## Overview

**Coexistence** lets a number connected via the **WhatsApp Cloud API** keep being used **also in the
official WhatsApp Business app** on the phone, at the same time the platform handles conversations.
It's the "coexistence" between the app and the API: what happens on one side shows up on the other.

In practice, Coexistence does three things:

- **Syncs the history** of existing conversations from the app into the platform.
- **Syncs the contacts** from the app into the platform.
- Reflects **echoes** — messages an agent sent **from the official app** also appear in the platform's
  conversation, keeping a complete, single history.

## Prerequisites

- A **WhatsApp Cloud** inbox already connected (via Embedded Signup).
- The number must be in **coexistence mode** enabled on Meta for that number.
- Coexistence is a **WhatsApp Cloud** feature — it does **not** apply to WhatsApp Web (QR).
- In some environments, syncing must be enabled by the operator.

## Step by step

1. Connect (or confirm) the **WhatsApp Cloud** inbox via Embedded Signup.
2. Make sure the number has **coexistence** enabled on Meta.
3. After connecting, the platform starts **syncing the history** of recent conversations.
4. The **contacts** from the official app are imported into the contacts base.
5. From then on, messages sent from the **official app** appear automatically in the conversations
   (echoes), and everything the team sends from the platform also reaches the app.

## Settings & options

- **History**: the sync brings the recent conversations available in the app; very old messages may
  not come, depending on what Meta makes available.
- **Contacts**: the import creates/updates contacts from the WhatsApp account's address book.
- **Echoes**: messages sent from the phone are marked as outgoing in the conversation, preserving the
  operation's authorship.
- **Media**: synced attachments are also available in the conversation.

## Use cases

- Keep handling urgent cases from the phone without losing the record in the platform.
- Migrate from a 100% official-app operation to the platform without losing the history.
- Keep a hybrid team (some in the app, some in the platform) with a unified history.

## Tips, limits & best practices

- The history sync is **one-time** (it happens at connection/activation) — new messages arrive in real
  time after that.
- For day-to-day work, prefer handling from the platform to benefit from assignment, automations and
  reports.
- Since history depends on what Meta makes available, treat it as **best effort**, not a complete
  backup.

## Troubleshooting

- **History didn't appear**: confirm coexistence is enabled on Meta for the number and wait for the
  sync to finish.
- **App messages don't appear (echoes)**: check that the number is truly in coexistence and the Cloud
  inbox is connected.
- **Missing contacts**: the import reflects the address book available at sync time; new contacts
  appear as they message you.

## See also

- [WhatsApp Cloud with Embedded Signup](/hc/ajuda/articles/inboxes-channels-whatsapp-cloud-embedded-signup-en)
- [WhatsApp Inbox Suite: Templates, Flows and Calls](/hc/ajuda/articles/inboxes-channels-whatsapp-inbox-suite-en)
- [WhatsApp Hub: groups, communities, channels and status](/hc/ajuda/articles/inboxes-channels-whatsapp-hub-grupos-comunidades-canais-status-en)
- [Inboxes and channels overview](/hc/ajuda/articles/inboxes-channels-overview-en)