Some Contacts Can't Read Your WhatsApp Messages

If your WhatsApp Business number operates in coexistence mode (connected to both the WhatsApp Business app on your phone and a Cloud API platform), messages sent through the API or WhatsApp Web may not be readable by contacts using outdated WhatsApp versions.

This is a Meta platform limitation, not a bug in your setup.

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Contacts running older or unsupported versions of WhatsApp cannot receive messages sent through the Cloud API in coexistence mode:

• WhatsApp versions that haven't been updated in several months
• WhatsApp on unsupported phone operating systems (very old Android or iOS)
• Some regional or modified WhatsApp clients

Contacts on current, standard versions of WhatsApp receive messages normally.

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For Affected Contacts

Ask them to update their WhatsApp app to the latest version from their app store. Once updated, messages sent through the API will be readable.

Suggested message to send via another channel (SMS, email):

If Many Contacts Are Affected

If a significant portion of your audience uses older WhatsApp versions, consider:

• Sending critical messages directly from the WhatsApp Business app (not through the API) as a fallback
• Using SMS as a backup channel for time-sensitive communications
• Gradually migrating contacts by encouraging app updates

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In coexistence mode, messages sent through the Cloud API use a different encryption and delivery path than messages sent directly from the phone. Older WhatsApp clients don't support this path, so they either show "message unavailable" or don't display the message at all.

Meta documents this in their coexistence mode documentation.

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If you're unsure whether coexistence mode is the right setup for your audience:

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