In detail
WhatsApp switches off a few features when you connect, because the platform can't support them. Disappearing messages are turned off in all one-to-one chats. View once photos and videos are disabled in one-to-one chats, and so is live location. Broadcast lists become read-only and you can't create new ones; campaigns go out from the platform with approved templates instead, and they can reach opted-in customers who haven't saved your number.
Linked devices are logged out once during setup. You can re-link up to four afterwards. WhatsApp Web, the Mac app and most companions work, but WhatsApp for Windows and Wear OS watches aren't supported with coexistence. Teams that use the Windows desktop app should move to WhatsApp Web or their platform's inbox.
Everything else stays the same in the app: group chats, voice and video calls, your catalog and orders, Status, Channels, greeting and away messages, quick replies, labels, in-app marketing messages, your contacts and your business profile. You keep managing your business name, address and website from the app.
These app tools don't carry over to the platform side. Groups, calls, catalog, orders and Status aren't supported there, and the app's quick replies and labels don't appear there. Platforms like InfiQ have their own welcome, away and canned messages and tags. Template messages work the other way round: they can only be sent from the platform, never from the app.
Using groups, calls and Status in the app stays free. If you need platform-managed groups or WhatsApp calling run from the platform, those need a platform-only number.
Key points
- Disappearing messages off; view once and live location disabled (one-to-one chats).
- Broadcast lists read-only.
- Linked devices re-linked, up to four; not Windows or Wear OS.
- Groups, calls, catalog, Status, quick replies, labels unchanged in the app.
- Templates only from the platform.
Updated
