# WhatsApp Coexistence, Explained

> How Meta's Coexistence lets one WhatsApp number run in the WhatsApp Business app and the Cloud API at once, and how Avox works alongside your team's app.

Source: https://docs.theavoxai.com/coexistence-explained

**Coexistence** is Meta's feature that lets one WhatsApp number work in two places at once: in the
**WhatsApp Business app** on your team's phone, and on the **Cloud API** that platforms like Avox
use. Your team keeps chatting from the app exactly as before, and Avox adds a shared inbox,
automation, templates and the [Avox API](https://docs.theavoxai.com/avox-api) on the same number.

## Why it matters

A number registered only on the Cloud API runs without the WhatsApp Business app. Coexistence
gives you both: the familiar app for day-to-day conversations, and the platform for everything that
scales - automated replies, templates, Flows, analytics and API sends.

## The two ways to connect a number in Avox

The first step of the connection wizard, **Number type**, offers both:

| Option | Use it when | What signup looks like |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Existing number (Coexistence)** | The number is already active in the WhatsApp Business app and your team wants to keep using the app. | Meta recognises the app number and shows its business profile. Halfway through, you confirm on your phone in the WhatsApp Business app, then finish in the popup. |
| **New number (Bot only)** | The number isn't used in the WhatsApp Business app and will be dedicated to Avox and your API. | Meta verifies the number itself. There's no phone-side step. |

See [Embedded Signup](https://docs.theavoxai.com/whatsapp/embedded-signup) for every screen of the popup, and
[Setup](https://docs.theavoxai.com/connections/setup) for the whole wizard.

> **Warning**
>
> On the coexistence path, Meta should show your WhatsApp Business app profile. If it asks for an
> SMS or voice code instead, stop and go back: that path moves the number off the app rather than
> sharing it.

## The phone-side step

During coexistence signup, Meta asks you to scan a QR code with WhatsApp Business on your phone (it
also sends the same link to the number as a WhatsApp message). On the phone you then:

**1. Tap Connect**

A message from Facebook Business shows a "Connect to the Business Platform" card.

**2. Read Meta's explanation**

It covers how the app keeps working and how chats are shared.

**3. Choose chat history sharing**

Share your existing chats, or start fresh with new threads. This is a one-time choice, so pick the one you want to keep.

**4. See the confirmation**

Avox appears as the connected Business Platform. You can manage this later in the app's settings.

## What happens once you're connected

- **Chat history (if you chose to share it).** Meta sends your existing conversations to Avox
  once, in batches, so the [Inbox](https://docs.theavoxai.com/inbox) starts with context. Each past message lands at the
  time it was really sent, and imported history never triggers automations.
- **Contact names.** Contacts saved in the WhatsApp Business app are added to your
  [Contacts](https://docs.theavoxai.com/contacts) with their names, and a name you change in the app is updated in Avox.
  Removing a contact from the phone keeps it, and its history, in Avox.
- **Both sides see the same conversation.** A reply your team sends from the phone app also shows
  in the Avox inbox, and messages sent through the platform appear in the app.

The exact list of what syncs, and when, is on [Coexistence sync](https://docs.theavoxai.com/connections/coexistence).

## Keep the app active

> **Warning**
>
> Meta expects the WhatsApp Business app on the primary phone to be opened regularly, and can
> disconnect Coexistence for a number whose app goes unused. Keep the app signed in on a phone your
> team uses day to day.

Avox helps you notice a problem early:

- [Health](https://docs.theavoxai.com/health) shows each number's heartbeat - **Operational**, **Degraded** or **Down** -
  based on how recently Meta sent an event for it, and **Check health now** asks Meta directly
  whether the number can send.
- With **WhatsApp account alerts** on in [Compliance](https://docs.theavoxai.com/compliance), the Switchboard's Owner is
  emailed when Meta sends an alert about the account.
- Each connection on Health also shows **Last active** - how long ago Meta last sent an event
  for it.

## Coexistence and the Avox API

Everything on the [Avox API](https://docs.theavoxai.com/avox-api) works the same on a coexistence number. Messages your server
sends through the API go out from the same number your team uses in the app, and customer replies
reach both the app and the Avox [Inbox](https://docs.theavoxai.com/inbox). With [Message forwarding](https://docs.theavoxai.com/connections/webhook-override)
on, each new customer message also reaches your own server, signed by Avox.

## Related

- [Meta concepts](https://docs.theavoxai.com/meta-platform) - Business Portfolio, WABA and verification.
- [Accounts and numbers](https://docs.theavoxai.com/whatsapp/accounts-and-numbers) - the account and number behind a
  connection.
- [Getting started](https://docs.theavoxai.com/getting-started) - connect your first number.