What is Meta Coexistence? A Complete Guide to WhatsApp Coexistence API (2025 Update)

For years, businesses wanting to upgrade to the WhatsApp Business API faced a painful restriction — they needed a new phone number that was not already active on the WhatsApp Business App. If they wanted to upgrade their existing number, they were forced to delete their WhatsApp account, losing chat history, groups, and customer communication.

This created a huge adoption barrier for businesses already using WhatsApp Business to manage daily operations.

But today, with Meta’s major update called WhatsApp Coexistence (Meta Coexistence), this limitation has been removed.

You can now onboard a number to the WhatsApp Cloud API even if it is already connected to the WhatsApp Business App — without uninstalling, disconnecting, or erasing anything.

This means:

WhatsApp Business Coexistence allows both WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp API to run simultaneously on the same phone number.

Businesses now get the best of both environments:
✔ Fully scalable API messaging
✔ Multi-agent and automation
✔ Real-time chat access on mobile
✔ Chat history preserved

In this detailed guide, we’ll cover:

• What is WhatsApp Coexistence?

• How the Meta Coexistence feature works

• Key benefits of WhatsApp Business Coexistence

• Requirements to enable Coexistence

• Limitations you should be aware of

• How to activate WhatsApp Coexistence API with WhatsBoost

• FAQs about WhatsApp Coexistence & WhatsBoost

Let’s begin.

What is WhatsApp Coexistence? (Meta Coexistence Explained)

WhatsApp Coexistence (also called Coex or Meta Coexistence) is a feature released by Meta that allows a business to enable the WhatsApp Cloud API on a phone number that is already registered on the WhatsApp Business App, without the need to delete the account or switch phones.

In other words:

WhatsApp Business Coexistence enables the WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Cloud API to coexist together on the same number.

Once enabled, messages are mirrored between both interfaces through message echoes:

💬 Message Echoes Behavior

This ensures real-time synchronization and consistency between dashboard & mobile usage.

Why Use WhatsApp Coexistence? (Top Use Cases & Advantages)

## 1. Use WhatsApp API Without Losing Chat History

No more deleting accounts or losing conversations. Chat history remains intact on the existing number.

## 2. Message At Scale With API & Still Reply From the App

Use API for:

• Bulk campaigns

• CTWA (Click-to-WhatsApp) ads

• Broadcasts

• Automation

• CRM integrations

…while continuing one-to-one replies from the WhatsApp Business app.

## 3. Seamless Migration for Existing WhatsApp Business Users

Businesses do not have to:
❌ Buy new numbers
❌ Train staff on new accounts
❌ Lose customers due to phone number change

## 4. Unlock Advanced API Capabilities

With the WhatsApp Coexistence API, businesses get:

• Unlimited broadcasting via API

• Multi-agent live chat

• Meta Insights & analytics

• AI chatbots

• CRM / Shopify / Pabbly / Zapier integrations

• CTWA ads syncing

## 5. Cost-Effective Upgrade Strategy

Messages sent from the WhatsApp Business App stay free even when coexistence is enabled.

How Does Meta Coexistence Work?

When a business activates Coexistence:

📌 WhatsApp API and WhatsApp Business App sessions run in parallel
📌 Both can send and receive messages independently
📌 Messages appear mirrored in both applications
📌 API conversations are billed normally via Meta pricing rules
📌 Template messages are still required for starting new conversations via API

This means zero disruption, complete continuity, and smooth user experience.

Linked Devices & Companion App Constraints

After onboarding to the WhatsApp Cloud API, all previously linked companion devices are automatically unlinked.

Supported / Unsupported Linked Devices

Messages received on unsupported clients:

• Will not trigger webhook events

• Will not sync to API dashboards

• Will appear only in the mobile app

Geo Restrictions

Some countries do not support onboarding existing WhatsApp Business numbers to Cloud API.
Refer to Meta’s official documentation for region-specific details.

Important Notes to Remember

Before enabling WhatsApp Business Coexistence, keep these in mind:

🔹 Do not uninstall the WhatsApp Business App
🔹 Open the app at least once every 13 days to keep it active
🔹 Messages sync through echoes — occasional delays may occur
🔹 Cloud API message rates apply normally

How to Enable WhatsApp Coexistence (Step-by-Step)

## Step 1 — Ensure You Have an Active WhatsApp Business Number

• Registered and working

• Not banned or flagged

## Step 2 — Apply for API Enablement via a Solution Provider Like WhatsBoost

A Meta partner such as WhatsBoost handles activation and compliance.

## Step 3 — Sync & Onboarding Verification

Once onboarding is completed:

• Mobile and API messages synchronize

• Automations and campaigns activate

Why Enable Meta Coexistence via WhatsBoost?

With WhatsBoost, businesses get:

### 🟢 Zero-cost WhatsApp API activation

No subscription fees — pay only for usage.

### 🟢 Multi-agent Live Chat & Shared Inbox

Your team can reply collaboratively on WhatsBoost while still using the WhatsApp Business app.

### 🟢 Advanced Automations & Integrations

Supports:

• Shopify eCommerce automation

• N8N, Make, Google Sheets

• Pabbly & Zapier

• Webinar follow-ups

• AI calling and chat agents

### 🟢 Group messaging via API + Group member extraction

Unique feature for community-based businesses.

### 🟢 Click-to-WhatsApp Ad Leads in App & API

Boost lead response + conversion rates.

👉 Explore WhatsBoost features here: https://whatsboost.in

FAQs About WhatsApp Coexistence

1. What is Meta Coexistence?

Meta Coexistence allows WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Cloud API to function together on the same number without data or chat history loss.

2. Do I need to delete WhatsApp Business to enable Coexistence?

No. The account remains active.

3. Can I send messages from both API and the WhatsApp Business App?

Yes, and messages sync between the two using message echoing.

4. Is Coexistence free?

The feature is free — API messaging cost still applies based on Meta pricing.

5. Will my linked devices remain connected after enabling coexistence?

No, they will be unlinked and must be re-linked selectively.

FAQs About WhatsBoost

1. What is WhatsBoost?

WhatsBoost is a WhatsApp automation & marketing platform offering API access, automations, integrations, live chat handling & AI workflows.

2. Does WhatsBoost support Meta Coexistence onboarding?

Yes. WhatsBoost helps businesses activate WhatsApp API on existing numbers using Coexistence.

3. Are there setup or subscription charges?

No mandatory subscription. Pay only per usage or automation complexity.

4. What integrations does WhatsBoost support?

Shopify, Google Sheets, N8N, Zapier, Make, Pabbly, and 7000+ apps.

5. Does WhatsBoost enable WhatsApp group broadcasting via API?

Yes — a unique advantage not commonly available.

Final Thoughts

The Meta Coexistence update represents a massive leap forward for WhatsApp automation and scalability. For the first time, businesses can keep their existing WhatsApp Business setup while accessing the powerful capabilities of WhatsApp Cloud API — without losing data or disrupting operations.

With robust automation, API workflows, AI agents and multi-platform interoperability, WhatsBoost empowers businesses to take full advantage of the WhatsApp Coexistence API immediately and affordably.

🚀 Ready to enable Coexistence on your WhatsApp Business number?
Apply now with WhatsBoost → https://whatsboost.in