# WhatsApp Business API Limitations

Chatalog is WhatsApp’s official WhatsApp Business API solution provider. However, due to WhatsApp policies, there are some limitations to using WhatsApp Business API.

#### Cross-App Limitation

Phone numbers using WhatsApp Business API can NOT be used in WhatsApp and WhatsApp business mobile apps.

#### 24-hour Limitation

To protect consumers from receiving spam messages and unwanted advertisements, WhatsApp has implemented a 24-hour limitation policy, which means: 

* Businesses can only respond to customers after a customer initiates a message. 
* Businesses are only given a 24-hour window to respond to customers. 

 If Businesses want to initiate a conversation with a customer or message a customer outside of the 24-hour window, you need to use WhatsApp Message Templates, which can be submitted for WhatsApp approval via Chatalog. 

#### Features Limitation

Some WhatsApp Personal or Business version features are **NOT** supported using WhatsApp Business API, including:

* WhatsApp group feature 
* WhatsApp voice or video calls
* Forwarding messages, audio, files, and contacts 
* Delete messages
* Setting WhatsApp statuses such as "busy," "at work," or "in a meeting"
* Reply to messages in a thread

<figure><img src="https://605198658-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FP7nf2G1iCRba8EP7DawZ%2Fuploads%2F8eoO8CQZMMeuiXs43zqi%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3f4504f6-c03b-439f-83c6-4b9d1cd2575f" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>Emoji reactions and Reply to messages in a thread are NOT supported using WhatsApp Business API</p></figcaption></figure>

#### Chat History&#x20;

After setting up WhatsApp Business API, your previous WhatsApp conversation records **will not** be migrated to your WhatsApp Business API account. Therefore, backing up your WhatsApp conversation records in advance is necessary.

#### Further Information

If you want to know more about related WhatsApp policies, you may refer to:

* [WhatsApp Business Policy](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-policy/?lang=en)
* [WhatsApp Commerce Policy](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/commerce-policy/)