> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stchat.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to connect WhatsApp with a QR code

> Scan the code with the company phone, or send a connection link to whoever has the device.

## What it is for

Link the company's WhatsApp number to STChat. After that, chats arrive in Chats and the team replies through the system.

The connection works like WhatsApp Web: you scan a QR code with the company phone.

## Who can use it

The organization's Owner and Admins connect it. Other roles see the notice "Only the Owner or a manager can connect. Let whoever manages the account know."

The agency is the one that assigns the number (the "inbox") to the organization. If you see "No free number to connect", ask the agency to free one up.

## Where to click

* In **Chats**, if the organization has no instance linked by the agency yet, the screen shows "No channel enabled yet" and **does not show a QR**. The QR only appears after the agency links a slot to the organization.
* In **Settings › Channels**, the **Connect channel** button opens the channel choice: "Choose the channel. WhatsApp asks for the number; the others open the channel panel, where the agency connects the account."
* In **Settings › Channels**, on the WhatsApp row, use **Connect** (or **Reconnect**, if it was connected before).

## Step by step

**1. Open WhatsApp on the company phone**

Tap ⋮ › **Linked devices** › **Link a device**.

**2. Point the camera at the code**

The code changes every 20 seconds. If it expires, "The code expired" appears: tap **Generate new code**. You can also use **Refresh code**.

**3. Wait for it to finish**

"Connecting…" and "Code read" appear. Keep WhatsApp open on the phone until it finishes.

### The phone isn't with you?

**1. Ask for the link**

Click **Phone not here? Send it the link**.

**2. Enter the company phone's WhatsApp**

Fill in the **Business phone WhatsApp** field and click **Send link**.

**3. Whoever has the phone opens the link**

The person taps Connect and that's it. They don't need to sign in to the system or have a password.

The link is sent through the agency's WhatsApp, is valid for 15 minutes, and works only once. It opens a public page (`/conectar/...`) with the QR and the steps. On the phone, the page also offers a code to type in, under **Link with phone number instead**.

## What happens next

"Done! WhatsApp connected" appears. New chats arrive in Chats, and the last 7 days are brought in. In the first-time flow, the **Continue the First week** button takes you to the next step.

On the screen of the person who sent the link, "Link sent to..." appears and the screen updates by itself when the other person connects. If needed, use **Resend** or **Show the code**. The send time and expiration time appear in your browser's time zone.

## Common errors

* "This link has already been used": it works only once. Ask for a new one.
* "This link has expired": the connection link is valid for 15 minutes. Ask the agency for a new one.
* "This link is already open in another browser": for security, it only works in the browser that opened it first.
* "Link not found": check the address or ask for another one.
* "Couldn't generate the code": it may be the internet or WhatsApp being down. Use **Try again**.
* "This number is already connected.": you don't need to scan the QR again.
* "The agency doesn't have a WhatsApp to send the link": use **Copy link** and send it yourself.
* "The link was created, but WhatsApp didn't send it": same thing, copy it and send it.
* "This inbox is on the Official API: reconnect through Meta in Settings › Channels": the QR doesn't work for it.

## Next step

* [Official WhatsApp](https://docs.stchat.app/en/subcontas/whatsapp-oficial.md)
* [The Channels screen](https://docs.stchat.app/en/subcontas/tela-de-canais.md)
* [Number warm-up](https://docs.stchat.app/en/subcontas/aquecimento-do-numero.md)
* [Disconnected channel](https://docs.stchat.app/en/subcontas/canal-desconectado.md)


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