> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://onextel-09023014.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authentication Templates

> Meta's category guidelines for WhatsApp authentication message templates: preset templates, one-time password buttons, and content restrictions.

[Authentication templates](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/updates-to-pricing/new-template-guidelines#authentication-templates)
enable businesses to verify a user's identity (usually with alphanumeric codes),
potentially at various steps of the customer journey:

* New account creation
* Account integrity, access or recovery
* New or existing orders/transactions

<Warning>
  Businesses can only send template messages to users who have subscribed to
  receive messages from them on WhatsApp.
</Warning>

## Requirements

Authentication templates are Meta's **most restricted** category. For a template
to be classified as authentication, a business **must**:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Use WhatsApp's preset authentication message templates">
    The preset templates include optional add-ons like security disclaimers and
    expiry warnings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure a one-time password button">
    The button must be either **copy-code** or **one-tap**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Follow content restrictions">
    URLs, media, and emojis are **not allowed** for authentication template
    content or parameters. An additional length restriction of **15 characters**
    also applies to parameters.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Effective October 1, 2024, businesses on Cloud API can use authentication
  templates from the
  [Template Library](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/guides/send-message-templates/template-library).
</Info>

## Message objective

### Identity verification

**Business goal:** authenticate users with one-time passcodes.

Example templates:

* `{{1}} is your verification code.`
* `{{1}} is your verification code. For your security, do not share this code.`
* `{{1}} is your verification code. This code expires in 15 minutes.`

On the user's device, the delivered message renders the code with the configured
one-time password button beneath it — either an **Autofill** button (one-tap)
that fills the code into your app directly, or a **Copy code** button that
copies the code to the clipboard. For example: "797011 is your verification
code. For your security, do not share this code. This code expires in 10
minutes."

<Warning>
  **Only authentication templates can be used to send a one-time passcode for
  identity verification.** A template that delivers an OTP cannot be submitted
  as utility or marketing.
</Warning>

More detail on authentication templates and their requirements is outlined in
Meta's
[authentication templates documentation](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/business-management-api/authentication-templates/).

<Note>
  Examples are illustrative only; templates containing similar content or
  content including this example text may be categorized differently based on
  their exact content.
</Note>


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