🔌 Managing Your Connection
Once your WhatsApp number is linked, the connection runs in the background on the gateway service. This page explains every status you might see, and what to do in each case.
You start a connection from the Connect via QR Code page: enter an instance name, click Generate QR Code, then scan the code with your phone.
Once generated, the QR appears with an Awaiting scan badge. Scan it before it auto-refreshes (~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 your connection drops — the phone was offline for too long, or WhatsApp invalidated the session — the status becomes Inactive. Click Reconnect to get a fresh QR. Your chat history is kept; you just need to re-link the device.
📜 HISTORY IS PRESERVED
Reconnecting doesn't wipe your chats. The WhatsApp session is renewed, but every message previously stored in your platform stays exactly where it was.
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
Deleting is permanent and irreversible. It removes the connection record and every chat and message that belonged to it, and it purges the WhatsApp session files from the gateway. Nothing is kept for audit — once deleted, the conversation history is gone. You can create a new connection afterwards by scanning a QR again, but it starts empty.
⚠️ DELETE ERASES ALL CHAT HISTORY
- Disconnect keeps the connection record and all its chats, and lets you reconnect with the same number later.
- Delete permanently removes the connection and cascades to delete all of its chats and messages. This cannot be undone. If you only want to stop messaging temporarily, use Disconnect, not Delete.
Export or back up any conversations you need to keep before deleting a 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 with a number that's already linked to another instance of WhatsApp Web (or another QR Login installation), WhatsApp will unlink the existing device and link this one instead. The previous gateway session will report "disconnected" on its next event. Plan such migrations during a maintenance window.
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.