WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms in the world, with over two billion active users. If you want to bring an AI assistant directly into your WhatsApp conversations, Moltbot makes it straightforward. In this guide, we will walk through every step of connecting Moltbot to WhatsApp using the Molty by Finna managed platform.
What You Will Need
Before getting started, make sure you have the following:
- A Molty by Finna account (sign up at finna.cloud)
- A phone with WhatsApp installed and an active account
- A stable internet connection on both your phone and computer
That is it. Unlike many chatbot platforms that require a WhatsApp Business API account, complex webhook setups, or third-party middleware, Moltbot connects directly to WhatsApp using the same protocol your phone uses. This means you can be up and running in minutes rather than days.
Step 1: Create a Gateway on Molty
A gateway is your dedicated AI assistant instance. Each gateway runs in its own isolated virtual machine, so your data stays private and separate from other users.
- Log in to your Molty by Finna dashboard at finna.cloud.
- Click "Create Gateway" from the dashboard.
- Give your gateway a descriptive name, something like "Customer Support Bot" or "Personal Assistant."
- Select a region closest to your location for the best latency. Options include regions in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
- Click "Create" and wait about 60 seconds for your gateway to provision.
Once the gateway status shows as "Running," you are ready to connect WhatsApp.
Step 2: Enable the WhatsApp Channel
With your gateway up, you need to enable WhatsApp as a communication channel.
- Navigate to your gateway in the Molty dashboard.
- Open the "Channels" tab.
- Find WhatsApp in the list of available channels.
- Toggle the switch to enable it.
The system will begin initializing the WhatsApp connection. This usually takes just a few seconds.
Step 3: Scan the QR Code
After enabling WhatsApp, the dashboard will display a QR code. This is the same type of QR code you would scan when setting up WhatsApp Web.
- Open WhatsApp on your phone.
- Go to Settings (or tap the three-dot menu on Android).
- Select "Linked Devices."
- Tap "Link a Device."
- Point your phone's camera at the QR code displayed in the Molty dashboard.
The connection should establish within a few seconds. You will see the channel status change to "Connected" in the dashboard.
What If the QR Code Expires?
QR codes are time-limited for security reasons. If the code expires before you scan it, simply click the refresh button next to the QR display to generate a new one. Make sure your phone has a working internet connection, as the linking process requires both devices to be online.
Step 4: Understanding Pairing Mode
By default, Moltbot uses "pairing" mode for WhatsApp. This is an important security feature that controls who can interact with your AI assistant.
How Pairing Works
- When someone messages your WhatsApp number for the first time, Moltbot will not respond automatically.
- You need to approve (or "pair") each contact before the AI assistant will engage with them.
- You can manage paired contacts from the Molty dashboard under the Sessions tab.
Why Pairing Matters
Since Moltbot connects to your personal or business WhatsApp number, pairing prevents the AI from responding to every random message. This is especially important if you receive spam or messages from unknown contacts.
Changing the Default Behavior
If you want Moltbot to respond to everyone automatically (for example, if you are running a dedicated support number), you can change the DM policy in your gateway configuration. Open the Skills tab in the dashboard and adjust the WhatsApp channel settings to use "open" mode instead of "pairing."
Step 5: Sending Your First Message
With everything connected and pairing configured, it is time to test your setup.
- From a paired device (or any device if you switched to open mode), send a message to your WhatsApp number.
- Moltbot will process the message and respond through WhatsApp.
- The response typically arrives within a few seconds, depending on the complexity of the query.
Try something simple first, like "Hello, what can you do?" to verify the connection is working properly.
Configuring Your Assistant's Behavior
Now that the basic connection is working, you can customize how your assistant behaves.
Setting a System Prompt
The system prompt defines your assistant's personality, knowledge domain, and response style. Navigate to the Skills tab in your gateway settings to configure:
- The assistant's name and persona
- What topics it should focus on
- How formal or casual its responses should be
- Any specific instructions or constraints
Choosing an AI Model
Moltbot supports multiple AI providers and models. Through the Molty dashboard, you can select from models by Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (GPT), and others. Each model has different strengths - Claude tends to be thorough and nuanced, while GPT models can be faster for simpler queries.
Tool Access
Moltbot can do more than just chat. Depending on your configuration, your WhatsApp assistant can:
- Search the web for current information
- Read and summarize web pages
- Work with files and documents
- Perform calculations
- And more, depending on enabled tools
Troubleshooting Common Issues
"WhatsApp Disconnected" Status
This is the most common issue. WhatsApp sessions can expire if:
- Your phone loses internet connectivity for an extended period
- You manually unlink the device from WhatsApp settings
- WhatsApp updates require re-authentication
Fix: Go to the Channels tab and re-scan the QR code to re-establish the connection.
Messages Not Being Delivered
If the assistant is not responding to messages:
- Check that the channel status shows "Connected" in the dashboard.
- Verify the sender is a paired contact (if using pairing mode).
- Check the gateway status - if it shows "Stopped" or "Error," the VM may need to be restarted.
- Look at the gateway logs for any error messages.
"Provider Not Available" Error
This typically means the WhatsApp plugin is not properly enabled. Go to your gateway's configuration and ensure the WhatsApp plugin is toggled on. If it was recently enabled, a gateway restart may be needed.
Slow Responses
Response time depends on several factors:
- The AI model you have selected (larger models take longer)
- The complexity of the question
- Whether tools like web search are being invoked
- Your gateway's region relative to your location
If responses consistently take more than 10 seconds, consider switching to a faster model or selecting a gateway region closer to your users.
QR Code Not Appearing
If the QR code does not display at all:
- Make sure your gateway is in the "Running" state
- Try refreshing the page
- Check your browser's console for any JavaScript errors
- Clear your browser cache and try again
Best Practices for WhatsApp Assistants
Keep Responses Concise
WhatsApp is a messaging platform, not an email client. Configure your assistant to give shorter, more direct responses. Long walls of text do not read well on mobile screens.
Set Expectations
Use your WhatsApp profile or status message to let people know they are chatting with an AI assistant. Transparency builds trust.
Monitor Regularly
Check your Molty dashboard periodically to review conversations, ensure the connection is stable, and adjust your assistant's configuration based on the types of questions people are asking.
Use Rich Messages Wisely
WhatsApp supports formatting like bold, italic, and lists. Moltbot will automatically format responses appropriately for WhatsApp, but keep in mind that overly formatted messages can feel robotic.
Next Steps
Once your WhatsApp assistant is running smoothly, consider:
- Adding more channels - Connect Telegram, Discord, or Slack to reach users on their preferred platforms.
- Refining the system prompt - Iterate on your assistant's personality and instructions based on real conversations.
- Enabling additional tools - Give your assistant web browsing, file handling, or other capabilities.
- Setting up for a team - If multiple people need to manage the assistant, explore Molty's team plans.
WhatsApp is just the beginning. With Moltbot and Molty by Finna, you can deploy AI assistants across all major messaging platforms from a single dashboard, each running in their own secure, isolated environment.