---
title: 9.9 Connect the Number You Already Use in the WhatsApp Business App
description: Lets you connect the same number you already use in the WhatsApp Business app to Peikly, instead of getting a new number. You keep your number, your chats…
url: "https://peikly.com/docs/connect-the-number-you-already-use-in-the-whatsapp-business-app/"
updated: "2026-10-18"
category: WhatsApp
tags:
  - Manual sync
---

# 9.9 Connect the Number You Already Use in the WhatsApp Business App

## What This Feature Does

Lets you connect the **same number you already use in the WhatsApp Business app** to Peikly, instead of getting a new number. You keep your number, your chats and your app, and you keep chatting from your phone exactly as today. Peikly adds campaigns, a shared team inbox, forms and automation on top. Messages sent from either side show up in both.

This is sometimes called *coexistence*: the app and Peikly share one number.

## Which Kind of Number Should I Connect?

|  | **My current WhatsApp Business number** | **A new number** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Best when | You already run your business on the WhatsApp Business app and want to keep your number and chats | You want a separate number just for Peikly, or the number is not on WhatsApp yet |
| Your phone app | Keeps working. Chat from the app or from Peikly | Not used for this number |
| Chats and contacts | Can be copied into Peikly once (see below) | Start empty |
| What you need | Your phone with the **WhatsApp Business app** (updated), to scan a code | The ability to receive an SMS or a call on the number |
| Where to choose it | The first card | The second card |

If you use the **regular WhatsApp app** (green icon, not WhatsApp Business) the number cannot be kept in the app and connected to Peikly. Either move to the WhatsApp Business app first, or use a new number.

## Prerequisites

- You are the company owner, or a CompanyAdmin the owner has allowed to connect platforms ([6.7](/docs/the-company-owner/), [8.1](/docs/connect-to-meta-first-time/)).
- Your phone is with you, with the **WhatsApp Business app** installed and up to date.
- The number's country is one WhatsApp supports for this feature.
- Your plan allows another WhatsApp number (see **Phone Numbers** → plan notice). A number beyond your plan's allowance is connected but switched off automatically.
- You do **not** need to connect Meta first. Meta's window connects your Meta account and your number together.

## Connect Your Current Number

1. **Open the choice.** Use whichever applies to you:
   - **Meta is not connected yet** (the WhatsApp menu is missing): click the **plug icon** in the top bar → **Meta Platform setup**. Under **Just need WhatsApp?** you will see the two cards. The **Get Started** wizard offers the same cards in its WhatsApp step.
   - **You already have a number**: click **WhatsApp** → **Phone Numbers** → **Add Phone Number**, then choose the kind of number. Do **not** use the "new number" form for a number that is in your WhatsApp Business app, and never delete your WhatsApp account to release it.
   - **No numbers yet**: the two cards appear on **WhatsApp** → **Phone Numbers**.
2. Click **Use my current WhatsApp Business number**. (**Which one is right for me?** explains the difference.)
3. **Tick the three reminders**, then click **Open the Meta window**:
   - the app is up to date and your phone is with you;
   - you can scan a code with your phone;
   - you know WhatsApp on your computer or web will be signed out.
4. **Finish the steps in Meta's window** and keep your phone nearby. Open **What will I see in the Meta window?** under the reminders for the list. In short: sign in with Facebook, pick your business, choose to connect your existing WhatsApp Business app account, scan the QR code (WhatsApp Business → **Settings** → **Linked devices**), and say whether to share your **contacts** and **chat history** with Peikly. Say yes to both if you want them in Peikly. This choice is offered **only once**.
5. **Watch the progress card.** It shows **Connected** → **Importing contacts** → **Importing chats** → **Ready**. Your number already works while it fills in. You can leave the page, and the import finishes in the background.
6. **Read "What changes in your WhatsApp Business app"** (shown on the card and kept in the number's Details). Re-link WhatsApp on your computer if you use it.

## Status Dots on the Phone Numbers Page

Every number row shows how it is connected (**WhatsApp Business app + Peikly** or **Peikly only**) and a status dot. Hover the dot for the explanation.

| Dot | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Green **Connected** | Working in Peikly and in your app | Nothing |
| Blue **Importing** | Your contacts and chats are still being copied | Nothing; the number already works |
| Red **Disconnected** | The number was cut off from Peikly. The row shows the reason and date. Nothing is deleted | Click **Reconnect** |
| Yellow **Needs attention** | The number works, but something did not finish (for example the one-time copy was missed). The row explains what | Read the message; **Reconnect** if it offers it |

Click the **Details** button (information icon) on a row for the connection, when it was connected, how many contacts and chats were copied, the last event, and the changes reminder.

## What Peikly Copies From Your App

Right after connecting, WhatsApp offers to share your contacts and your recent chats (up to about six months). This can only happen **once, within the first 24 hours**.

| What | What you see in Peikly |
| --- | --- |
| **Chats** | Appear in **WhatsApp** → **Chat**, above a divider labelled **Before connecting to Peikly**. They do not create notifications or unread badges, do not start automations, are not counted in your statistics, and do not open the 24-hour window. Chats with people who are already your Contacts open on that contact; others appear as new conversations named after your phone book |
| **Photos, videos, voice notes, files** | Shown as a placeholder: **Media exists on WhatsApp app**. They are not downloaded, so they do not use your storage and the import stays fast. Open them in your phone app |
| **Contacts** | Kept as a list in the number's **Details**. They are **not** added to your Contacts until you choose to (see below) |
| **Group chats** | Not copied. They stay in the app only |

Files and messages that arrive **after** you connect are saved in Peikly as usual **and** stay in your app.

If you decline to share your history in Meta's window, that is fine: you will see **No problem: new chats will appear from now on.**

## Add Your WhatsApp Contacts to Peikly Contacts

Your phone's contacts are held as a separate list so nothing lands in your Contacts without your say-so.

1. On **WhatsApp** → **Phone Numbers**, click the **Details** button on the number.
2. Under **Your WhatsApp contacts**, check the count, then click **Add my N WhatsApp contacts to Peikly Contacts**.
3. Read the reminder and confirm. These people saved your number, but sending them promotional messages still needs their consent (UAE PDPL).

What happens:

- Contacts are tagged `whatsapp-app` so you can find, filter or message them as a group.
- Anyone whose number is already in your Contacts is left as it is.
- If adding everyone would pass your plan's contact limit, Peikly adds as many as fit and tells you how many were left out.
- Later changes in your app update only the contacts that came from this step. A contact you removed in the app only loses the tag. Nothing is ever deleted.

## What Changes in Your WhatsApp Business App

- Broadcast lists move to Peikly campaigns. The lists in your app become read-only.
- Disappearing messages, view-once messages and live location are turned off.
- Group chats stay in the app only.
- Link your WhatsApp on computer or web again; it was signed out.
- Open the app at least once every 2 weeks to stay connected.
- Messages you send from the app are still free.

## How It Works Day to Day

- **Messages you send from the app** appear in Peikly's chat with a small **Sent from WhatsApp app** label.
- **Messages sent from Peikly** (chat, campaigns, automations) also appear on your phone.
- **The 24-hour window** opens only when a customer writes to you **after** you connected. Until then the chat shows *Write a template. The customer hasn't messaged since you connected.* and only templates can be sent. Messages you sent from the app, and chats from before you connected, never open it.
- **Speed:** WhatsApp limits these numbers to 20 messages per second. Peikly keeps campaigns under that automatically, so large campaigns take a little longer.
- **Business Profile and catalogs** are managed in the app for these numbers. Their buttons in Peikly are switched off with an explanation.
- **Statistics** (the chart button on the row) count only what happens after you connected. The **Number Health Timeline** on that page records when the number was connected, disconnected or reconnected.

## If the Number Gets Disconnected

This happens if you disconnect Peikly in the app (**Settings** → **Account** → **Business Platform**), or WhatsApp disconnects the number (for example after a new phone, or about two weeks without opening the app).

1. The row turns **Disconnected** and shows the reason and date.
2. Campaigns running on that number **pause**; they show *Paused: number disconnected*. Sending and chat replies from the number are blocked, with a clear message.
3. Your admins get a notification.
4. Click **Reconnect** on the row (or in **Details**) and repeat the connection steps. Paused campaigns continue, and nothing was deleted.

To stop using the number in Peikly on purpose, click **Stop using in Peikly** on its row. Your WhatsApp Business app is not affected. If you also want to cut the link on the app side, open **Settings** → **Account** → **Business Platform** and disconnect Peikly.

## Common Questions

**Will my customers notice anything?** No. They keep chatting with the same number.

**What does it cost?** Messages you send from the app stay free. Messages sent from Peikly follow WhatsApp's normal pricing, billed by Meta to your own payment method ([9.6](/docs/whatsapp-usage-costs/)).

**Can I do the copy of chats and contacts later?** No. WhatsApp offers it once, in the first 24 hours after connecting. To get a second chance, disconnect the number in the app and connect it to Peikly again.

**Why do I see a chat with no name?** Chats from people who are not in your phone book show their number.

**Can my team use it?** Yes. Your team replies from Peikly's **Chat** and you reply from the app; both sides see everything.

**Which one counts as my plan's number?** A connected app number counts toward your plan's WhatsApp number allowance like any other.

## Errors, Messages, and Common Fixes

| Message | Why It Happens | How to Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| This number's country isn't supported yet | WhatsApp does not allow this feature for the number's country | Use **A new number** instead |
| Update your WhatsApp Business app first | The app is too old | Update it from the App Store or Google Play, then try again |
| This number is already connected to another provider | Another WhatsApp provider still holds the number | Disconnect it there first, or use a different number |
| We couldn't finish connecting | Meta's window was closed or returned an error | Click the button in the message to try again. Nothing was changed on your phone |
| The 24 hours … have passed (contacts and chats were not copied) | The one-time copy was not requested in time, or WhatsApp refused it | Your number still works. To copy again, disconnect it in the app and connect it to Peikly again |
| **Disconnected** with a **Reconnect** button | The number was disconnected in the app or by WhatsApp | Click **Reconnect** and repeat the steps above |
| `This phone number still holds a WhatsApp account` on **Add Phone Number** | You used the **new number** form for a number that is in use | If it is in your WhatsApp Business app, go back and choose **Use my current WhatsApp Business number**. Do not delete the account |
| This message type can't be shown here. Check it in your WhatsApp Business app. | A message type that Peikly cannot display | Open the message in your app |
| **Business Profile** is greyed out | The profile of these numbers is edited in the app | Use **Settings** → **Business tools** in the app |
| Only some of my contacts were added | Duplicates were skipped, or your plan's contact limit was reached | See the message shown after adding; upgrade your plan to add the rest |
| The number was added but is switched off | Your plan's WhatsApp number allowance is full | Disable or remove another number, or upgrade your plan ([9.1](/docs/peikly-whatsapp-setup/)) |
| Chat history is missing | You declined to share it, or the first 24 hours passed | See the question above about doing the copy later |

## Best Practices

- Do the connection when you have a few quiet minutes and your phone in hand; the copy of contacts and chats can only happen once.
- Say yes to sharing contacts and chat history in Meta's window if you want them in Peikly. You cannot be asked again.
- Open your WhatsApp Business app at least every two weeks.
- Ask contacts for consent before sending promotions, even to people already in your phone book.
- Use templates for the first message to anyone who has not written since you connected.