How to Approve the WhatsApp Display Name in the Official API
Practical guide for SprintHub customers who use direct integration with the Official WhatsApp API (Cloud API). Understand what the display name is, why it is different from the "certificate", and how to get it
What is the Display Name?
The display name (display name) is the name that appears to your customers when they receive a message from you on WhatsApp. It is the first thing the person sees — even before opening the conversation.
If the name is not approved, WhatsApp shows only the phone number in place of the company name. This reduces customer trust and can hurt your response rates.
The Confusion with the "Certificate"
Many customers come to us asking about a "certificate" required to approve the name. Let's clear this up once and for all:
Attention — This does not apply to you
That so-called "display name certificate" was used in the old On-Premises API (self-hosted), which Meta discontinued. In this old model, the company hosted WhatsApp on its own servers and needed to download and register a certificate manually every time the name changed.
In SprintHub, the integration is done via Official Cloud API — the infrastructure belongs to Meta itself. This means that:
Company hosted the servers
Meta hosts everything in the cloud
Needed to download certificate
No certificate — automatic registration
Certificate was valid for 14 days
Approved name stays active directly
BSP managed the process
You manage it directly in Meta Business
What Does Approval Depend On?
Meta analyzes two factors when approving (or rejecting) your display name:
1. The company name in your Business Manager (BM)
The display name needs to have a direct relationship with the company name registered in your Meta Business Manager account. Meta cross-checks this name with your website, documents, and online presence. If the display name does not match the company's identity, it will be rejected.
2. Meta's formatting rules
Even if the name is correct, it must follow a set of formatting rules. See below.
Meta Display Name Rules
Represent the business for real The name must represent your business, product, service, or department. It needs to be consistent with the branding on your website and official materials.
Minimum of 3 characters Names with only 1 or 2 characters will be rejected. Example:
CTis rejected, butCT Storeis accepted.No ALL CAPS The name must use correct grammatical capitalization, just like the company name.
MARCO'S STOREwill be rejected — the correct one isLoja do Marco(unless your brand is registered that way in all caps).No URL format Names like
mycompany.com.brorwww.store.comare not allowed.No generic or geographic terms alone Names like
Fashion,Brazil,ConsultingorReal Estatewill be rejected. It needs identity:Fashion Express,Oliveira Real Estate.No personal names alone
João Silvawill be rejected. ButJoão Silva LaworJS Consultingmay be accepted if it is on the website.Additional words: only region, department, or test You can add words that indicate region, department, or test account. Example:
Vida Pharmacy BrazilorVida Pharmacy Supportare accepted. ButVida Pharmacy Officialis not.
Practical Examples
✅
SprintHub
Brand name, consistent with the website and BM
✅
Oliveira Real Estate
Full business name
✅
Bem Estar Clinic Support
Name + department (allowed)
✅
TechStore Brazil
Name + region (allowed)
❌
SUPERGEEKS EDUCATION
All caps (unless registered that way)
❌
supergeekseducacao.com.br
URL format
❌
Education
Generic term, without identity
❌
SuperGeeks Official Education
"Official" is not allowed
Step by Step: How to Change and Approve
Tip for quick approval
Before submitting, make sure the name you want to use appears exactly like that on your website. Meta cross-checks the display name with your online presence. If the website says "SuperGeeks AI School" and you try "SuperGeeks Education", it may be rejected.
Business Verification ≠ Display Name
Another common confusion: business verification (business verification) is a separate process from display name approval. However, they are connected:
Before verifying the business: your display name is approved automatically in most cases, without detailed review.
After verifying the business: Meta starts to review the display name more strictly, cross-checking it with the documents you submitted during verification. Any future name change goes through review.
Business verification is required to unlock higher message-sending limits (above 1,000 conversations/month) and to request the official business account (green badge).
Frequently Asked Questions
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