🔌 Managing Your Connection
After you connect your WhatsApp number, the gateway keeps the connection running in the background.
This page explains the different connection statuses you may see and what you should do for each status.
Connect a WhatsApp Number
To start a new connection:
- Open Connect via QR Code.
- Enter a name for the connection.
- Click Generate QR Code.
- Scan the QR code using WhatsApp on your phone.
- Wait for the status to change to Connected.
After you generate the QR code, it will appear with the Awaiting scan status.
Scan the QR code with WhatsApp on your phone before it expires. The QR code automatically refreshes after about 30 seconds.
6.1 Statuses You'll See
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Initial | The connection record was created but the gateway hasn't generated a QR yet. | Wait a couple of seconds; refresh if it sticks. |
| Generating | Gateway is talking to WhatsApp to produce a QR. | Just wait. |
| QR Generated | QR is shown on the page, waiting for a scan. | Scan with your phone within 60 seconds. |
| Connecting | You scanned, WhatsApp is finalising the link. | Wait a few seconds. |
| Connected | Live. You can send and receive messages. | Start chatting. |
| Inactive | The session was closed (you logged out from the phone, or you clicked Disconnect). | Click Reconnect to start a fresh QR. |
| Failed | The gateway couldn't complete the link — usually a network or auth issue. | Try Reconnect. If it keeps failing, see Troubleshooting. |
| Expired | The QR was not scanned in time. | Click Refresh for a new QR. |
6.2 Reconnecting
If the WhatsApp connection stops working, the status changes to Inactive.
This can happen if the phone stays offline for too long or WhatsApp disconnects the linked device.
Click Reconnect to generate a new QR code. Scan the new QR code with WhatsApp on your phone to connect the number again.
Your existing chat history is not deleted. All messages already stored in the platform remain available after you reconnect.
📜 YOUR CHAT HISTORY IS SAFE
Reconnecting only creates a new WhatsApp connection. It does not delete the chat history already saved in the platform.
6.3 Disconnecting
Once linked, the connection detail page shows the Connected status along with Disconnect and Delete buttons.
The Disconnect button cleanly logs the device out (the same as removing it from WhatsApp's Linked Devices list on your phone). Your chat history stays in your platform, but no new messages will be sent or received until you reconnect.
Use this when:
- You want to temporarily stop the gateway from receiving new messages
- You're handing the workspace over to a different person whose phone will scan a new QR
- You're switching to a different WhatsApp number entirely
6.4 Deleting the Connection
Delete a Connection
Delete is permanent and cannot be undone.
When you delete a WhatsApp connection:
- The connection is permanently removed.
- All chats and messages belonging to that connection are deleted.
- The WhatsApp session files are removed from the gateway.
- The deleted chat history cannot be recovered.
You can create a new connection later by scanning a QR code again, but the new connection will start with an empty chat history.
⚠️ DELETE REMOVES ALL CHAT HISTORY
Use the correct option for your situation:
- Disconnect — Stops the WhatsApp connection but keeps the connection record, chats, and messages. You can reconnect the same number later.
- Delete — Permanently removes the connection, chats, and messages. This action cannot be undone.
If you only want to stop using the WhatsApp number temporarily, use Disconnect instead of Delete.
Export or back up any conversations you need before deleting the connection.
6.5 Switching to a Different Number
Each workspace links one WhatsApp number at a time. To switch:
- Click Disconnect on the current connection
- Click Delete to remove it — note this permanently erases that number's chat history (see Deleting the Connection)
- Create a New Connection and scan the QR with the new phone
🔁 SCANNING WITH A NUMBER ALREADY LINKED ELSEWHERE
If you scan the QR code using a WhatsApp number that is already connected to another WhatsApp Web session or another QR Login installation, WhatsApp may disconnect the existing linked device and connect the new one instead.
The previous connection will then show as Disconnected.
If you are moving a WhatsApp number from one connection to another, do it during a planned maintenance period so users are not affected unexpectedly.
6.6 Linked Devices on Your Phone
You can also revoke the connection from the phone side at any time:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone
- Go to Settings → Linked Devices
- Tap the entry for this gateway
- Tap Log Out
The connection in WhatsMarkSaaS will move to Disconnected status the next time the gateway syncs (usually within seconds).
For status flows that don't recover on their own, see the Troubleshooting page.