Use WhatsApp Business App and API Simultaneously (Coexistence)
Already using the WhatsApp Business App daily? Connect the same number to meetergo — without losing your app, chats, or away messages.
You use the WhatsApp Business App on your phone for daily customer communication — chats, away messages, calls — and now want to connect the same number to meetergo for automated appointment reminders and follow-ups?
Good news: you can do this without losing anything. Since May 2025, Meta officially supports WhatsApp Coexistence — the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business API run side by side on the same number.
Coexistence is available in all 27 EU countries (including Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the UK, and most countries worldwide. Only Nigeria and South Africa are currently excluded.
What does Coexistence mean?
| WhatsApp Business App | WhatsApp Business API (meetergo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Manual chats | As usual on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android | - |
| Away messages | Still active | - |
| Phone calls | Normal on the same number | - |
| Automatic reminders | - | Sent by meetergo automatically |
| Booking confirmations | - | Sent by meetergo automatically |
| Follow-ups | - | Sent by meetergo automatically |
Both run simultaneously. You lose neither chats, contacts, nor functionality.
What you need
- A meetergo account (Growth plan)
- A Facebook / Meta account (a personal account is fine)
- The WhatsApp Business App on your smartphone (version 2.24.17 or newer)
- Your number must have been active in the WhatsApp Business App for at least 7 days
You don't need to set up a Meta Business Account in advance — it will be created automatically during the connection process if you don't have one yet.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Start the connection in meetergo
- Go to Integrations & Apps
- Find "WhatsApp Business" and click "Connect"
- A Meta popup opens
Step 2: Sign in to Meta
- Sign in with your Facebook account
- If you don't have a Meta Business Account yet, the popup will guide you through creating one — just enter your company name and confirm
Step 3: Create a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)
- The popup asks for a WhatsApp Business Account — click "Create"
- Enter a name (e.g. your company name) and select your time zone and currency
If you already have a WABA, you can select it here instead of creating a new one.
Step 4: Enter your phone number
- Select your country code (e.g. Germany +49)
- Manually enter your WhatsApp Business number
Your number will not appear automatically in a dropdown list. You need to type it in yourself.
Step 5: Scan QR code and confirm
- A QR code appears on your screen
- Open the WhatsApp Business App on your smartphone
- You'll receive a message with a "Scan QR code" button — tap it
- Scan the QR code from your screen
- Optional: choose whether to share your existing chats (up to 6 months) with the API
- Confirm the connection
Done! Your number is now connected to meetergo — and your WhatsApp Business App continues to work as usual.
After connecting
- Your WhatsApp Business App works as before — chats, away messages, calls, everything stays
- meetergo sends automated messages (reminders, confirmations, follow-ups) via the API in the background
- Messages are synchronized between the app and the API
Open the WhatsApp Business App at least every 14 days. If the app isn't opened for longer, Meta may deactivate the API connection.
Next steps
Now that your number is connected:
- Create message templates — WhatsApp requires pre-approved templates for automated messages
- Set up workflows — Link templates to triggers (e.g. "24h before appointment", "After booking")
See Connect WhatsApp directly – Send Reminders & Follow-Ups for the full guide.
Coexistence limitations
- Message throughput drops from 80 to 20 messages per second (irrelevant for most users)
- View-once media and broadcast lists may work with limitations
- Template messages (e.g. reminders) can only be sent via the API, not via the app
Troubleshooting
My number is not accepted
- Make sure the WhatsApp Business App on your phone is updated to version 2.24.17 or newer
- Your number must have been active in the Business App for at least 7 days
- Check that you entered the number with the correct country code
The QR code doesn't appear
- Make sure you entered the number correctly in the popup
- Try a different browser (Chrome is recommended)
- Temporarily disable popup blockers
The connection drops
- Check your internet connection on both devices (computer and smartphone)
- Make sure you're signed in with the correct Facebook account in the Meta popup
- Try the process again
I have a different issue
Send us a screenshot of the step where you're stuck — we're happy to help. Contact us at meetergo Support.
FAQ
Will I lose my WhatsApp chats?
No. Your existing chats remain in the WhatsApp Business App. Optionally, you can share up to 6 months of chat history with the API when connecting.
Can I still chat manually via the app?
Yes, absolutely. The app works exactly as before. Coexistence means both run in parallel.
Can I still make phone calls?
Yes. The phone function of your number is not affected by the API connection.
Does this work with a number I recently switched from personal to Business?
Yes, as long as the number has been active in the WhatsApp Business App for at least 7 days.
Do I need a second number?
No. That's the benefit of Coexistence — you use one single number for everything.
What does Coexistence cost?
The Coexistence feature itself is free. For meetergo's WhatsApp integration, you need the Growth plan. Meta charges separate conversation fees for API messages.
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