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Connect WhatsApp

ChatAgent runs on WhatsApp Coexistence, Meta’s official feature that lets the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business API work on the same number at the same time. You keep the number your customers already know. Your chat history stays. Your team keeps using the mobile app.

Messages mirror between the app and ChatAgent in real time. Your team replies on mobile, the AI replies through the API, and the customer sees one normal conversation.

What you need

Section titled “What you need”
  • A WhatsApp Business App number (the one you already use)
  • A Meta Business account where you can add that number
  • A ChatAgent account at app.chatagent.so

You do not need a new number. If you have read older WhatsApp API guides that tell you to buy a fresh number and migrate, that does not apply here.

Step 1: Add your number to Meta Business Manager

Section titled “Step 1: Add your number to Meta Business Manager”
  1. Open business.facebook.com
  2. Go to Business Settings
  3. Add your existing WhatsApp number

Do this before you start onboarding. It takes under two minutes.

Step 2: Connect through ChatAgent

Section titled “Step 2: Connect through ChatAgent”
  1. Log in to app.chatagent.so
  2. Go to Integration → WhatsApp → Add Account
  3. Select Keep WhatsApp Business App active (Coexistence)
  4. Log in with Facebook and scan the QR code

Step 3: Choose chat sharing, then go live

Section titled “Step 3: Choose chat sharing, then go live”

When you connect, you decide whether to share your existing chat history with ChatAgent. Sharing gives the AI context on past conversations, which makes its answers better from day one. If you’d rather not share, you can start with a clean slate.

Confirm the choice and you’re live. The AI starts handling conversations immediately.

Once you’re up, the smb_message_echoes webhook picks up messages your team sends from the mobile app, so they show up in ChatAgent too.

What stays the same

Section titled “What stays the same”
Regular WhatsApp API ChatAgent with Coexistence
Phone number New number required Your current number
Chat history Lost on migration Fully preserved
Mobile app No access Stays active
Who responds API only AI and humans together
Setup time Days of configuration About 5 minutes
Mobile messages API pricing Free

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”
Problem What to check
Connection fails You’re a Meta Business admin and the number is already added in Business Settings
Messages don’t appear Your Business account is in good standing with Meta
Only some messages show The smb_message_echoes webhook is enabled
AI isn’t replying Auto-reply is turned on under AI Settings → Auto-Reply

Disconnecting

Section titled “Disconnecting”

Go to Settings → WhatsApp, pick the number, and click Disconnect.

Disconnecting stops the AI agents and any running automations for that number. Past conversations stay in your inbox, but nothing new gets an automated reply.

Where to go next

Section titled “Where to go next”