How to warm up your phone number for WhatsApp

WhatsApp's security protocols strictly monitor new numbers, frequently resulting in blocks. To avoid these blocks, it's crucial to 'warm up' new numbers, mimicking human behavior to establish the legitimacy of a new WhatsApp number.

• The longer a number has been registered with WhatsApp, the more resistant it is to blocking.
• The more messages the WhatsApp number has sent and received, the more resistant it is to blocking. 

A number just registered in WhatsApp is immediately "under suspicion". Therefore when connecting a WhatsApp number to Echobox:

• Do not scan the QR code immediately after registering a new number on WhatsApp. Wait at least a few hours after the WhatsApp number has been registered. The QR code will be displayed after selecting "I understand" when adding a new WhatsApp Channel.

The Concept of 'Number Warming'

'Number warming' in WhatsApp context means gradually increasing a new number's activity. This process is vital to avoid triggering WhatsApp's anti-spam algorithms, which are quick to block numbers showing sudden, high-volume activity.

Warming involves typical user behaviors: messaging, calling, status updates, and group participation. It's a strategy to show the number is used naturally, not for spam or automation. Proper warming builds a usage history, reducing the risk of blocks when starting API integration.

Strategies for Warming Up New Numbers

Successfully "warming up" a new number on WhatsApp involves a step-by-step approach over a period of about 3-10 days. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Remember: after connecting a new number and WhatsApp Channel to Echobox, do not immediately use Echobox to send messages to the WhatsApp Channel.

Day 0:
Do not connect your newly registered WhatsApp number to Echobox immediately. Please wait a few hours.

Finish setting up your profile on your phone (set details, profile picture etc).

Make sure you have at least 20-50 contacts in your address book, if not, start any contacts in your address book (as an empty address book is a risk factor).

Handwrite from your phone to 1-2 contacts you know that are in your phonebook. Make sure you get a response from these contacts.

Day 1:
Through your phone, start a few private chats (3-6 conversations) with your existing contacts.

Write a few varied messages to these private chats. Make sure you're sure to get a reply from these contacts in those chats. Send and receive a few images or videos to mimic typical user behavior.

Day 2:
Increase the number of conversations to 10-15 chats.

Continue to write a few varied messages, and respond to others.

Day 3: Gradually Increasing Activity
Begin to initiate more conversations with your contacts, gradually increasing the number of conversations each day.

Start participating in group conversations, if possible.

Send a wider variety of messages, including links and longer texts.

• Try to keep the number of sent messages approximately equal to the number of incoming messages to avoid spam-like behaviour.

Day 4+: Diversifying Activities
Start using WhatsApp status updates, use channels, create a channel.

Continue to increase the volume of messages send from the WhatsApp number and diversify the types of messages sent.

• A good rule of thumb for days 4 to 10 days is not to send more than 2 messages per minute, more than 6 hours a day or more than 3 days in a row. This avoids displaying spam-like behaviour on the WhatsApp number. 

General Tips:

1. Ensure your activities mimic real human behavior – random rather than systematic.
2. Add a number to your contacts before you message them.
3. Avoid sending too many messages in a short time or engaging in one-way communication (ensure you receive a reply from the contact).
4. Interactions should be spread throughout the day, not clustered at specific times or too frequently.
5. Gradually build up the number of messages and types of interactions (text, image, link, videos etc).