Whatsapp Co-existence Feature

Step by Step Guide to use the Whatsapp Co existence feature to connect your Whatsapp business account in your phone and in Whatsapp Chatbot.

Overview

WhatsApp Co-existence allows you to use the same WhatsApp phone number on:

• The WhatsApp Business App

• BotPenguin’s WhatsApp Bot

at the same time.

This feature is enabled via Meta’s Embedded Signup flow, allowing businesses to start WhatsApp automation without migrating or disconnecting their existing WhatsApp Business account.

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What Is WhatsApp Co-existence?

Traditionally, WhatsApp API required full number migration, which removed the number from the WhatsApp app.

With Co-existence:

• Your WhatsApp Business app remains active

• BotPenguin can send and receive messages via Bot

• Manual and automated conversations run together

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When Should You Use WhatsApp Co-existence?

Use this feature if:

• You already have an active WhatsApp Business App number

• You want to keep manual conversations

• You want to add bots, automation, and templates

• You don’t want downtime or number migration

• You are testing WhatsApp automation before scaling

• You would like to sync the chats both in Whatsapp ChatBot as well as on Whatsapp business Account

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What You Can Do with Co-existence

With WhatsApp Co-existence enabled, you can:

• Send & receive messages via WhatsApp API

• Reply manually from the WhatsApp app

• Run chatbots and automated workflows

• Send approved WhatsApp template messages

• Manage chats from both WhatsApp business app and BotPenguin

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Prerequisites

Before starting setup, ensure:

• ✔ Active Facebook account

• ✔ Business Manager access (Admin recommended)

• ✔ Valid business website with Privacy Policy

• ✔ WhatsApp-compliant use case

• ✔ Active WhatsApp number (business app)

• ✔ Phone number can receive SMS or voice OTP

• ✔ Valid debit/credit card with international payments enabled

• ✔ GSTIN (mandatory for Indian businesses)

Technical Requirements (Mandatory)

For this flow to work successfully:

• WhatsApp Business App version 2.24.17 or higher

• Phone number country code must be supported

• You must be a Meta Solution Partner / Tech Provider

• You must be familiar with WhatsApp Cloud API

• Webhook callback must successfully receive and process events

• Embedded Signup must be enabled with session logging

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Step 1: Open WhatsApp Setup in BotPenguin

1. Log in to BotPenguin Dashboard

2. Go to Bots

3. Select your bot

4. Click Replace Demo WhatsApp Number

5. Choose Connect your WhatsApp Number

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Step 2: Accept WhatsApp Prerequisites

You will see a prerequisites checklist.

• Select All

• Confirm you meet WhatsApp requirements

• Click Proceed

(This step confirms compliance with Meta policies.)

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Step 3: Meta Embedded Signup (Facebook Login)

You’ll be redirected to Meta’s Embedded Signup screen.

Here you need to:

• Log in using your Facebook account

• Select an existing Business Manager or create a new one

• Grant required permissions to BotPenguin

Click Continue.

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Step 4: Seamlessly connect your account to BotPenguin

Connect your account to the BotPenguin by giving permissions by clicking on continue button.

Step 5: Connect your Business portfolio and Choose the option whether you want to create or connect a Business Account

When configuring Embedded Signup for WhatsApp Business App phone numbers, business users are given the option to connect their existing WhatsApp Business App account to the WhatsApp Cloud API (Co-existence mode).

This allows the same phone number to be used on:

• WhatsApp Business App

• BotPenguin (via Cloud API)

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Step-by-Step: Verification Inside WhatsApp Business App

If the user selects Use an existing WhatsApp Business App number, the following process occurs:

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Step 1: Enter WhatsApp Business App Phone Number

• The user enters their WhatsApp Business App phone number

• Meta generates a verification code

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Step 2: Receive Verification Message in WhatsApp Business App

The business will receive a message from the official Facebook Business Account inside the WhatsApp Business App.

The message instructs the business to:

• Copy the verification code or scan the QR

• Follow the on-screen connection steps

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Step 3: Tap “Connect” in WhatsApp Business App

Inside the WhatsApp Business App:

1. Tap Connect

2. Tap Connect to the Business Platform to continue onboarding

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Step 4: Confirm Chat History Sharing (Optional)

• Tap Confirm when prompted

• This allows the business to share chat history and contacts with the platform (BotPenguin)

• Permission is optional but recommended for a smoother transition

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Step 5: Paste the Verification Code

• Paste the verification code received earlier or scan the QR

• This confirms ownership of the WhatsApp Business App number

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Step 6: You are now Connected to the BotPenguin

Business Platform Connection (WhatsApp)

This screen shows that your WhatsApp Business app is currently connected to the BotPenguin Business Platform.

• You can be connected to only one Business Platform at a time.

• If you disconnect from BotPenguin, you will lose access to BotPenguin features, but your WhatsApp Business app will remain unaffected.

• To keep the connection active, make sure to open your WhatsApp Business app at least once every 14 days.

• If setup is incomplete, tap “Finish setting up on BotPenguin” to complete the integration.

Step 7: Confirm or Edit Your WhatsApp Business Account

Your WhatsApp Business account has been successfully linked to your business portfolio. By proceeding, you agree to share your WhatsApp Business account and business profile details with BotPenguin. Please review and, if required, update your WhatsApp Business account name and time zone before continuing.

Please ensure that all the fields are filled for smooth onboarding .

Step 8: Review and Confirm Access Permissions

On this screen, review the permissions that BotPenguin v2 is requesting for your WhatsApp Business account. BotPenguin will be able to manage your WhatsApp accounts, access and manage conversations, handle product catalogues, and log events on behalf of your WhatsApp Business account. Carefully verify the details, then click Confirm to grant access and complete the connection, or click Back if you want to make changes.

Step 9 : You are now connected to the BotPenguin

This screen confirms that your WhatsApp Business account has been successfully connected to BotPenguin. Meta will review your business to ensure it complies with WhatsApp’s Commerce Policy and will notify you within 24 hours if any action is required. You can manage or opt out of event activity sharing at any time from Business Settings. Click Add Payment Method to enable marketing or drip campaigns, then select Finish to complete the setup.

Step 10: WhatsApp Account Approved & Bot Created

This screen confirms that your WhatsApp number has been approved and your bot has been created successfully. You can now start using your bot by sending your first message, editing your chat flow, or viewing the bot overview. Make sure your payment method is added to begin your marketing or drip campaigns and fully activate your WhatsApp bot.

Whatsapp Bot

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Limitations

• Phone numbers used in both WhatsApp Business App and Cloud API have a fixed throughput of 20 messages per second (20 MPS)

• If the business previously worked with another partner and still shares the same credit line, they may see an error when switching partners → Follow Meta’s credit line migration guide to resolve this

Feature Comparison: WhatsApp Business App vs BotPenguin (Cloud API)

WhatsApp Business App Feature	Behavior After Co-existence	Supported on BotPenguin (Cloud API)
Individual (1:1) Chats	Message edit/revoke disabled Messages mirrored between app & BotPenguin Last 6 months chat sync	✅ Supported
Contacts	No change Contacts synced	✅ Supported
Group Chats	No change	❌ Not Supported
Disappearing Messages	Automatically turned off	❌ Not Supported
View Once Messages	Disabled	❌ Not Supported
Live Location	Disabled	❌ Not Supported
Broadcast Lists	Disabled Existing lists read-only	❌ Not Supported
Voice & Video Calls	No change	❌ Not Supported
Business Tools (Catalog, Orders, Status)	No change	❌ Not Supported
Messaging Tools (Greeting, Away, Quick Replies, Labels)	No change	❌ Not Supported
Business Profile	No change	❌ Not Supported
Channels	No change	❌ Not Supported

Important Notes

• Co-existence is ideal for businesses needing both automation and manual control

• Some WhatsApp features are disabled intentionally to maintain API compatibility

• BotPenguin handles automation, templates, analytics, and integrations

• The WhatsApp Business App remains fully usable for manual chats

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When to Contact Support

Contact BotPenguin Support if:

• Verification fails repeatedly

• You see partner credit line errors

• Messages are not syncing

• Templates fail after onboarding

Provide:

• Business Manager ID

• WhatsApp Business Account ID

• Phone Number ID

FAQs

Will my WhatsApp Business App stop working after enabling Co-existence?

No. Your WhatsApp Business App remains fully active. You can continue manual conversations while BotPenguin handles automated chats in parallel.

Do I need to migrate my WhatsApp number to use Co-existence?

No. Unlike traditional WhatsApp API onboarding, number migration is not required. Co-existence works without downtime or number removal.

Can I send and receive messages from both the app and BotPenguin?

Yes. You can:

• Reply manually from the WhatsApp Business App

• Send and receive automated messages via BotPenguin Both manual and automated conversations work together.

Are chats synced between WhatsApp Business App and BotPenguin?

Yes, chats can sync across both platforms. During setup, Meta may ask for chat history sharing permission—this is optional but recommended for smoother synchronization.

Can I use WhatsApp templates with Co-existence?

Yes. You can send approved WhatsApp template messages via BotPenguin while continuing manual chats from the WhatsApp Business App.

Is WhatsApp Co-existence suitable for testing automation?

Absolutely. Co-existence is ideal for businesses that want to test automation before scaling, without impacting their existing WhatsApp workflows.

Will any WhatsApp features be disabled?

Yes, some WhatsApp Business App features may be intentionally limited to ensure Cloud API compatibility, while automation, templates, analytics, and integrations are managed by BotPenguin.