--- title: "Keep your number. Keep your app." canonical: "https://bird.com/whatsapp-api/features/coexistence" --- # Keep your number. Keep your app. Connect the number you use in the WhatsApp Business app to the [Bird WhatsApp API](/whatsapp-api). Your team can keep replying from the app as you add automated updates and a shared inbox in Bird. One-to-one messages sync between them, so the conversation stays with your business. [Get Started](/dashboard/signup?returnTo=%2Fdashboard%2Fw%2Fwhatsapp%2Fnumbers) [Contact Sales](/demo?product=whatsapp-coexistence) ## The familiar reply. A new way to send. Your shop team answers a collection question from the Business app. Your application sends the order update through Bird. Coexistence lets both use the number customers already know, with one-to-one messages synchronized between the app and Bird. It is a useful next step when your team wants to keep the app and add API sends, automations or the [Conversations inbox](/whatsapp-api/features/conversations). You need an existing WhatsApp Business app account to connect this way. [Read the coexistence guide](/docs/guides/whatsapp/coexistence) ## Bring the history you want to keep. During setup, choose whether to share your existing chats. Connect your Business app through Meta, confirm on your phone and return to Bird. Your number’s Coexistence card shows import progress and the number of messages and contacts imported, so you can check what came across. Wait for the number to show Connected before sending through Bird. A Pending status means Bird is still completing setup with Meta. Keep your phone and a Meta login with access to your business ready as you connect. [Connect your Business app number](/docs/guides/whatsapp/coexistence/connect) ## Know where the reply came from. Bird records a message sent from the Business app as an outbound message from your business number to the customer. Its origin identifies it as an app reply, so your integration can distinguish a teammate’s response from a send through Bird. ### An app reply does not pause automation. Plan how your team coordinates replies with any automated responses in Bird. Use the message origin when your integration needs to treat an app reply differently. [Identify messages sent from the app](/docs/guides/whatsapp/coexistence#messages-sent-from-the-app) ## Check the fit before you connect. Coexistence is designed for teams that want to keep working in the Business app. The connection changes some app features and has a fixed API sending limit. These are the details to review with your team before setup. ### Group chats stay in the app Your Business app group chats do not sync to Bird. The one-to-one sync does not bring existing app groups into the Conversations inbox or the Groups API. ### API throughput is 20 messages per second Coexistence numbers have a fixed API throughput limit. If you need higher throughput and can work without the Business app, use [standard number setup](/docs/guides/whatsapp/numbers/connect). ### Some app features change Broadcast lists become read-only and new lists cannot be created in the app. Disappearing and view-once messages are disabled for one-to-one chats. Review these changes with the people who reply from your phone. ### Reconnect your supported devices Linked devices disconnect during setup. You can reconnect supported devices afterwards. Check Meta’s current device support in the coexistence guide before choosing the devices your team will use. [Review app changes and limits](/docs/guides/whatsapp/coexistence#limits-and-app-changes) [Explore WhatsApp pricing](/pricing/whatsapp) ## Questions about coexistence ### Can I use the same number in the Business app and Bird? Yes. Coexistence connects your existing WhatsApp Business app number to Bird. You can keep replying from the app and use that number for API sends, automations and the Conversations inbox. One-to-one messages sync between the app and Bird. ### Do I have to import my chat history? No. During connection, you choose whether to share existing chats. After setup, the number’s Coexistence card in Bird shows import progress and the number of messages and contacts imported. ### Will replying from the app stop automated replies? No. Sending from the WhatsApp Business app does not pause automated replies in Bird. Bird records an app reply as an outbound message with an origin that identifies the Business app, which your integration can use to distinguish it from a Bird send. ### Will my existing group chats appear in Bird? No. Group chats remain in the WhatsApp Business app and do not sync to Bird. Coexistence synchronizes one-to-one messages. ### Where can I check coexistence costs? The coexistence guide explains connection costs, app messages and messages sent through Bird. The WhatsApp pricing page lists the published messaging rates for Bird sends. ## Build around the conversation Connect the number, prepare your messages and give customer replies a home. - [Conversations](/whatsapp-api/features/conversations): Manage customer replies together in the Bird inbox. - [Groups](/whatsapp-api/features/groups): Explore WhatsApp groups built through the API. - [Meta business agent](/whatsapp-api/features/meta-business-agent): Set up Meta’s business agent for your WhatsApp number. - [Numbers](/whatsapp-api/features/numbers): Choose the right connection for your business number. - [Templates](/whatsapp-api/features/templates): Prepare approved messages for business-initiated updates. - [WhatsApp API overview](/whatsapp-api): Explore messaging, customer replies and the rest of WhatsApp on Bird. ## Escala sin perder el control. Organiza equipos en espacios de trabajo, controla el acceso a la API y rastrea cambios en los registros de auditoría. [Espacios de trabajo](/docs/guides/workspaces)[Roles del equipo](/docs/guides/users-teams-roles)[Autenticación de API](/docs/guides/authentication) [Explora Enterprise](/enterprise) ## Start with WhatsApp. Build across channels with Bird. [Get Started](/dashboard/signup?returnTo=%2Fdashboard%2Fw%2Fwhatsapp) · [Contact Sales](/demo?product=whatsapp) [Email](/email-api) · [SMS](/sms-api) · [WhatsApp](/whatsapp-api) · [Apple Messages](/apple-messages-api) · [Voice](/voice-api) ## Related resources - [Connecting WhatsApp to Bird: from buying a number to a live channel](/learn/whatsapp/connecting-whatsapp-to-bird) (video) - [Sending WhatsApp messages](/docs/guides/whatsapp/sending-whatsapp) (docs) - [What is the 24-hour customer service window on WhatsApp?](/explained/whatsapp/what-is-the-24-hour-customer-service-window) (answer) - [WhatsApp message builder](/tools/whatsapp-message-builder) (tool) [Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=whatsapp)