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Organizations with multiple WhatsApp numbers can control which instance sends each message using the from parameter.

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How It Works

When your organization has multiple connected WhatsApp instances:
  1. Without from: API selects the most recently connected instance
  2. With from: API uses the specified instance

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Specifying the Sender

The from parameter accepts two formats:
FormatExampleDescription
Phone number5585912345678WhatsApp number without + or @
Instance IDuuid-xxx-xxxInternal instance identifier
Phone numbers are the recommended format as they’re easier to remember and manage.

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Example Usage

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Send from a specific number

curl -X POST https://api.livchat.ai/v1/messages/send \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer lc_live_xxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "phone": "5511999999999",
    "body": "Message from Sales department",
    "from": "5585912345678"
  }'

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Use different numbers for different purposes

// Sales messages from sales number
await api.send({
  phone: customerPhone,
  body: "Your order has been confirmed!",
  from: SALES_WHATSAPP_NUMBER,
});

// Support messages from support number
await api.send({
  phone: customerPhone,
  body: "Your ticket #123 has been resolved",
  from: SUPPORT_WHATSAPP_NUMBER,
});

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Default Behavior

If you don’t specify from:
  • Single instance: The only available instance is used
  • Multiple instances: The most recently connected instance is automatically selected
For organizations with multiple numbers, we recommend always specifying from to ensure predictable behavior.

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Error Handling

If you specify an invalid from value: 
{
  "error": {
    "code": 403,
    "message": "Instance not found or not authorized: 5500000000000",
    "hint": "Use a valid phone number or instance ID from your organization"
  }
}

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Best Practices

Use environment variables

Store your WhatsApp numbers in environment variables for easy management across environments.

Map numbers to departments

Create a mapping of department names to phone numbers for cleaner code.

Always specify from

For multi-instance orgs, always specify from to avoid unexpected behavior.

Monitor instance status

Ensure your instances are connected before sending messages.