---
title: WhatsApp setup
description: Get Niyra working on WhatsApp in 90 seconds. QR code, dedicated handle, voice notes, media.
url: /docs/whatsapp-setup
lastUpdated: 2026-06-10
---

# WhatsApp setup


## Connect WhatsApp

1. **Dashboard → Channels → WhatsApp → Connect.**
2. Scan the QR code with your phone (WhatsApp → Linked devices → Link device).
3. Niyra appears as a contact you can message. You'll see her handle (something like `niyra-<yourname>@ai.niyra.ai`).
4. Send "hi" — first reply usually under 2 seconds.

## What works on WhatsApp

- **Text messages.** Same as web. Markdown collapses cleanly.
- **Voice notes.** Send a voice note, Niyra transcribes and replies.
- **Forwarded emails.** Forward any email to your Niyra handle — she summarizes + drafts a reply.
- **Photos.** Snap a receipt, a policy doc, an RC card. OCR + saved as a structured record.
- **PDFs and docs.** Forward to Niyra. She extracts and summarizes.
- **Locations.** Share location, Niyra knows you're there for context.

## Groups

You **can** add Niyra to a group, but she only replies when @mentioned. Won't snoop, won't auto-respond. Best for personal groups (family, close friends) where everyone wants a shared AI helper.

> Note: WhatsApp Business API limits group functionality. DMs work cleanly; group support is intentionally minimal.

## Voice notes

Voice notes are processed via Deepgram (primary) + Sarvam (fallback for Indian English / Hindi). Accuracy is high for clear speech; noisy environments may lose some words.

Niyra usually replies in **text** to a voice note (faster to read). If you want her to reply with voice, say "voice reply" or set the preference in Settings.

## Privacy on WhatsApp

- Messages between you and Niyra are end-to-end encrypted by WhatsApp (per their protocol).
- Niyra's server decrypts to process, then forgets the raw message after the conversation context is updated. Long-term storage is in our backend (encrypted at rest), not in WhatsApp.
- Group messages where you're tagged: same handling.

## Disconnect

Settings → Channels → WhatsApp → Disconnect. Your handle is freed and messages stop arriving.

## Troubleshooting

- **"Message not delivered"** — Check WhatsApp → Linked devices. If the link was removed, reconnect.
- **Niyra replies slowly** — First reply after a quiet period (>5min on Pro) may take ~1s for machine wake. Subsequent replies are sub-second.
- **Voice transcription wrong** — Try a quieter environment, or send text. Hinglish is supported; rapid code-switching may trip the transcriber.