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

# Custom WhatsApp Number

> Give your worker a dedicated WhatsApp number for direct, personal communication

## Overview

By default, all your workers share a single **Spinnable WhatsApp number**, and you switch between them using commands like `/firstname` or `/WorkerID`.

With a **custom WhatsApp number**, you can give a worker **their own dedicated phone number**. Anyone who messages that number talks directly to the worker — no commands needed, no switching. It's like giving your worker their own phone.

<Info>
  This is optional. The default Spinnable WhatsApp number works great for most setups. A custom number is ideal when you want a worker to have a distinct WhatsApp presence — for example, a customer support worker with their own number that clients can save.
</Info>

<Warning>
  **This guide is for setting up a dedicated custom WhatsApp number for a worker — it is not the fix for temporary issues with the shared Spinnable WhatsApp number.**

  If you're here because messages on the Spinnable-managed number are temporarily unreliable, please wait a few hours and try again. Do not connect your own number unless you intentionally want the worker to have a dedicated WhatsApp identity. See [Troubleshooting: shared number temporarily unreliable](/troubleshooting#whatsapp-shared-number-temporarily-unreliable) for more.
</Warning>

***

## Before You Start

<Warning>
  **Use a secondary phone number — never your primary one.**

  When you link a WhatsApp number to a worker, the worker **takes over that number completely**:

  * The worker's **name and profile picture** will replace yours on that WhatsApp account
  * **All incoming messages** to that number will be handled by the worker, not you
  * The number becomes the worker's identity on WhatsApp

  This cannot be your personal WhatsApp — you would lose access to your own conversations.
</Warning>

***

## Step 1: Get a Phone Number

You need a phone number that:

* ✅ Can receive **SMS text messages** or **phone calls** (for WhatsApp verification)
* ✅ Is **not already registered** as your primary WhatsApp account
* ✅ Works with WhatsApp (most numbers do)

<Card title="Getting a WhatsApp Number" icon="sim-card" href="/guides/getting-whatsapp-number">
  Not sure where to get a number? We've put together a detailed guide covering the best prepaid SIM cards, eSIMs, and dedicated services — plus what to avoid and how to set up your number for success.
</Card>

***

## Step 2: Set Up WhatsApp on the Number

Before linking to your worker, you need to **register this number on WhatsApp** on your phone.

<Tip>
  **Already using WhatsApp on your main number?** You don't need to uninstall it. Download **WhatsApp Business** — it's a separate app that lets you log into a second WhatsApp account on the same phone.

  If you're already using both WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, you'll need a second device or to temporarily free up one of the apps.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Our recommendation:** Before you start sending a high volume of messages through your worker, consider exchanging a few messages on the number first. This helps WhatsApp recognize it as a legitimate account. See [Getting a WhatsApp Number](/guides/getting-whatsapp-number#setting-up-your-number-for-success) for more details.
</Tip>

Once you have WhatsApp running on the new number, you're ready to link it.

***

## Step 3: Link the Number to Your Worker

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to your worker's Details">
    Open the worker you want to connect, and go to the **Details** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Link a custom WhatsApp number'">
    You'll see the option to link a WhatsApp number. Click it to start the process.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the safety acknowledgment">
    You'll be reminded that the worker will take over this WhatsApp account. **Confirm that this is not your personal WhatsApp account** to proceed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Scan the QR code">
    A QR code will appear on screen. On your phone:

    1. Open **WhatsApp** on the new number
    2. Go to **Settings → Linked Devices** (iPhone) or **Menu ⋮ → Linked Devices** (Android)
    3. Tap **Link a Device**
    4. Point your phone's camera at the QR code
  </Step>

  <Step title="Done!">
    Once scanned, the worker is connected. You'll see a confirmation with the linked phone number.

    Within a few seconds, the worker will automatically update the WhatsApp account's **display name** and **profile picture** to match their own.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## What Happens After Linking

Once linked, the custom number works as the worker's **own WhatsApp identity**:

* **Direct messaging** — Anyone who messages the number talks directly to this worker. No `/select` commands needed.
* **Profile takeover** — The WhatsApp account's name and profile picture are updated to match the worker.
* **Priority contact** — The custom number appears as the worker's primary WhatsApp contact in the Spinnable interface, taking priority over the shared Spinnable number.

***

## Keeping the Connection Active

<Warning>
  **Keep WhatsApp open on your phone to maintain the connection.**

  Your worker's WhatsApp access is linked to the WhatsApp app on your device. If the app stays disconnected for too long, Meta may automatically unlink it — which means your worker would lose WhatsApp access until you reconnect.
</Warning>

To avoid interruptions:

* **Using WhatsApp Business for this?** Keep the app installed — you can disable notifications so it doesn't bother you, but don't uninstall it.
* **Using a secondary phone?** Keep it powered on and connected to the internet.

<Tip>
  If the connection does get dropped, don't worry — you can always re-link the number by scanning the QR code again from **Worker → Details**. But keeping the app active avoids the hassle.
</Tip>

***

## Unlinking a Number

If you need to disconnect the WhatsApp number from your worker:

1. Go to **Worker → Details**
2. Click **Unlink** next to the connected WhatsApp number
3. Confirm the disconnection

The worker will no longer have access to that WhatsApp account, and the number will be free to use elsewhere.

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Communication Channels" icon="messages" href="/concepts/communication-channels">
    Learn about all the ways to communicate with your workers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Security Best Practices" icon="shield" href="/guides/security-best-practices">
    Best practices for managing worker communications
  </Card>
</CardGroup>