This topic describes how to bind your WhatsApp Business App account in Chat App Message Service and outlines important considerations.
What is WhatsApp Business App Coexistence?
WhatsApp Business App Coexistence is a feature that allows businesses to use their existing WhatsApp Business App and phone number to register for the WhatsApp Business Platform through Meta's official Embedded Signup flow. After registration, businesses can use both the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Cloud API simultaneously to send messages at scale.
Bind your WhatsApp Business App
Before you begin
Register a WhatsApp Business App account.
Activate Chat App Message Service.
Procedure
Log on to the Chat App Message Service console.
In the navigation pane on the left, choose Channel Management. Then, click Create Channel.
Set Channel Type to WhatsApp and enter a custom Channel Name.
Click OK. After the WhatsApp channel is created, click the Channel ID or Manage to go to the channel page.
Choose .
In the Select Type dialog box, select WhatsApp Business App and click Next.
On the Meta Embedded Signup page, log on to your Facebook account.
Select an existing business portfolio or create a new one. For WhatsApp Business account, select Connect a WhatsApp Business App, then click Next.
Enter the business phone number for the WhatsApp Business App that you want to bind, then click Next.
NoteIf you create a new business portfolio, enter your business information first.
Use the WhatsApp Business App on your phone to scan the QR code on the screen.
After you scan the QR code, WhatsApp Business App guides you through the binding process.
Return to the Meta Embedded Signup page, edit the WhatsApp Business account name, and click Next.
Confirm the content to share with Chat App Message Service and click Confirm.
Wait for the binding to complete. Once complete, click Finish.
Feature comparison
WhatsApp Business App features | Changes after binding | Feature support in Chat App Message Service |
Personal chat (1:1) | Supported, but message editing and deleting for everyone are disabled. | Supported.
|
Contacts | No change. | Supported.
|
Group chat | No change. | Not supported.
|
Disappearing messages | This feature is disabled for all personal chats. | Not supported. |
View once media | This feature is disabled for all personal chats. | Not supported. |
Live location messages | This feature is disabled for all personal chats. | Not supported. |
Broadcast lists | Broadcast lists are disabled. Businesses cannot create new broadcast lists and existing broadcast lists become read-only. | Not supported.
|
Voice and video calls | No change. | Not supported. |
Business tools (such as catalog, orders, status) | No change. | Not supported. |
Messaging tools (such as greeting messages, away messages, quick replies, labels) | No change. | Not supported.
|
Business profile (such as business name, address, website) | No change. | Not supported. |
Channels | No change. | Not supported. |
FAQ
How do I unbind the WhatsApp Business App account from Chat App Message Service?
First, contact technical support to unbind the WhatsApp Business App account from the channel. Then, in the WhatsApp Business App, choose and follow the instructions.
How can I view synced chat history and contacts?
After syncing, you can view the history in the Chat App Message Service by navigating to the Message Workbench, selecting the phone number, and bringing it online.
You must sync your data within 24 hours of binding your WhatsApp Business App. If you miss this window, you need to rebind the account to sync again.
How do I re-sync chat history and contacts?
You must first unbind the WhatsApp Business App account from Chat App Message Service and then go through the binding process again.
Is Coexistence available for numbers in all countries?
Phone numbers from the following countries are not currently supported: Nigeria, South Africa.
What are the requirements for using Coexistence?
Your WhatsApp Business App must be version 2.24.17 or higher.
How are messages billed after binding WhatsApp Business App?
Messages you send directly from the WhatsApp Business App remain free. However, messages sent through the Chat App Message Service (including via its API) will be billed according to WhatsApp's pricing model. For details, see Pricing.
How do I send WhatsApp Business messages through Chat App Message Service?
You can send messages via the console or API. The rules are the same as for a standard WABA. For instructions, see Send WhatsApp messages and API reference.
The combined throughput for the WhatsApp Business App and Chat App Message Service is a fixed 20 MPS.
Why can't I send free-form messages to users?
The 24-hour customer service window only becomes effective after the binding process is complete. If a user messages you before you have finished binding, you can only reply with a message template. After it is complete, you can reply with free-form messages when a user initiates a conversation.
Additionally, you must open the WhatsApp Business App at least once every 14 days to keep it connected.