Which migration path applies to you?
When you start the connection in 2Chat (Channels → WhatsApp → New WhatsApp Business Connection), the wizard asks "How do you use WhatsApp for your business today?". Your answer — together with where the number is registered today — decides how it is migrated. The three cases below cover every situation.
Case A — Migrate but keep the WhatsApp Business App (Coexistence): choose "I use WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business on my phone". The wizard shows a comparison of your options with Coexistence recommended — pick it to keep the app and your chat history. Nothing is deleted.
Case B — Move the number fully to the API: if you no longer need the app on that number, first delete the WhatsApp account on the mobile app (you lose the chat history — back it up first; after deletion it can take a few minutes for the number to become available). Then, in the wizard, choose "Starting fresh with a new number" — the number now has no WhatsApp installed, which is exactly what this path expects.
Case C — Bring a number that's already on another provider (BSP): choose "I already have the API with another provider". The wizard shows one gate before anything else: "Before you continue: release the number at your current provider". Meta won't link a number that's still on another provider's API — if you try anyway you'll see "registered to an existing WhatsApp account", and after a few attempts
Meta locks the number for 24 hours. Ask your current provider to release (unlink) the number, check in Meta Business Manager that it no longer shows as connected with them, then confirm "I've released the number at my previous provider" and continue. During Meta's Embedded Signup, select your existing WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) and the already-verified number — Meta carries over the display name, quality rating, messaging limits and approved templates.


