How to Solve Duplicate Replies in a WhatsApp Bot

If you’ve encountered the issue of your WhatsApp bot sending duplicate replies, you’re not alone. This is a common problem, but fortunately, it’s relatively easy to fix. In this blog, we’ll explain why this issue occurs and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve it.

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### **Why Does the Duplicate Reply Issue Happen?**

The primary cause of duplicate replies is the setup of multiple Facebook apps with the same webhook URL. Here’s a breakdown of how this happens:

- Many users who want to set up WhatsApp bots for multiple phone numbers create separate Facebook apps for each number. 

- They then configure the same webhook URL across these multiple apps.

- When a message is sent to the bot, the webhook is triggered multiple times—once for each app with the same URL. This results in the bot sending duplicate replies to the user.

In short, the duplicate reply issue arises because the same webhook is being activated multiple times due to the presence of multiple Facebook apps.

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### **How to Avoid Duplicate Replies**

The best way to avoid this issue is to **stop creating multiple Facebook apps** for each WhatsApp Business number. Instead, you can add multiple phone numbers to a **single Facebook app**. Here’s why this works:

- WhatsApp Business API allows you to manage multiple phone numbers under one Facebook app. This eliminates the need to create separate apps for each number.

- By using a single app, you only need to configure one webhook URL, which prevents the duplicate reply problem.

**Steps to Add Multiple Numbers to a Single Facebook App:**

1. Go to your Facebook Developer account and access the app you’ve created for WhatsApp.

2. Navigate to the WhatsApp settings and add additional phone numbers under the same app.

3. Ensure that only one webhook URL is configured for this app.

By following this approach, you can avoid the duplicate reply issue altogether.

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### **What If You’re Already Facing the Issue?**

If you’re already experiencing duplicate replies, don’t worry—there’s a solution. Here’s what you need to do:

1. **Check for Multiple Facebook Apps:**

   - Log in to your Facebook Developer account and review all the apps you’ve created.

   - Identify if you’ve set up multiple apps with the same webhook URL.

2. **Remove Redundant Webhooks:**

   - Decide which app you want to use as your primary app for the WhatsApp bot.

   - Remove the webhook URL from all other apps to ensure only one app triggers the bot.

3. **Test Your Bot:**

   - After making these changes, test your bot by sending a message to ensure it no longer sends duplicate replies.

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### **What If the Issue Persists?**

If you’ve followed the steps above and are still facing the duplicate reply issue, it’s possible that there’s a misconfiguration or another underlying problem. In such cases, we recommend reaching out to the **Botsailor support team** or the support desk of your WhatsApp API provider. They can help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue effectively.

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### **Conclusion**

Duplicate replies from a WhatsApp bot can be frustrating, but the solution is straightforward. By avoiding the creation of multiple Facebook apps and ensuring that only one webhook URL is active, you can eliminate this problem. If you’ve already set up multiple apps, simply remove the redundant webhooks and stick to a single app for managing your WhatsApp Business numbers.

By following these steps, you can ensure a seamless experience for your users and maintain the efficiency of your WhatsApp bot. If you need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact your API provider’s support team for expert guidance.