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

# Connect WhatsApp

> Your assistant answers messages to your WhatsApp Business number.

Connect your WhatsApp number, and your assistant answers the messages it gets. They land in the same inbox as your other channels.

You connect in a window from Meta, the company that runs WhatsApp. You sign in to Meta there and pick your number.

## Before you start

* Only an owner or admin can connect WhatsApp.
* WhatsApp belongs to your first assistant. On any other assistant, the WhatsApp card says **Run by your first assistant**.
* Meta's window opens when you press **Connect**. If nothing opens, allow pop-up windows for Baza in your browser and try again.
* Baza first asks how you use the number today, so know the answer. See [Choose how you use the number](#choose-how-you-use-the-number).

**1. Open WhatsApp**

On your assistant's page, go to
[**Channels**](https://baza.chat/dashboard/channels) and press **Connect**
on WhatsApp.

**2. Say how you use the number**

Choose **In WhatsApp on my phone** or **New or moved number**.

**3. Finish in Meta's window**

Press **Connect**, sign in to Meta and pick your number. Baza then finishes
the setup with Meta. This takes a few seconds.

When it says **WhatsApp is connected**, share your WhatsApp link or its QR code from the WhatsApp tab. Customers use them to write to you.

## Choose how you use the number

Baza asks **How do you use this number today?**

| Option | Choose it when |
| - | - |
| **In WhatsApp on my phone** (recommended) | The number is in the WhatsApp Business app. Customers keep the number they know, and you keep the app. |
| **New or moved number** | The number isn't on WhatsApp yet, or you're moving it from another provider. Meta confirms it once with a code. |

## Keeping the WhatsApp Business app

With **In WhatsApp on my phone**, your number stays in the WhatsApp Business app on your phone. While connecting, you confirm with a code in the app.

* On regular WhatsApp? Install WhatsApp Business and sign in with the same number. Your chats come with you.
* Your assistant answers customers. If you reply from the app, your reply shows in Baza, and the assistant steps back so you can carry on.
* A number used only for your business works best, because the assistant answers everyone who writes.
* Group chats and Status stay in the app.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Open the WhatsApp Business app at least once every 14 days, or Meta
> disconnects it.

Within a day of connecting this way, you can also [bring in your past chats](https://docs.baza.chat/channels/whatsapp-past-chats.md).

## A new or moved number

Choose **New or moved number** for a number that isn't on WhatsApp yet, or one you're moving from another provider (another company that connected it to WhatsApp for you). Meta sends a code once to confirm it.

If you're moving it from another provider, do this first:

**1. Remove it from the old provider**

In [Meta business settings](https://business.facebook.com/latest/settings),
remove it under **Integrations**.

**2. Turn off two-step verification**

In [WhatsApp
accounts](https://business.facebook.com/latest/settings/whatsapp_account),
turn off two-step verification for the number (its WhatsApp PIN).

## A number already on WhatsApp

Meta won't accept a number as new while it's still on WhatsApp on a phone. What to do depends on where it is:

* **On the WhatsApp Business app**: choose **In WhatsApp on my phone** instead. It stays on your phone, with its chats and groups.
* **On WhatsApp**: move it to the WhatsApp Business app first (sign in there with the same number, and your chats come along), then choose **In WhatsApp on my phone**.
* **Not needed on a phone any more**: delete its WhatsApp account in the app (**Settings**, **Account**, **Delete my account**), wait three minutes, then try again.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Deleting the account takes the number out of its groups and erases its chats.

## WhatsApp for your work

Meta's WhatsApp tools are for business, not personal chats. Use a number for your clients, and a name that says what you do.

Meta checks the name customers see. A name tied to your work, like your name and what you do, is more likely to be approved than your name alone.

Meta can turn off a number it sees used for personal chats. So after connecting, fill in your [business profile](#your-business-profile) to show what you offer.

## Your business profile

Your profile is what customers see when they open your chat in WhatsApp. It's saved at Meta, so it shows everywhere your number does.

Edit it on the WhatsApp tab under **Business profile**. A preview beside it shows how it looks.

| Field | What goes in it |
| - | - |
| **Profile photo** | JPEG or PNG, up to 5 MB. A square image of at least 640 × 640 pixels works best. |
| **About** | One line under your name, up to 139 characters. Links in it aren't clickable. |
| **Description** | What your business does, up to 512 characters. |
| **Category** | Shown under your description. |
| **Email** | Customers can tap it to write. |
| **Websites** | Up to two. |
| **Address** | Where customers can find you. Leave it empty if customers don't visit you. |

Your business name is the one Meta approved, and only Meta can change it.

> [!NOTE]
>
> If your number is on the WhatsApp Business app, Meta only takes profile
> changes there: in the app, go to **Settings**, **Business tools**, **Business
> profile**. Baza shows the profile but can't change it.

## If connecting fails

Baza tells you what Meta found wrong. Find the message below to see what to do.

| What Baza says | What to do |
| - | - |
| Meta needs to verify your business before it can add a new number | Finish business verification in Meta Business Settings, under **Security Center** ([business.facebook.com/settings/security](https://business.facebook.com/settings/security)), then press **Connect** again. |
| This number is still connected to another WhatsApp account or provider | Remove it there first (Meta business settings, **Integrations**), then press **Connect** again. |
| Meta hasn't approved this number's display name yet | Check it in WhatsApp Manager, then press **Connect** again once it's approved. |
| The Meta window took too long or was closed early | Press **Connect** and go through it again, without closing Meta's window. |
| Meta didn't send your number's details | Try again. |
| Meta didn't say which number you connected | Try again, and pick one number. |
| This number has a two-step verification PIN from where it was used before | Turn it off in [Meta business settings](https://business.facebook.com/latest/settings/whatsapp_account), then connect again. |
| We couldn't reach WhatsApp | Check your connection and try again. |

If none of these fit, try again in a moment, or email [hello@baza.chat](mailto:hello@baza.chat) and we'll help.


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