> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.automatebusiness.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Campaigns API

> Create WhatsApp campaigns from your CRM or automation tools with an API key.

The Campaigns API lets you create a broadcast from an external system and start sending automatically. Use it when you already know the template, audience, and send time, and you do not want to create the campaign in the dashboard.

This reference documents the **external API key** create flow only. Dashboard JWT create is not part of this API.

## Before you start

1. Generate a channel-scoped API key in **More > Webhook & API**. See [Authentication](/automate-chats/api-reference/authentication).
2. The key is tied to one WhatsApp channel. The API uses that channel and phone number automatically. Do not send `channel_id` or `phone_number_id` in the body.
3. Use an [approved template](/automate-chats/api-reference/templates/get-templates) that belongs to the same WhatsApp Business account as that channel.

## Create and send

Call [Create Campaign](/automate-chats/api-reference/campaigns/create-campaign) with your API key.

```http theme={null}
POST /api/campaigns/auto-trigger
```

The API stores the campaign immediately, queues audience preparation, then starts sending when recipients are ready. Immediate campaigns start after preparation. Scheduled campaigns send at `scheduled_at`.

<Note>
  This endpoint accepts `X-API-Key` only. A JWT request returns `401 Unauthorized`.
</Note>