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

# Introduction

> Send order confirmations, verification codes, reminders, and support on WhatsApp from the dashboard or API, with delivery tracking and replies.

<Tip>
  WhatsApp is the **storefront in your customer's pocket**: alerts, codes, and conversations in the app they already use all day.
</Tip>

## What is WhatsApp on Notifique?

It's how you **talk to customers on WhatsApp** without building everything from scratch. You can:

* **Notify** about orders, payments, deliveries, or appointments
* **Send verification codes** (OTP) and one-time passwords
* **Support** with text, images, audio, video, and buttons
* **Know** if a message was delivered, read, or if the customer replied
* **Automate** sends from the dashboard or your system's API

Think of a digital service counter: the customer is already in the app; you just need to show up with the right message.

## Official or unofficial?

When you connect a number, you pick one of two modes. You **cannot switch later** on the same instance: if you change your mind, create a new one.

### Official connection (recommended for production)

This is the path **approved by Meta**. Best when your product is live or you need **reliability, templates, and scale** under WhatsApp Business rules.

* Confirmations, OTP, and campaigns with approved templates
* Buttons, lists, and carousels within Meta's rules
* The same foundation large companies use on WhatsApp

### Unofficial connection

It works like **linking WhatsApp on your computer**: quick to try, more freedom on some features, but **outside Meta's official contract**.

Good if you're **getting started**, building an **MVP**, **developing** the integration, or testing flows before going official.

<Warning>
  The **unofficial** connection may carry **higher risk** of number blocks or instability. Use it for tests and validation. For real customers in production, prefer **official**.
</Warning>

## Comparison: what each mode can do

| Feature                                      | Official | Unofficial |
| -------------------------------------------- | :------: | :--------: |
| Plain text messages                          |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Image messages                               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Audio messages                               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Video messages                               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Document messages (PDF, etc.)                |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Location messages                            |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Contact card (vCard)                         |    ⚠️    |      ✅     |
| Button messages                              |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| List messages                                |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| Carousel (multiple cards)                    |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| Meta-approved templates                      |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| Notifique ready-made templates               |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Message someone who never chatted with you\* |   ✅\*\*  |      ✅     |
| Schedule and cancel sends                    |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Edit a sent message                          |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Delete for everyone                          |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Show "typing..." or "recording audio"        |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Send to groups                               |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Manage groups (members, invites)             |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Receive customer replies                     |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Delivery and read receipts                   |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Download media the customer sent             |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Multiple numbers sharing the same templates  |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Sandbox testing (no real send)               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| New number warm-up                           |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Sync WhatsApp address book                   |     ❌    |      ✅     |

\* On **official**, outside a recent chat you usually need an **approved template**. On **unofficial**, free-form messages work without that window.

\*\* With a Meta-approved template.

† Shared templates: on **official**, Meta catalog on the same Business account; on **unofficial**, **workspace** templates for any unofficial number in it.

⚠️ = works, but with a specific format or rule. Technical details: [Connection modes](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/modos-de-conexao).

## How to connect your number

Three steps:

1. **Create an instance** (your WhatsApp connection) in the dashboard or via API
2. **Choose** official or unofficial
3. **Finish setup** until status is **active** and ready to send

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How to set up the official connection">
    1) In the dashboard, create an instance and choose **Official**
    2) Sign in with your Meta account and link the number
    3) Add a **payment method** in WhatsApp Manager (Meta bills conversations)
    4) Sync or create **approved templates** for first contact

    Step-by-step guide: [Quick Start](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/quick-start) (**Official connection** tab)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How to set up the unofficial connection">
    1. Create an instance (default is unofficial)
    2. Open the **code on your phone** shown in the dashboard or API
    3. Scan it in the WhatsApp app on the number that will send messages
    4. When connected, status becomes **active**

    Step-by-step guide: [Quick Start](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/quick-start) (**Unofficial connection** tab)

    <Note>
      After the first pairing, the instance stays **tied to that number**. To change SIMs, create a new instance. Read [Anti-ban policy](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/politica-anti-banimento).
    </Note>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## After you connect

* **Send** from the dashboard or API to one or many numbers
* **Track** delivery, read status, or errors
* **Receive replies** in your system with [webhooks](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/eventos-do-webhooks)
* **Scale** with multiple numbers using [Sending Pools](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/sending-pools)

<Note>
  **New** number or SIM? Do not launch campaigns on day one. See [New numbers and SIMs](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/politica-anti-banimento#new-numbers-and-sims).
</Note>

## Next steps

* [Quick Start](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/quick-start): connect and send (official or unofficial)
* [Official Meta templates](/en/template-api/como-funciona/templates-oficiais-meta): create, sync, and approve on Meta
* [Connection modes](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/modos-de-conexao): full comparison and billing
* [API Key scopes](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/escopos-api-key): permissions to integrate