WeChat preparation
Confirm the account type and verification status, then secure the admin's availability.
WeChat only allows AI replies once verification is complete. It takes longer than the other channels, so start here.
Before you start
- You can sign in to the WeChat Official Accounts Platform (mp.weixin.qq.com) as the admin.
- The admin can scan the QR code with their own WeChat app.
Confirm the account type
Sign in to mp.weixin.qq.com. Under Settings and Development (设置与开发), open Account information (账号信息).
Both conditions must hold for AI replies to work.
- It must be a Service Account (服务号). A Subscription Account (订阅号) cannot send AI replies.
- It must be verified (已认证). An unverified account can receive messages but cannot reply.
If the account is already verified, check the expiry date. Verification lasts one year. Each renewal means applying and paying again, and replies stop working once it lapses.
| Mainland account | Overseas account | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration basis | Chinese business license | Business license outside China |
| Account types available | Service and subscription | Service only, one per business |
| Verification cost | About CNY 300 | About USD 99 per application |
Open a Service Account if you have none
On mp.weixin.qq.com, switch the language at the top right to English, or go directly to
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/?lang=en_US.
- Select Register Now.
- Set Account type to Service Account.
- Choose the Entity Type. Overseas corporations usually select Enterprise or Other organization.
- Complete email verification, password, and region. Check the spam folder for the verification code.
- Enter corporate and admin details. The admin needs a legal name, a passport, and a valid mobile number.
The account type is hard to undo
Choosing a subscription account here means AI replies cannot be added later. Select Service Account.
Apply for verification if the account is unverified
Sign in as the admin and open Account Settings (账号设置). Select WeChat Verification (微信认证), then Activate (开通). Download the document list and application letter template from this screen.
- Submit the documents.
- Business license or certificate of incorporation
- Corporate bank account details
- Verification application letter. Download it here, then sign, stamp, and scan the original
- Letter of operation authorization
- Contact details and a copy of their ID or passport, front and back
- Mobile phone statement in the contact's name, showing their name, the number, and at least three months of payment history
- Pay the verification fee. Overseas accounts pay about USD 99 per application, by WeChat Pay or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, UnionPay, JCB, Diners Club, Discover). The charge applies regardless of the outcome and is not refunded if the review is rejected.
- Wait for the third-party verification agency's review. It takes 7 to 15 business days after you submit every required document. A review agency is assigned at random once you pay, and its name and phone number appear on screen. The agency can call during Chinese business hours. Keep the contact details current.
Track progress under Settings, WeChat Verification, then Check.
Check the document language
The application letter and the operation authorization letter come in several language versions, including Korean. The on-screen guidance can require an official translation or notarized copy of documents you supply, such as the business license. The contact's phone statement is a frequent rejection point, so check that the name and payment history are legible.
Prepare the final list from the guidance shown on the activation screen. Required items vary by registration entity and by when you apply.
Secure the admin's availability
WeChat has no email invitation. Setup requires the admin to scan a QR code with their own WeChat app.
- The admin joins the setup session. It takes one login QR scan and one AppSecret confirmation.
- An operator (运营者) cannot change server settings. Confirm who the admin (管理员) is.
- If the admin has left or is about to change, resolve that before the integration.
Tell the Laney contact whether the customers you will serve are inside or outside mainland China.
Check the result
- The account is a Service Account and is verified.
- You have confirmed the verification expiry date.
- You have given Laney the admin's availability for the setup session.