Why Reset Passwords via WhatsApp in Laravel?

Email-based resets are becoming outdated — users often miss the email, it lands in spam, or takes too long to deliver. With WhatsApp password reset integration, you can provide real-time delivery, greater visibility, and a better mobile experience.

WaSenderAPI offers a simple, secure, and developer-friendly API to send WhatsApp messages programmatically, making it perfect for Laravel projects.

What You’ll Learn

• How to set up WaSenderAPI in Laravel
• How to send secure password reset links via WhatsApp
• How to customize notifications and handle failures
• Best practices for phone validation and token protection

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

• Laravel 8 or newer installed
• A WaSenderAPI account with an active device and API key
• Composer and GuzzleHTTP installed (composer require guzzlehttp/guzzle)
• Your users table includes a phone_number column in international format

Step 2: Add the API Key to .env

WASENDER_API_KEY=your-wasender-api-key
        

This allows us to securely access the API from Laravel without hardcoding credentials.

Step 3: Create the WhatsApp Notification Class

php artisan make:notification WhatsAppResetPassword
        

Edit the generated file at app/Notifications/WhatsAppResetPassword.php:

use Illuminate\Notifications\Notification;
use GuzzleHttp\Client;

class WhatsAppResetPassword extends Notification
{
    protected $token;

    public function __construct($token)
    {
        $this->token = $token;
    }

    public function via($notifiable)
    {
        return ['whatsapp'];
    }

    public function toWhatsapp($notifiable)
    {
        $link = url('/password/reset', $this->token) . '?email=' . urlencode($notifiable->email);
        $message = "👋 Hello {$notifiable->name},\n\nClick the link below to reset your password:\n$link\n\nThis link will expire in 60 minutes.";

        try {
            $client = new Client();
            $response = $client->post('https://wasenderapi.com/api/send-message', [
                'headers' => [
                    'Authorization' => 'Bearer ' . env('WASENDER_API_KEY'),
                    'Accept' => 'application/json',
                ],
                'json' => [
                    'to' => [$notifiable->phone_number],
                    'text' => $message,
                ]
            ]);
        } catch (\Exception $e) {
            \Log::error('Failed to send WhatsApp reset link: ' . $e->getMessage());
        }
    }
}
        

Step 4: Update User Model to Use the New Notification

In app/Models/User.php, add:

use App\Notifications\WhatsAppResetPassword;

public function sendPasswordResetNotification($token)
{
    $this->notify(new WhatsAppResetPassword($token));
}
        

Step 5: Validate Phone Numbers in International Format

Ensure that your users provide valid international phone numbers, especially if you’re dealing with WhatsApp delivery.

$request->validate([
    'phone_number' => ['required', 'regex:/^\d{10,15}$/'], // Customize as needed
]);
        

Step 6: Test the Flow

Visit the Laravel password reset page (usually /forgot-password) and enter a user’s email. Laravel will trigger the WhatsApp message using your notification logic.

You can also trigger it manually using:

$user = User::where('email', '[email protected]')->first();
$user->sendPasswordResetNotification(Str::random(60));
        

Advanced Customizations

• Multi-language support: Use Laravel's localization to send messages in different languages.
• Rate limiting: Use Laravel's throttle middleware or logic to prevent abuse.
• Fallback to email: Add email as a fallback in case WhatsApp delivery fails.

Security Best Practices

• Use HTTPS for all reset links
• Log WhatsApp sending attempts and errors securely
• Store phone numbers in an encrypted database column if needed
• Set a short token expiration time (Laravel default is 60 minutes)

Real-World Use Cases

• SaaS Platforms: Allow password reset via WhatsApp for B2B users on the go
• E-Commerce: Ensure timely password reset for shoppers who can’t wait for emails
• Internal Tools: Speed up employee access recovery through WhatsApp

Conclusion

With just a few tweaks, you’ve now implemented a modern, fast, and reliable WhatsApp-based password reset system in Laravel using WaSenderAPI. This solution improves UX and fits both customer-facing apps and internal tools.

Get Started with WaSenderAPI to revolutionize your Laravel workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions