WhatsApp Flows
What are WhatsApp Flows?
WhatsApp Flows let you build interactive forms and experiences that customers complete directly inside WhatsApp — without leaving the chat. Instead of sending back-and-forth text messages to collect information, you present customers with a structured, app-like interface with input fields, dropdowns, date pickers, checkboxes, and buttons.
Think of them as mini apps inside WhatsApp — customers tap through screens, fill in fields, and submit data, all within the chat window.
2. Capture the flows list page showing several flows in different statuses
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static/img/screenshots/developer-tools/whatsapp-flows/overview/whatsapp-flows-intro.pngUse cases
WhatsApp Flows work great for any situation where you need to collect structured data from customers:
| Use case | Example |
|---|---|
| Lead generation | Collect name, email, phone, and interest area through a multi-step form |
| Appointment booking | Let customers pick a date, time, and service type |
| Surveys | Gather feedback with radio buttons, checkboxes, and rating scales |
| Sign-up forms | Register new customers with all required details |
| Customer support | Collect issue details, order numbers, and screenshots in a structured way |
| Contact us | Provide a clean form for general inquiries |
| Sign-in | Simple authentication with phone or email verification |
| Other | Any custom data collection need |
Flow lifecycle
Every WhatsApp Flow goes through three stages:
DRAFT ──→ PUBLISHED ──→ DEPRECATED
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Draft | The flow is being built. You can edit, test, and make changes freely. Customers cannot see it yet. |
| Published | The flow is live. Customers can fill it out and submit responses. You can no longer edit or delete it. |
| Deprecated | The flow is retired. It stops receiving new responses, but all historical data is preserved. |
Once a flow is published, it cannot be edited or deleted. If you need to make changes, clone the published flow, edit the copy, and publish the new version. See Flow List — Recommended update workflow for details.
Once a flow is deprecated, it cannot be re-published. Deprecation is intended for retiring flows that are no longer needed.
Key features
| Feature | Description | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Visual flow builder | Drag-and-drop interface to design screens and add components | Flow Builder |
| 20+ components | Text, inputs, dropdowns, checkboxes, date pickers, images, navigation lists, and more | Components |
| Dynamic data sources | Populate dropdowns and lists from static data, initial payloads, or your server | Dynamic Data |
| Data exchange | Connect your flow to a server endpoint for real-time validation and dynamic content | Data Exchange |
| Validation rules | Validate customer input with 12+ built-in validators (email, phone, regex, date, and more) | Data Exchange — Validation |
| Interactive preview | Test your flow in a mobile simulator before publishing | Flow Builder — Preview |
| Import / Export JSON | Backup, share, or version-control your flow designs | Flow Builder — Import & Export |
| Responses & Analytics | View submissions, export CSV, and track open/completion rates | Responses & Analytics |
Who uses WhatsApp Flows?
| Role | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Marketing teams | Lead generation forms, event registrations, surveys |
| Support teams | Ticket submission, appointment booking, issue reporting |
| Sales teams | Qualification forms, demo scheduling, quote requests |
| Developers | Advanced flows with data exchange, server validation, dynamic content |
Getting started
- Create your first flow — Go to Developer Tools → WhatsApp Flows and click New Flow. Give it a name, pick a category, and start building.
- Add screens and components — Use the Flow Builder to add screens, drag in components, and configure them.
- Preview and test — Use the built-in preview to see how it looks, then send a test to your own WhatsApp.
- Publish — When ready, publish the flow from the Flow List.
- Send to customers — Use the flow in Chatbot Flows or Compose Message to reach your customers.
- Monitor results — Track submissions and performance in Responses & Analytics.
You don't need to be a developer to build WhatsApp Flows. The visual builder handles everything — just drag, configure, and publish. Only enable Data Exchange if you need real-time server communication.