# Sandbox

If you’re looking to build a WhatsApp Chatbot, CRM integration, or marketing campaign, the first step is to try out our **Sandbox Environment**.

The sandbox allows you to test sending and receiving WhatsApp messages without needing your own WhatsApp Business Number. It's a great way to validate your setup and understand our APIs.

### What is the Sandbox?

The sandbox is a test WhatsApp number provided by Lipachat. You can:

* Send business-initiated messages
* Receive and reply to messages
* Test webhooks
* Build and test chatbots
* Run CRM-like flows
* Simulate surveys and broadcasts

No approvals or number setup is needed—just connect and test.

### 🚀 Step-by-Step: Connect to the Sandbox

#### 1. Join the Sandbox

Send the code below to our sandbox number to activate your 24-hour session:

{% hint style="info" %}
Your session is valid for 24 hours. To keep using the sandbox, you must send a message within that window to extend it.
{% endhint %}

2. #### Send a Message via API

Once connected, you can send a message using our [Message API](/api/sending-messages.md).

Sample Request:

```sh
curl --location 'https://gateway.lipachat.com/api/v1/whatsapp/message/text' \
--header 'apiKey: YOUR_API_KEY' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{
    "message": "Hello world",
    "messageId": "e66fc7b8-680f-4887-8dc8-ee062d65b54f",
    "to": "254XXXXXXX",
    "from": "254110090747"
}'
```

You can also explore prebuilt examples in our [Postman Collection](https://www.postman.com/lively-shuttle-345383/workspace/lipachat-apis/collection/1880882-362c9de0-8bff-4dbb-9596-194223a41ad8?action=share\&creator=1880882\&active-environment=1880882-199aa005-02f1-4f12-8b08-70ab6d90d1ee)

### Common Troubleshooting

<table><thead><tr><th width="294.39453125">Problem</th><th>Solution</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>401 Unathorized</td><td>Ensure you are sending apiKey header.</td></tr><tr><td>400 No active sanbox session</td><td>Check if you are within the 24-hour window or if the number was entered correctly.</td></tr><tr><td>Webhook not firing</td><td>Double-check your webhook URL configuration and use webhook.site to test.</td></tr></tbody></table>


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.lipachat.com/reference/sandbox.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.