WhatsApp Setup
Step-by-step guide to connect your Claw Buff agent to WhatsApp
WhatsApp integration is in Beta. It uses the WhatsApp Web protocol (Baileys) which is not an official API. See Important Notes below.
Connect your Claw Buff AI agent to WhatsApp so users can chat with it like a regular contact. Setup takes about 5 minutes.
Prerequisites
- A WhatsApp account (a dedicated phone number is strongly recommended)
- A smartphone for QR code scanning
- A deployed Claw Buff agent (Getting Started)
Step 1: Connect to Claw Buff
- Open the Claw Buff Console → Channels page
- Find the WhatsApp card and click Connect
- Click Generate QR Code
A QR code will appear on screen.
Step 2: Scan the QR Code
Open WhatsApp on your phone
Open the ⋮ menu (top right) or Settings, then tap Linked Devices → Link a Device. On some versions, tap the QR icon next to your profile name instead.
Scan the QR code
Point your phone camera at the QR code shown in the Console. The connection will be established automatically.
Verify connection
The Console will show the status as Connected. You'll see the linked phone number.
Step 3: Start Chatting
Send a message to the linked WhatsApp number from any other WhatsApp account. Your AI agent will respond!
We recommend using a dedicated phone number for your WhatsApp bot. This keeps your personal WhatsApp separate and avoids any risk to your personal account.
Features
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Direct Messages | Yes |
| Group Chats | Yes |
| Rich Formatting | Yes |
| File Attachments | Yes |
| Voice Messages | Planned |
Important Notes
Beta Status
WhatsApp integration uses the Baileys library (WhatsApp Web protocol). This is not an official WhatsApp API, which means:
- Account risk — WhatsApp may restrict accounts that use unofficial APIs. Use a dedicated number, not your personal one
- Session expiry — The linked session expires after about 30 days of inactivity. You'll need to re-scan the QR code
- No SLA — Protocol changes by WhatsApp may temporarily break the connection
Dedicated Number Recommendation
We strongly recommend getting a separate phone number for your WhatsApp bot. Options:
- A prepaid SIM card
- Google Voice number
- A VoIP number that can receive SMS for verification
Cloud API Alternative
For production use cases requiring an official API, WhatsApp Cloud API support is planned for a future release. This will use Meta's official Business API with proper SLAs and no account risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. QR code expired?
QR codes expire after about 60 seconds. Click Generate QR Code again in the Console to get a fresh one.
2. Connection drops frequently?
- Make sure the phone stays connected to the internet
- Check that WhatsApp is updated to the latest version
- The session may need to be re-linked if the phone was offline for too long
3. Messages not being delivered?
- Check that the recipient's number is in E.164 format (e.g., +15551234567)
- Group messages require the bot number to be a member of the group
- Check the Console Channels page for error details