Coexistence — keep the WhatsApp Business app

With coexistence, a number already used in the WhatsApp Business app also runs on the official Cloud API through MeAPI. The owner keeps chatting from the phone; your team, campaigns, chatbots and the Developer API work on the same number. The step-by-step guide with every screen is in Learn: Coexistence.

Requirements (set by Meta)

The number is on the WhatsApp Business app (not personal WhatsApp), version 2.24.17 or newer, and has been in use on it for a while (brand-new numbers are usually refused).
A country where Meta offers coexistence — most countries, India included; the popup says if a country isn’t supported.
The phone with the app is at hand during setup, to scan a QR code.
Not required: adding the number to Business Manager first, a Facebook Page, or business verification (unverified businesses get lower messaging limits).

Setup

In the API Panel open Connection → I already use the WhatsApp Business app on this number. MeAPI starts Meta’s Embedded Signup in WhatsApp Business app onboarding mode.
In Meta’s popup: log in, pick or create the business portfolio, choose Connect your existing WhatsApp Business app, pick or create the WhatsApp Business account, and enter the number.
The popup shows a QR code. In the WhatsApp Business app, open the message to connect to the Business Platform, choose whether to share chat history, and scan the code.
Confirm. The number appears on Connection as Connected · Also active on the app (coexistence) with the contact and history import status.

What the API sees

Customers’ messages arrive as usual and fire your message.received webhooks.
Messages the owner sends from the app appear in the MeAPI inbox (from WhatsApp app), in the same conversation. They are not sent to your webhooks and are not part of message.status.
Imported history and contacts are written to the inbox and contacts quietly — no webhooks, no flows triggered, no unread counts.
Items Meta can’t deliver through the API (polls, view-once, some history items) arrive with type: "unsupported" and the text Unsupported message — open WhatsApp on your phone to view it.
Sending through the API works as for any number: the 24-hour window applies (chatting in the app doesn’t open or extend it), templates outside it.

Limits and billing

Throughput: 20 messages per second, fixed for numbers on both the app and the API. MeAPI paces campaigns and backs off on Meta’s rate-limit errors; if you send through the API at high volume, queue on your side too.
Messages sent from the app are free. Messages sent through the API are charged by Meta per message (templates, and service messages beyond 1,000 per number a month).
The app and the API share one quality rating and one messaging limit.

Staying connected and disconnecting

The owner must open the WhatsApp Business app at least once every 14 days (linked devices: about 30 days). Otherwise Meta removes the link, and MeAPI marks the number Disconnected — reconnect through the same popup.
Disconnect in MeAPI (Connection → Disconnect) stops the number in MeAPI only.
To end coexistence, the owner opens the app → Settings → Account → Business Platform → Disconnect account. MeAPI receives Meta’s notice and marks the number disconnected.
Contacts and history are shared once; to import them again, disconnect and connect again.

Errors

#3441047 “not available for accounts using marketing messages”: the WhatsApp Business account picked in the popup has marketing messages enabled. Run the signup again and choose Create a new WhatsApp Business account.
SMS / call code instead of a QR code: the popup didn’t detect coexistence — update the app and use the coexistence button, not Connect a new number.
Already registered on the API: the number is connected through another provider; release it there first.

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