# WhatsApp > Connect your Quickchat AI Agent to WhatsApp Business. This guide covers prerequisites, setup steps, and going live with WhatsApp messaging. This guide shows how to integrate your **Quickchat AI Agent** with **WhatsApp**. The process is divided into **2 simple steps**: - **Step 0** - Prerequisites - **Step 1** - Connect WhatsApp If you have problems with integration or need help, go to [Troubleshooting & FAQs](#troubleshooting--faqs) section or [contact us](https://quickchat.ai/contact). ## Watch the Video [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6qbovXyZ4Q) ## Step 0 - Prerequisites ### A. Business Phone Number Decide **which phone number** you’ll use for WhatsApp. You can [read more in WhatsApp documentation](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/phone-numbers) or follow the FAQs below: **Which number can be used in WhatsApp Cloud API?** - You need to use a **dedicated business phone number** that can receive **SMS or voice calls** for verification. - The number must be valid, owned by you, and have a country and area code. **Can I use a number that is already used in WhatsApp Messenger?** - **No**. You can continue using this number for calls and texts, but **not in WhatsApp Messenger**. - If the number is already used in WhatsApp Messenger, [delete it first](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/get-started/migrate-existing-whatsapp-number-to-a-business-account). Don't forget to [back up your WhatsApp chat history](https://faq.whatsapp.com/481135090640375). - Banned numbers must be unbanned before registering. **Can I use a number that is already used by WhatsApp Business App?** - **Yes**. If your number is currently used in the **WhatsApp Business App**, you may be able to onboard it to the Cloud API without deleting the app account. [Read more about **Coexistence** onboarding](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/embedded-signup/custom-flows/onboarding-business-app-users/) in Meta documentation. **Can I use a new phone number?** - **Yes**, if you prefer not to use your current number, get a **new number** (physical SIM or virtual number). You can buy a virtual phone number from services such as [Hushed](https://hushed.com/). ### B. Business Information Have these details ready (you’ll enter them during the Meta integration flow): - Business name - Business website - Business category - Business description :::caution Even if some fields seem optional, **fill them accurately**. Missing or inaccurate info can delay approval or cause account restrictions. ::: ## Step 1 — Connect WhatsApp Open the [Quickchat AI App](https://app.quickchat.ai) → **External Apps** → **WhatsApp** → click the **Connect WhatsApp** button and follow the Meta pop-up: 1. Log in to your Meta (Facebook) account. 2. Review the permissions you'll share with Quickchat AI (WhatsApp Business account access and Business portfolio access) and continue. 3. Provide accurate business details (Business Portfolio, Business Name, Business Website, Country, etc.). 4. Create or select your WhatsApp Business Account. 5. Choose a WhatsApp Business display name and category. 6. Add your **business phone number** and verify it via SMS/voice as prompted. 7. Click **Confirm** to give Quickchat AI required access. 8. When Meta confirms the setup is complete, click **Finish**. The pop-up shows a Quickchat AI confirmation that your WhatsApp account has been connected and closes automatically. If Meta grants Quickchat AI access to more than one account, the WhatsApp panel shows **Choose your WhatsApp Business Account** instead of connecting immediately. Pick the account your AI Agent should answer on and click **Use this account**. If you are reconnecting, your current WhatsApp setup stays unchanged until you confirm. Back in the Quickchat AI App, the WhatsApp panel updates to **Connected** within about 30 seconds. If it doesn't, click the refresh icon in the panel. Otherwise, please revisit **Prerequisites** above to make sure you correctly provided your business phone number and information. **Connected** means Quickchat AI can reach your WhatsApp Business Account. Right below it, the panel shows what is still needed before customers get replies: ![The WhatsApp panel after connecting, waiting for the first message](https://docs.quickchat.ai/_astro/connected_waiting.Cxp1hPV3.png) - **Waiting for your first message**: send a WhatsApp message to the number shown from another phone, then click **Refresh**. Once a message has arrived, the panel shows **Messages Received** next to **Webhook Active** and **Admin Assigned**. - **Display name**: every number listed lower in the panel carries its display-name status from Meta (**Approved**, **Pending review**, **Declined**, **Expired** or **No display name**). A review in progress needs nothing from you and usually finishes within a few days. A declined, expired or missing display name asks you to submit one in [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager). - **Meta test number**: if the active number is a Meta-provided +1 555 number, the panel says so. These numbers are for trying things out and cannot be moved to another account. Add your own number in WhatsApp Manager to go live. **Once the panel shows Messages Received, you’re live!** 🎉 Customers can message your WhatsApp number, and your AI Agent will respond automatically. :::tip As a final verification of your integration, send a text message to the WhatsApp number you just connected, then click **Refresh** in the panel. **Waiting for your first message** turns into **Messages Received**, you should get a reply from your AI Agent, and the conversation should appear in the [Quickchat AI App](https://app.quickchat.ai) Inbox. In the Inbox, you should also see message from WhatsApp with a link to [Setup guidance](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager/setup_guidance) in [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager). Follow the link to complete your WhatsApp onboarding. If you leave any of Meta’s setup steps unfinished, Quickchat AI also emails the account owner the remaining steps as a reminder. ::: ## Troubleshooting & FAQs **How WhatsApp Business API Pricing Works?** - Replies to user-initiated (**inbound**) customer inquiries are trated by WhatsApp as **Service messages**. These messages enable businesses to manage incoming customer inquiries, whether that is via a human agent or a conversational AI-powered bot. - When users message a business, this opens a **24-hour customer service window** during which businesses can respond with service messages, **at no charge**. This window **resets with each user message**. - **Outside 24 hours**, you must use **approved Message Templates** (Marketing, Utility, Authentication, etc.) and pay per-message according to [WhatsApp Business Platform Message Rates](https://business.whatsapp.com/products/platform-pricing). - Conversations are **categorized and billed** by Meta. Ensure your WhatsApp Business Account has a **valid payment method** for business‑initiated/template messages. **The Connect WhatsApp button does not work. I don’t see the Meta pop-up.** - If your browser blocks the pop-up, allow pop-ups for the Quickchat AI App and click **Try again**. You can also click **Continue on Meta in this tab** to complete the same setup without a pop-up. **Quickchat couldn't confirm the WhatsApp connection** Quickchat shows this recovery message when Meta's window returns no result and Quickchat still cannot verify the connection. It does not prove that Meta made no changes. 1. Confirm that you are an Admin of the Meta Business that owns the WhatsApp Business Account. If not, ask an Admin to connect it from their Facebook login. 2. Click **Try again**. If a blocker interferes with Meta's window, use a private window with extensions paused, or click **Continue on Meta in this tab**. 3. If the number is active in WhatsApp Messenger, remove it there first or use another number. If it is active in the WhatsApp Business App, follow Meta's [Coexistence onboarding](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/embedded-signup/custom-flows/onboarding-business-app-users/). 4. If the WhatsApp Business Account uses Aircall, Twilio, 360dialog, MessageBird, or another provider, add Quickchat AI as a partner in Meta Business Settings: 1. Open [Meta Business Settings](https://business.facebook.com/) and go to **Accounts** → **WhatsApp Accounts**. 2. Select the WhatsApp Business Account, open **Partners**, and click **Add Partners**. 3. Enter Quickchat AI's Business ID: `270696274483463`. 4. Grant **Manage WhatsApp accounts**, return to Quickchat AI, and refresh the status. Disconnect the other provider only if Meta does not allow both partners on that account. If you are unsure, [contact support](mailto:support@quickchat.ai) before disconnecting a live messaging provider. **Number verification failed.** - Ensure the number can receive SMS/voice calls and isn’t blocked by an active registration path that Meta doesn’t allow to coexist. If the number is used in the **Business App**, try [onboarding via **Coexistence**](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/embedded-signup/custom-flows/onboarding-business-app-users/). **I connected the wrong account.** - **Reconnect** keeps the account that is already connected. To move the AI Agent to a different WhatsApp Business Account, click **Disconnect** in the WhatsApp panel, then **Connect WhatsApp** again and pick the correct Meta Business account and WhatsApp Account in Meta's window. **We could not tell which WhatsApp Business Account to connect** - Your Meta login has several WhatsApp Business Accounts with phone numbers and Quickchat could not tell which one you meant. Email [support@quickchat.ai](mailto:support@quickchat.ai) with the phone number you want connected and we will finish the setup for you. **Messages aren’t appearing in the Quickchat AI Inbox.** - Confirm the pop-up showed the final confirmation message: _"WhatsApp account connected!"_. - Double-check you linked the intended **WhatsApp Account** and the correct **AI Agent** is selected. - The **Waiting for your first message** card names the number your AI Agent answers on. Make sure you messaged that exact number and that it is switched on in the panel, then click **Refresh**. - If you’re sending messages **after 24 hours** without a user message, use **approved templates** and ensure a **payment method** is set in [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager). **My AI’s WhatsApp replies are failing to send.** If your AI’s replies can’t be delivered, Quickchat AI shows a _"WhatsApp replies are failing"_ alert on the WhatsApp panel in **External Apps** and a notification on your dashboard. The most common causes and fixes: - **Display name not approved on a Meta test number:** Meta holds replies from a Meta-provided +1 555 number until its display name is approved. The panel’s display-name alert turns red and names the number. Wait for the review to finish (usually a few days) or, if it was declined, submit a new display name in [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager), then send a test message. A display name still under review on your own number does not block replies on its own; the panel shows it as a note. - **Connection expired or revoked:** your WhatsApp connection is no longer valid. Open the WhatsApp panel and click **Reconnect** to resume sending replies. - **Number restricted:** Meta has limited your number over its quality rating or a policy issue. Check its status in [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager) to restore sending. The alert clears automatically once a reply sends successfully again. **Template or business‑initiated messages fail.** - Verify your **Message Templates** are **approved** and your **payment method** is active in [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager). - New senders start with **messaging limits** that scale based on quality and verification. If you hit limits for business‑initiated messaging, review [Meta’s **Messaging Limits** guidance](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/messaging-limits/). - Check **messaging limits** and **quality rating** in [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager) if delivery is throttled. **How to create my own WhatsApp link and "Chat on WhatsApp" button?** - Follow [this WhatsApp tutorial](https://faq.whatsapp.com/5913398998672934). - Or [download WhatsApp brand button designs](https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.8562-6/300768190_383340503990757_1334850925137629076_n.zip?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b8d81d&_nc_ohc=MY4iaAUhNOYQ7kNvwGbBOyg&_nc_oc=AdnaKELueG_e1Nji2KyGf3coQZnkkn25TIfUlmTuosLDw7myN_glr8hmXq9Dvd1FSXw&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-ams2-1.xx&_nc_gid=mroZ20HBM9XvukXLRU2IGA&oh=00_Afvm-UG8ITS_Ikr5RO_GjyCVU1FolW4_Bh0HcpDZAZ5E-A&oe=69925CDE) and use one of these inline scripts: ```html Chat on WhatsApp ``` or ```html Chat on WhatsApp ``` **How to create my own WhatsApp QR code?** - Visit [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/latest/whatsapp_manager) → **Phone numbers** → select your business phone number → **Message links** → **Create Message Link**. - Alternatively you can find it in your WhatsApp Business mobile app. Follow [this WhatsApp tutorial](https://faq.whatsapp.com/888878128766436). **If we connect via coexistence, can we disconnect later?** - **Yes, at any time.** From inside the WhatsApp Business App, go to **Settings → Account → Business Platform → Disconnect**. - The number stays live on the Business App, and your contacts and existing chat history are unaffected. - Quickchat AI's API access ends immediately. - You can also pause integration without disconnecting by simply stopping outbound messages from Quickchat AI. **What access does Quickchat AI get to our WhatsApp Business Account?** - **Scoped API access, not account ownership.** Your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) lives in your own Meta Business Manager — under Meta's WABA Sharing model, you own the assets and Quickchat AI is added as a partner you can revoke at any time from Business Manager. - We can send and receive messages through the Cloud API and receive message events via webhook while integration is active. - We cannot close, transfer, or rebrand your account, change billing, or remove your administrators. ## Need Help? Chat with Quickchat’s Support AI on WhatsApp: 📱 **+1 302-405-9992** — [Start a chat](https://wa.me/message/LHARULDFIUEZL1) Or scan the QR code: ![WhatsApp QR code](https://docs.quickchat.ai/_astro/qr.B3rXtjHl.png)