WAHA Connection (Legacy)
WAHA connects a WhatsApp number by scanning a QR code, the same way linking WhatsApp Web to a browser does. This page is for the projects already running on it.
The WAHA tile is hidden on new projects, switching a project's provider to WAHA is refused, and saving a WAHA configuration on a new project is refused too. There is no workaround.
New connections go through Meta with Coexistence — your number stays live on the phone and the bot answers alongside your team. See Connecting With Coexistence.
If your project is already on WAHA, nothing has been taken away. It keeps sending and receiving, the QR page stays where it is, and you can move to Meta whenever it suits you — there's no deadline.
Before You Start
To reconnect an existing WAHA session you'll need:
- The WhatsApp app installed on a smartphone
- The bot's number active and signed in on that phone
- Internet access on both the phone and the computer you're using for the dashboard
While the bot is running on WAHA, avoid signing the same number into WhatsApp Web in another browser. It can knock the session out and stop the bot.
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1 — Open the WAHA Connection
From your Remo dashboard, go to Configuration → Advanced in your project's left sidebar. The WAHA connection card shows whether the bot is currently connected. The card is only present on projects already using WAHA — on a project set to the Meta Cloud API you won't be able to switch back.
Step 2 — Start the Session
Press Connect or Start Session. A QR code appears on screen and stays valid for about 60 seconds. If it expires before you get to it, generate a new one.
Step 3 — Scan With WhatsApp
On the smartphone:
- Open WhatsApp
- Tap the three dots menu (Android) or open Settings (iPhone)
- Select Linked Devices
- Tap Link a Device
- Point the camera at the QR code on your screen
Step 4 — Confirm the Connection
Once the scan succeeds, the dashboard status changes to Connected. The bot is live and starts answering incoming messages.
Keeping the Session Active
A WAHA connection depends on the phone staying online. To avoid interruptions:
- Keep the phone plugged in and on Wi-Fi — a dead battery is a dead bot
- Don't uninstall WhatsApp or sign out on that device
- Don't stack linked devices on the same number — WhatsApp allows up to 4 in total, and crowding them makes drops more likely
What Happens If the Session Disconnects
If the session expires — the phone loses internet for a long stretch, for example — the bot stops answering and the dashboard shows Disconnected. Clients keep messaging into silence, which is why this is worth catching quickly.
To reconnect:
- Go to Configuration → Advanced in your dashboard
- On the WAHA connection card, press Reconnect
- Scan the new QR code with the phone
Turn on the WhatsApp session unhealthy alert so you hear about a dropped session the moment it happens rather than the next morning. See High-Priority Alerts.
Moving to Coexistence
There's no forced cutover, but there are reasons to move when you have a quiet afternoon:
- Nothing to re-scan — the Meta connection doesn't expire, so a flat phone battery stops mattering
- The phone stays usable — Coexistence is built around your team continuing to reply from the WhatsApp Business app
- Your history comes with you — connecting through Meta imports up to 180 days of past conversations
What changes: Meta bills you per conversation, messages sent more than 24 hours after a client's last reply need an approved template, and the typing indicator and human-like reply delay are not available on Meta. How the WhatsApp Connection Works lays out the full comparison.
When you're ready, talk to your Remo account manager and read Connecting With Coexistence first.
Best Practices
| Recommendation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Use a dedicated phone for the bot's number | Prevents accidental sign-outs and conflicts |
| Stay on a stable Wi-Fi network | Fewer session drops |
| Avoid using the number by hand while the bot runs | Stops the bot and a person talking over each other |
| Keep the phone charged and plugged in | The session dies with the battery |