⚠️ Important:
If you see the message “Your phone number isn’t eligible to connect to the WhatsApp Business Platform” during Coexistence onboarding, this is not a technical bug.This message comes directly from Meta (WhatsApp) and indicates that your number does not yet appear to be an active business number.
❓ Why This Error Happens
When you try to onboard a number to the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) using Coexistence, Meta checks how that number has been used on the WhatsApp Business App.
If your number shows:
- Very few chats
- Only test or self-messages
- No daily or ongoing activity
WhatsApp assumes the number is not ready for API usage.
Meta wants proof that:
- ✅ You are a real business
- ✅ You talk to real people
- ✅ You actively use WhatsApp business features
Once this trust is established, onboarding is allowed.
✅ Step 1: Use WhatsApp Like a Real Business
Before retrying onboarding, spend time building genuine business activity on the WhatsApp Business App.
💬 Have Real Conversations
Avoid sending messages only to yourself.
Instead:
- Chat with real customers
- Or team members acting as customers
- Ask questions, reply properly, and keep conversations active
Make sure you:
- Send messages
- Receive replies
- Continue conversations over time
Back-and-forth communication is critical.
🧰 Use WhatsApp Business Features (Very Important)
WhatsApp also evaluates how you use the app.
Make sure to use:
- Greeting messages
- Quick replies
- Labels for chats
- Complete business profile details
Also send different content types:
- Text messages
- Images
- PDFs or catalogs (if applicable)
This signals real business usage, not casual chatting.
📅 Be Consistent (Not Just One Day)
One day of activity is usually not enough.
Recommended:
- Daily conversations
- Active chats over 2–4 weeks
The more natural and consistent your activity looks, the faster WhatsApp approves your number.
🔄 Step 2: Retry the Onboarding Process
After building sufficient activity:
- Go back to your onboarding flow
- Navigate to:
GHL → WhatsApp → Connect Number - Retry connecting the same number
In most cases, the eligibility error disappears once WhatsApp detects proper usage history.
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
These mistakes often cause the error to persist:
- ❌ Onboarding a brand-new number
- ❌ Using a number never active on WhatsApp Business App
- ❌ Deleting the Business App too early
- ❌ Sending only test messages to yourself
- ❌ No replies from other users
⚠️ Important:
Keep the WhatsApp Business App installed and active until onboarding is fully completed.
⚡ Quick Fix (If You’re in a Hurry)
If you’re on a tight deadline and cannot wait weeks:
Use another phone number that:
- Was already used for business chats
- Has existing customer conversations
- Shows regular activity
Such numbers usually pass eligibility much faster.
⚠️ Reminder:
This number will become your official API number, so choose carefully.
🧠 In Short
- This error does not mean something is broken
- WhatsApp simply needs proof of real business usage
- Use the WhatsApp Business App properly
- Talk to real people
- Use business features
- Stay active for a few weeks
- Retry onboarding
Once WhatsApp trusts your number, Coexistence setup becomes smooth and error-free ✅