How to Connect WhatsApp to Bitrix24: Step-by-Step Guide
Install the TimelinesAI app, connect your WhatsApp number, map Bitrix24 records, and test the integration with real demo-portal screenshots.
This guide shows the shortest path from a Bitrix24 portal to a working WhatsApp connection with TimelinesAI. The connector puts WhatsApp conversations on CRM records and lets your team reply from Bitrix24. For the product overview, see the Bitrix24 WhatsApp integration page. [1]
What you need before you start
- Bitrix24 administrator access. Bitrix24 requires an administrator to install Market applications. [6]
- A TimelinesAI workspace and at least one WhatsApp number you can connect.
- The phone with that WhatsApp account available to scan a QR code.
- A few minutes for installation and a quick test; timing depends on your account configuration.
How to connect WhatsApp to Bitrix24
1. Install the TimelinesAI app from Bitrix24 Market
Open the TimelinesAI app listing in Bitrix24 Market and click Install. The Market listing labels the app as free to install with in-app purchases. [3]
2. Open the two-step connection wizard
After installation, open TimelinesAI from the Bitrix24 Applications menu. New users start by creating a TimelinesAI workspace; existing users can go straight to the connection step.
3. Connect your WhatsApp number to TimelinesAI
Open TimelinesAI in a new tab, sign in, and connect WhatsApp by scanning the QR code from the WhatsApp Linked Devices screen. The same number stays available on the phone while TimelinesAI syncs its conversations.
4. Authorize the Bitrix24 connection
Return to the wizard and click Connect. If you are already signed in to TimelinesAI, the connector can complete the authorization without asking you to copy API keys.
5. Confirm that the connector is active
A successful setup shows TimelinesAI WhatsApp is active and gives you direct links to Contacts, Deals, and Leads.
6. Check CRM mapping and Open Channels
Open the connector settings to choose the Open Channel, decide whether unknown senders create contacts or deals, and set the default country code. Keep the mapping aligned with the pipeline your team actually uses.
Test the connection before rolling it out
- Send a WhatsApp message from a test number that is not already saved in Bitrix24.
- Open the matching contact, deal, or lead and confirm that the conversation appears on the WhatsApp tab or CRM activity timeline.
- Reply from Bitrix24 and verify that the message arrives from the expected WhatsApp number.
- Check assignment, ownership, and pipeline mapping before enabling the connector for the whole team.
What is available after setup
The Bitrix24 integration is broader than a simple message log. Some surfaces are enabled by default; others require an administrator to configure them.
Available now
- New inbound and outbound 1:1 messages can be written to a configurable CRM Activity on the matched Contact, Lead, or Company and linked open Deals. The default is one activity per chat per day; admins can switch to one activity per message.
- For an unknown phone number, admins can choose to create a Contact and Deal, create a Lead, create only a Contact, or skip automatic CRM creation. Country, pipeline, and stage settings control the result.
- Inbound files up to 20 MB can be attached to CRM timeline comments. A failed or oversized upload is skipped rather than silently turning into a working attachment.
- Bitrix24 can expose a WhatsApp tab and Send WhatsApp toolbar action on Contact, Lead, and Deal records. Additional outbound surfaces include a Bizproc robot, Message Service, and a selected-record broadcast composer.
- Open Channels is optional. It works only after an administrator selects an Open Line and enables the connector in WhatsApp settings; CRM Activity logging remains the default sync path.
Important limits and conditions
- The integration processes new webhook events after connection; it does not backfill the complete pre-install WhatsApp history into Bitrix24 CRM Activities.
- Phone matching depends on a usable phone number. When automatic creation is disabled, unmatched senders are skipped instead of creating a record.
- Broadcasts are sent from the Bitrix24 list action to confirmed records with phone numbers and are capped at 200 recipients per batch.
- Chat, send, automation, Message Service, broadcast, attachment, and Open Channels surfaces depend on the installation finishing their corresponding Bitrix24 bindings and permissions.
Common setup problems
The Install button is unavailable
Confirm that you are logged in as a Bitrix24 administrator and that your Bitrix24 plan allows Market applications. Plan features can change, so check the current Bitrix24 plan comparison. [7]
The connector does not show an active WhatsApp number
Open TimelinesAI, confirm that the number is online, then reconnect it from Linked Devices if the session expired.
An incoming message does not match the right record
Check the full phone number and country code on the CRM record. Duplicate or incomplete numbers are the usual cause of incorrect matching.
Next step
Once the test passes, document which WhatsApp number belongs to each team member and which pipeline receives new conversations. Then compare the Bitrix24 integration plans before expanding access.