📱 How to Migrate an Existing WhatsApp Number to WhatsApp Official Business API (WABA)
This guide explains how to migrate a phone number that is currently active on WhatsApp Personal or WhatsApp Business App (mobile) to the WhatsApp Official Business API (WABA)
This guide explains how to migrate a phone number that is currently active on WhatsApp Personal or WhatsApp Business App (mobile) to the WhatsApp Official Business API (WABA) so it can be connected to Klink.Cloud.
⚠️ Important: Why This Step Is Needed
When setting up WhatsApp Official Business (Meta) on Klink.Cloud, the phone number you register must not be currently associated with any WhatsApp account — including personal WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Business mobile app.
If your number is already in use on WhatsApp mobile, you must free the number first by following the steps below before connecting it to Klink.Cloud.
📋 Before You Start — Checklist
Complete all of these before beginning the migration:
[ ] Backup your chat history — Exporting important conversations from WhatsApp before deleting the account (Settings → Chats → Export Chat). Once deleted, chat history cannot be recovered.
[ ] Note your contacts and groups — Your contact list will remain on your phone, but WhatsApp groups tied to this account will be affected.
[ ] Ensure the phone number can receive SMS or an international voice call — This is required for OTP verification during WABA registration.
[ ] Have access to a Meta Business Manager account — You will need this to create or connect a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA). If you don't have one, you can create one at business.facebook.com.
[ ] Prepare your business details — Legal business name, address, website, and business phone number are required for Meta Business Manager.
🚀 Step-by-Step Migration Guide
Step 1 — Export & Backup Important Chats (Optional but Recommended)
Before deleting your WhatsApp account, export any important chat conversations:
Open WhatsApp on your phone
Open the chat you want to export
Tap the three dots (⋮) → More → Export Chat
Choose With Media or Without Media
Save or send the export file to your email or cloud storage
Repeat for all important chats
Step 2 — Delete Your WhatsApp Account from Mobile
⚠️ This will permanently delete your WhatsApp account and message history on this number. This action cannot be undone.
On Android:
Open WhatsApp
Go to Settings (three dots ⋮) → Account → Delete Account
Enter your phone number with country code
Tap Delete My Account
Confirm by tapping Delete My Account again
On iPhone:
Open WhatsApp
Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account
Enter your phone number with country code
Tap Delete My Account
Confirm deletion
Once deleted, the number is now free and ready to be registered as a WhatsApp Business API number.
💡 Note: After deletion, wait 2–5 minutes before proceeding to the next step to ensure Meta's systems have fully released the number.
Step 3 — Set Up WhatsApp Official Business on Klink.Cloud
Now that the number is free, you can connect it to Klink.Cloud as a WABA channel.
Log in to your Klink.Cloud dashboard
Go to Settings → Message Integration → Available Channels
Click WhatsApp (the Official Business / Meta option)
Log in with your Facebook/Meta account when prompted
Fill in your Business Information
Choose to Create a new WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) or select an existing one
Add your phone number (the one you just freed from mobile)
Verify via SMS OTP or voice call
Complete the setup
After completing setup, you will see a confirmation that your WhatsApp channel has been connected.
💡 Note: You may briefly see a "Waiting for Approval" status. This is normal — Meta reviews newly created accounts and it typically changes to "Connected" within a few minutes.
Step 4 — Complete Meta Business Verification (If Not Already Done)
For full access and higher messaging limits, your Meta Business Manager must be verified.
Go to business.facebook.com → Business Settings → Security Center
Click Start Verification and follow the steps
Provide legal business documents as requested
Wait for Meta's approval (typically 1–5 business days)
💡 Even before Business Verification is complete, you can still receive inbound messages and respond within the 24-hour customer service window.
✅ Post-Migration Verification
Once everything is set up, verify the following in your Klink.Cloud dashboard:
[ ] WhatsApp channel shows "Connected" status in Settings → Message Integration
[ ] Inbound messages appear in the Inbox
[ ] You can send outbound messages using approved Message Templates
[ ] AI Agent (if configured) responds correctly to test messages
💡 Note: WhatsApp messaging fees are handled directly by Klink.Cloud. You do not need to add a payment method to your Meta Business Manager for messaging charges.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I lose my WhatsApp contacts after deleting the account? Your phone contacts remain saved on your device. However, you will lose WhatsApp-specific data like chat history, groups, and profile information tied to the deleted account.
Q: Can I keep using WhatsApp on a different number after migration? Yes. You can register a new personal WhatsApp account on a different phone number at any time.
Q: How long does the migration take? The full process typically takes 15–30 minutes, including account deletion, WABA setup, and OTP verification. Meta Business Verification may take additional days.
Q: What if I see an error during WABA registration saying the number is already in use? Wait 5–10 minutes after deleting your WhatsApp account and try again. If the issue persists, contact Klink.Cloud support.
Q: Can I migrate a WhatsApp Business App number without losing chat history? Not with full migration. If preserving history is critical, consider asking your Klink.Cloud representative about WhatsApp Coexistence as an alternative approach.
🆘 Need Help?
If you encounter any issues during the migration process, contact the Klink.Cloud support team via the in-app chat or email support.
Related Articles:
How to set up WhatsApp Official Business Channel (Meta)
WhatsApp Business Account Profile Update Guide
Troubleshooting: WhatsApp Business Account Stuck in "Waiting for Approval"
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