI.

## Steps

### Step 1 — Open Meta Ads

Go to Campaigns → Meta Ads. The page explains the three steps: connect your Meta ad account and Facebook Page once, describe what to advertise in a line, then check the ad and publish it.

### Step 2 — Connect your ad account and Page

Click Continue with Facebook, log in with the Facebook account that manages your ad account and Page, then pick them from the list — no IDs to look up. You can also type the Meta ad account ID and Facebook Page ID and click Check & connect.

Then describe what to advertise in a line. AI writes the ad text, the audience and the greeting customers see when the chat opens. Add a photo, check everything and switch the ad on.

## Ad accounts in other Meta Businesses

When you connect with Facebook you can pick an ad account from a different Meta Business than the one that owns your WhatsApp number — for example an agency's account; Facebook has already checked you can use it. If you type the IDs instead, the ad account must belong to the same business, and the message names both businesses. The list shows each ad account's business and ID, and greys out accounts that are not in a business.

## Troubleshooting

**Continue with Facebook says it isn't available yet**
Meta has to approve Continue with Facebook for each business first. Until then, type your Meta ad account ID and Facebook Page ID in the fields under Or enter the IDs and click Check & connect — that works today.

**Facebook refused the login**
The reason Facebook gives is now shown. Make sure you log in with the account that manages both the ad account and the Page.

**I can't see my ad account**
Accounts that are not in a Meta Business are greyed out. Add the ad account to a Business in Meta Business Settings, then connect again.

## Related

[Facebook Leads](/docs/integrations-facebook-leads) — Send a WhatsApp message to every lead from your Facebook lead ads.

[Manage Your Campaigns](/docs/features-campaign-management) — Templates, campaigns, drip campaigns and Meta Ads all live under Campaigns.

## Related articles

- [Create a Campaign](/docs/features-create-campaign) — Send a WhatsApp campaign to your contacts: create it, pick a template, choose recipients, and review before sending.
- [Create a Message Template](/docs/features-create-template) — Create and submit a WhatsApp message template for Meta approval, then use it in a campaign.
- [Create a Contact](/docs/features-create-contact) — Add a single contact to your account manually.
- [Import Contacts](/docs/features-import-contacts) — Bulk-add or update contacts from a CSV or Excel file.