Authentication Templates

Authentication templates are purpose-built for sending one-time passwords (OTPs) and verification codes. They include a predefined message structure with security disclaimers, code expiration, and a copy-code button. Meta provides optimized delivery for authentication templates with higher throughput.

Authentication templates must use the AUTHENTICATION category in the deployments. Meta enforces strict content rules for this category -- the template cannot include marketing or promotional content.

Block Structure

An authentication template uses two required blocks:

Block	Required	Description
Authentication body	Yes	Auto-generated message with OTP code, security disclaimer, and expiration
Authentication action	Yes	Copy-code button, with optional one-tap or zero-tap auto-fill

Authentication templates do not support custom headers, footers, or additional buttons.

---

Authentication Body

The authentication body block auto-generates the message content. You control the security disclaimer and expiration behavior -- Meta handles the actual message wording.

{
  "type": "authentication-body",
  "authenticationBody": {
    "addSecurityDisclaimer": true,
    "expirationTime": 30
  }
}

Property	Required	Type	Description
addSecurityDisclaimer	Yes	boolean	Whether to include a "Do not share this code" security warning
expirationTime	Yes (nullable)	integer (1--90) or null	Number of minutes before the code expires. If set to a number, the message includes an expiration notice. Set to null to omit the expiration.
messageSendTtlSeconds	No	integer (1--86400)	Seconds after which the message itself expires and will not be delivered. Useful for time-sensitive codes.

Security disclaimer

When addSecurityDisclaimer is true, Meta appends a message like: "For your security, do not share this code."

Code expiration

When expirationTime is set (e.g., 30), Meta appends a message like: "This code expires in 30 minutes."

Message TTL

The messageSendTtlSeconds field controls how long WhatsApp will attempt to deliver the message. If the message cannot be delivered within this window, it is discarded. This prevents stale OTPs from arriving after the code has already expired.

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Authentication Action

The authentication action creates the copy-code button and optionally configures one-tap or zero-tap auto-fill for mobile devices.

Standard copy code

The simplest authentication action -- a "Copy code" button:

{
  "type": "authentication-action",
  "authenticationAction": {}
}

One-tap auto-fill (Android)

One-tap authentication allows Android users to auto-fill the code with a single tap, without manually copying. Falls back to standard copy on iOS.

{
  "type": "authentication-action",
  "authenticationAction": {
    "oneTap": {
      "androidPackageName": "com.example.myapp",
      "androidSignatureHash": "abc123def456"
    }
  }
}

Property	Required	Description
oneTap.androidPackageName	Yes	Your Android app's package name
oneTap.androidSignatureHash	Yes	Your Android app's signature hash

Zero-tap auto-fill (Android)

Zero-tap authentication automatically fills in the code without any user interaction. Requires terms acceptance and supports multiple apps.

{
  "type": "authentication-action",
  "authenticationAction": {
    "zeroTap": {
      "supportedApps": [
        {
          "packageName": "com.example.myapp",
          "signatureHash": "abc123def456"
        }
      ],
      "zeroTapTermsAccepted": true
    }
  }
}

Property	Required	Description
zeroTap.supportedApps	Yes	Array of apps that support zero-tap. Each needs packageName and signatureHash.
zeroTap.zeroTapTermsAccepted	Yes	Whether the business has accepted Meta's zero-tap terms

One-tap and zero-tap are mutually exclusive. Use one or the other, not both. Both features only work on Android -- iOS falls back to the standard copy-code experience.

---

Complete Example -- Standard Authentication

{
  "defaultLocale": "en",
  "deployments": [
    {
      "key": "whatsappTemplateName",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "login_otp"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappCategory",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "AUTHENTICATION"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappAllowCategoryChange",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "true"
    }
  ],
  "platformContent": [
    {
      "locale": "en",
      "type": "text",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "channelGroupIds": [
        "3f979241-dea3-4f55-b7bb-d769eec27e51"
      ],
      "blocks": [
        {
          "type": "authentication-body",
          "authenticationBody": {
            "addSecurityDisclaimer": true,
            "expirationTime": 10,
            "messageSendTtlSeconds": 600
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "authentication-action",
          "authenticationAction": {}
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "supportedPlatforms": ["whatsapp"]
}

Complete Example -- One-Tap Authentication

{
  "defaultLocale": "en",
  "deployments": [
    {
      "key": "whatsappTemplateName",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "app_verification"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappCategory",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "AUTHENTICATION"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappAllowCategoryChange",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "true"
    }
  ],
  "platformContent": [
    {
      "locale": "en",
      "type": "text",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "channelGroupIds": [
        "3f979241-dea3-4f55-b7bb-d769eec27e51"
      ],
      "blocks": [
        {
          "type": "authentication-body",
          "authenticationBody": {
            "addSecurityDisclaimer": true,
            "expirationTime": 5,
            "messageSendTtlSeconds": 300
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "authentication-action",
          "authenticationAction": {
            "oneTap": {
              "androidPackageName": "com.example.myapp",
              "androidSignatureHash": "a1b2c3d4e5f6"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "supportedPlatforms": ["whatsapp"]
}

Complete Example -- Zero-Tap Authentication

{
  "defaultLocale": "en",
  "deployments": [
    {
      "key": "whatsappTemplateName",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "seamless_verification"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappCategory",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "AUTHENTICATION"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappAllowCategoryChange",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "true"
    }
  ],
  "platformContent": [
    {
      "locale": "en",
      "type": "text",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "channelGroupIds": [
        "3f979241-dea3-4f55-b7bb-d769eec27e51"
      ],
      "blocks": [
        {
          "type": "authentication-body",
          "authenticationBody": {
            "addSecurityDisclaimer": true,
            "expirationTime": 5,
            "messageSendTtlSeconds": 300
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "authentication-action",
          "authenticationAction": {
            "zeroTap": {
              "supportedApps": [
                {
                  "packageName": "com.example.myapp",
                  "signatureHash": "a1b2c3d4e5f6"
                },
                {
                  "packageName": "com.example.myapp.debug",
                  "signatureHash": "x9y8z7w6v5u4"
                }
              ],
              "zeroTapTermsAccepted": true
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "supportedPlatforms": ["whatsapp"]
}

---

Authentication vs. Copy Code in Other Templates

Feature	Authentication template	Copy code in text/coupon template
Category	AUTHENTICATION only	UTILITY or MARKETING
Message content	Auto-generated by Meta	Custom body text
Security disclaimer	Built-in option	Not available
Expiration notice	Built-in option	Not available
One-tap / zero-tap	Supported	Not available
Additional buttons	Not allowed	Allowed
Delivery priority	Optimized by Meta	Standard

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Related

• Text Template Blocks -- Standard text templates with copy code buttons

• Coupon Template Blocks -- Promotional codes with custom messaging

• Creating WhatsApp Message Templates -- Full template creation workflow