Hi, I'm trying to connect Botpress Desk to our existing WhatsApp number (already connected to Botpress Studio via the Cloud API), but I'm running into an issue. Setup: - We have a 'New Agent' bot in Studio, with the WhatsApp integration (number +90 543 629 42 63) connected via OAuth and working fine. - When we use the 'Escalate To Desk' card, we get an error. The full error text from Studio's Issues panel is: "This bot is not connected to Botpress Desk. Enable it on the Deflecting Bots page in Botpress Desk, then republish." - In Botpress Desk (desk.botpress.cloud), we tried connecting via Settings > Channels > WhatsApp > Connect. - In Meta's embedded signup pop-up, we tried "Connect with your existing WhatsApp Business app" and entered +90 543 629 42 63, but got "Number not found - not associated with a WhatsApp Business app" (the number isn't on the consumer app, it's already registered via the Cloud API). - "Start with a WhatsApp API account" only offers two options: the same "existing app" flow (same error) or "add a new number" (haven't used this, don't want to risk our real number). We repeated both attempts, same result each time. - Our business verification (SonarHouse) was completed on August 29, 2026. We waited a couple of days in case Advanced Access hadn't propagated yet, tried again — same result. - In one earlier attempt, the number that ended up connected to Desk by mistake was +1 555-399-6811 — looks like a Meta test number, not our real one. - Checked Meta Business Manager: the "Botpress" partner (Code: 416465769304058) already has "Full access" to our WABA (SonarHouse Electronic Music School, code: 158252431546592), so permissions don't seem to be the issue. Question: How can we connect an existing WhatsApp number — already linked to Studio via the Cloud API — to Botpress Desk, without risking our real number? Is there an alternative, like manually entering a WABA ID / access token?

The key issue appears to be the Desk connection, not Meta permissions: Botpress requires the bot to be added under Desk → Deflecting Bots before “Escalate to Desk” can work. Since the WhatsApp number is already working through Cloud API, I’d avoid using “add a new number” and risking the production number. Botpress does support manual WhatsApp configuration using the WABA ID, Phone Number ID, Access Token, Client Secret, and webhook, so I can help verify whether that route can be used with Desk and get the existing number connected safely. @modern-pilot-23284

Hi, thank you! Yes, we'd like to connect it via manual configuration without risking our existing number. What we currently have: - WABA ID (from Meta Business Manager) - Phone Number ID (from Meta WhatsApp Manager) But we're not sure where to get the Access Token and Client Secret, or which screen in Botpress Desk has these manual configuration fields — on Desk's Settings > Channels page we only see a "Connect" button (embedded signup), we haven't seen a manual entry option there. Could you walk us through it step by step? Thank you!

The manual configuration is done through the WhatsApp integration in Botpress Studio, rather than through Desk’s WhatsApp “Connect” button. I can walk you through the Meta and Botpress screens step by step and make sure we connect the existing number without unnecessarily touching or risking the production number. DM @modern-pilot-23284

Hi, thanks for the info! We checked the WhatsApp integration in Studio — it's already in Manual Configuration mode and all fields (Access Token, App ID, Client Secret, Phone Number ID, WABA ID) are filled in. We re-saved it and republished, but nothing changed on the Desk side. We've gone through every tab under Botpress Desk's Settings menu (General, Members, Teams, Channels, Usage, Billing, SLAs, Fields, Tags, Topics, Integrations, Tools, Playbooks, Automation, Providers) but couldn't find a page called "Deflecting Bots." Where exactly can we find that page? Could you share a screenshot or the direct URL?