Skip to content
CognizyCognizyHelp
Sign in

How to connect WhatsApp by code, without a QR

Connect the company's WhatsApp using just your phone: the app generates a code and you type it into WhatsApp itself, no need for another screen to scan a QR code.

2 min readBasicUpdated on November 12, 2026

Video lesson coming soon. For now, follow the steps below.

On this page

If you only have your phone, you can't scan a QR code that's on the screen of that same device. That's why the app connects WhatsApp a different way: it generates a code, and you type that code into WhatsApp, in the linked devices area.

Before you start

  • Have the company's WhatsApp number on your phone.
  • Only the owner and admins can connect numbers.
  • WhatsApp allows up to four linked devices per number.
  • It takes about 3 minutes. The code may change while you wait: always use the one currently on the screen.

Step by step

  1. Step 1:

    In your profile, open the accounts section and, under WhatsApp, tap Connect WhatsApp by number.

  2. Step 2:

    Enter the company's WhatsApp Number, with area code, and tap Generate code. The number in this example is fictional.

  3. Step 3:

    The app shows Your code. Tap Copy and then Open WhatsApp. The code in this example is made up.

  4. Step 4:

    In WhatsApp, tap Settings (on Android, the three dots) and then Linked Devices. Tap Link a Device, choose Link with phone number instead and enter the code.

  5. Step 5:

    Go back to Cognizy. The screen shows WhatsApp connected. Tap Done.

How to know it worked

The number appears in the WhatsApp section as Connected, and customer messages start arriving in the Conversations tab.

If something goes wrong

WhatsApp says the code is invalid.

The code changes from time to time. Go back to Cognizy and use the one on the screen, or tap Generate another code.

I can't find Link with phone number instead.

The option appears after tapping Link a Device, at the bottom of the camera screen. If it doesn't appear, update WhatsApp.

It shows that the plan has reached its number limit.

Your plan has a maximum number of WhatsApps. Remove a number you're not using or talk to us to increase the limit.

The number connected and then disconnected.

WhatsApp disconnects linked devices when the phone goes many days without opening the app. Open WhatsApp every once in a while and reconnect if needed.

Next step

Reply to a customer through the Conversations tab.

Sign in with your Cognizy account to save your progress.

Sign in

Was this article helpful?