> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.release0.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to integrate Release0 with WhatsApp (BETA)

> Learn how to integrate and test Release0 agents in WhatsApp, including limitations and preview options. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting up your agent in WhatsApp, including configuration options and testing methods.

## Preview

You can preview and test your bot by clicking the **Preview** button in the editor and changing the runtime to “WhatsApp”.

### WhatsApp Preview Dropdown

* Select "WhatsApp" from the runtime options to simulate the bot's behavior in the WhatsApp environment.

***

## Limitations

When building your bot for WhatsApp, consider the following restrictions:

* **Unsupported Media**:
  * GIF and SVG image files are not supported.
  * Only **.mp4** videos are supported. Refer to the [Supported Media Types](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/reference/media#supported-media-types) for more details.

* **Button Limitations**:
  * Button content cannot exceed **20 characters**. Content exceeding this limit will be truncated.
  * WhatsApp displays only **3 buttons** at a time. To include more buttons, the system adds "..." messages to show additional options.

* **Skipped elements**:
  Certain elements are incompatible with WhatsApp and will be ignored:
  * Payment input element
  * Chatwoot element
  * Text input element configured as a **password field**
  * Script or Set Variable element with `Execute on client` option enabled
  * Google Analytics element
  * Meta Pixel element
  * Cal.com element

***

## Contact Information

To assign contact details such as name and phone number to variables, use a **Set Variable** element with dedicated system values. These variables can automatically store:

* Contact name
* Phone number

***

## Deploy on Your Phone Number

To integrate your agent with WhatsApp:

1. Go to the **Integrations** tab of your agent's **flow editor**.
2. Click the **WhatsApp** button.
3. Follow the provided instructions to complete the integration.

***

## Configuration

### Session Expiration Timeout

* Define a timeout value (from **0 to 48 hours**) for the session.
* If a user remains inactive beyond this timeout, their session expires, and a new conversation starts upon their next message.
* Default: **4 hours**.

### Start Bot Condition

* Configure a condition to trigger the bot when a user starts a conversation.
* If the condition is unmet, the bot will not be activated.

***

## Collect Position

You can request the user’s location with a basic **Text input element**. The collected position will be saved as a variable in the format:

```
<LAT>, <LONG>
```

### Example Flow

```plaintext theme={null}
User > Bot > Position Collection
```

***

## Validation and Testing

Before deployment, ensure:

1. All limitations are addressed (e.g., button length, media types).
2. The **Set Variable** element is properly configured for contact details.
3. The bot operates seamlessly in WhatsApp's runtime environment.

> **Note**: Always test your bot thoroughly in the WhatsApp Preview mode to verify compatibility and performance.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How many WhatsApp numbers can I use?">
    You can integrate as many numbers as you'd like. Keep in mind that Release0 does not provide those numbers. We work as a "Bring your own Meta application" and we give you clear instructions on [how to set up your Meta app](/integrations/whatsapp/create-meta-app).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I link multiple Agents to the same WhatsApp number?">
    Yes, you can. You will have to add a "Start bot condition" to each of your bots to make sure that the right bot is triggered when a user starts a conversation.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does the integration with WhatsApp requires any paid API?">
    You integrate your agents with your own WhatsApp Business Platform which is the official service from Meta. At the moment, the first 1,000 Service conversations each month are free. For more information, refer to <a href="https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/get-started#pricing---payment-methods" target="_blank">their documentation</a>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I receive the preview initial message but then the bot doesn't respond">
    This can be due to a mismatch between the WhatsApp number displayed in your WhatsApp application profile settings and the number you have typed in your Agent configuration.

    For example, in Argentina they have 2 numbers, 1 with 8 digits, the other with 9 digits. In Release0, you need to type the number that is displayed in your WhatsApp application profile settings to make sure the bot works properly.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>