Shopify Sidekick Writes Better WhatsApp Messages
Messages drafted with Shopify Sidekick now use WhatsApp buttons by default, skip emojis unless you ask for them, and follow WhatsApp's formatting rules.
Full release notes →New features, improvements and bug fixes for WhatFlow's WhatsApp apps for Shopify: the official API app (Business API) with its Team Inbox, and the unofficial API app (Chat Automation).
Covering December 18, 2024 to November 5, 2026. Last updated .
Messages drafted with Shopify Sidekick now use WhatsApp buttons by default, skip emojis unless you ask for them, and follow WhatsApp's formatting rules.
Full release notes →Send a keyword to your WhatsApp Business number and get your Shopify store's sales summary back in the chat, without opening the admin.
Full release notes →WhatFlow's Home page and first-time install now load noticeably faster, and returning merchants are no longer slowed down by background sign-in checks.
Full release notes →See when a teammate is drafting a reply, claim unassigned chats and jump to the first unread message.
Full release notes →Find conversations by customer or message text, search inside a chat and move around the Inbox with keyboard shortcuts.
Full release notes →Canned responses fill in customer and agent details, while saved drafts and a character counter make longer replies easier to finish.
Full release notes →Open a message status for a plain-language explanation and see practical next steps when WhatsApp rejects a message.
Full release notes →See why a WhatsApp template was rejected, start a revised submission or copy an approved template to make a new version.
Full release notes →Browse shared photos in a keyboard-accessible viewer and select several media files to download.
Full release notes →The Inbox is easier to read and operate with a keyboard or phone, with clearer connection feedback and fewer interrupting dialogs.
Full release notes →Manage webhook destinations from the Inbox, choose event types and inspect delivery attempts when an integration needs attention.
Full release notes →The WhatsApp Team Inbox now shows which chats need a reply, counts down each 24-hour customer service window, and lets agents undo a send.
Full release notes →Send Team Inbox events, such as new WhatsApp messages, to your own tools and automations using signed webhooks.
Full release notes →Voice messages show accurate playback progress, support seeking and offer retry or download when a recording cannot play.
Full release notes →If Meta reports that your connected WhatsApp number no longer exists, WhatFlow disconnects it automatically and shows you how to reconnect.
Full release notes →Fixed an issue where returning merchants sometimes saw slow page loads while their Shopify session was renewed in the background.
Full release notes →WhatsApp review requests can now wait a set number of hours, and can fall back to the fulfillment date when a delivery date isn't available.
Full release notes →Importing conversation history from the WhatsApp Business app handles message dates more reliably.
Full release notes →WhatsApp messages sent and failed now appear in Shopify Analytics, and WhatFlow's Home shows your WhatsApp numbers in Shopify's metrics bar.
Full release notes →When your store connects a different WhatsApp Business account, WhatFlow now moves your message templates over so your automations keep working.
Full release notes →A round of security improvements adds stronger checks on incoming WhatsApp events, tighter protection for merchant admin pages, and verification at signup.
Full release notes →Ask Shopify Sidekick to create and edit WhatsApp templates, change WhatFlow settings and get support, right in your Shopify admin.
Full release notes →WhatsApp signup now saves your connection reliably and lets you restart a setup that failed. Meta payment method reminders are clearer.
Full release notes →WhatFlow now emails store owners at important moments, such as after install, before a trial ends and when billing changes.
Full release notes →Connect MCP-compatible AI assistants, including ChatGPT, to your store's WhatsApp to read conversations and send messages. Connect with a short code.
Full release notes →Connecting WhatsApp now uses Meta's latest Embedded Signup flow and supports Messaging accounts, including numbers already used in the WhatsApp Business app.
Full release notes →Start Shopify Flow workflows when a customer orders from your WhatsApp catalog, picks an option from a list message, or shares a catalog product.
Full release notes →Connected AI assistants can prepare WhatsApp replies for your team to review, edit, send or discard in the Inbox.
Full release notes →Connected AI tools can help organize conversations, find products and prepare broadcast drafts with the permissions you grant.
Full release notes →The message editor now offers starting points for every message type, auto-replies come with ready-made answers and a live preview, and connecting is simpler.
Full release notes →WhatFlow admin pages now open with their data already loaded and no layout shift, in line with Shopify's Built for Shopify design requirements.
Full release notes →Large WhatsApp broadcasts now go out at a steady pace. Each message gets its own send slot, and stalled campaigns are completed or closed automatically.
Full release notes →Shipping Journey now places each message in the right stage, turns stages on and off consistently, and its dashboard summary matches each stage's setup.
Full release notes →New agents now see clear password setup instructions and enter the Inbox automatically after replacing their initial password.
Full release notes →Both WhatFlow apps now use Shopify's latest Polaris design system, with built-in help tooltips that explain settings where you use them.
Full release notes →Ask customers for a product review on WhatsApp at the right moment: after the order, after payment, at fulfillment, or once delivery is confirmed.
Full release notes →Incoming WhatsApp messages and delivery updates are now processed as they arrive, so auto-replies, tags and Inbox updates happen sooner.
Full release notes →When you edit an order in Shopify, automatic and manual WhatsApp messages now show the updated total. Cancellation messages show the quantities ordered.
Full release notes →Select multiple orders or checkouts in the Shopify admin and send WhatsApp messages to all of them in one go, without accidental duplicates.
Full release notes →Marketing templates now go through Meta's Marketing Messages API, and a new Shopify Flow trigger runs when a customer replies to an order message.
Full release notes →Manage one WhatsApp blocklist across automations and the Team Inbox. Customers who reply STOP are opted out, and START opts them back in.
Full release notes →Import customer contact details from Shopify, follow sync progress and refresh existing contacts without creating duplicate phone records.
Full release notes →Sync your Shopify catalog to WhatsApp, send products from the Team Inbox, and reply to WhatsApp carts automatically with a Shopify checkout link.
Full release notes →The unofficial API app (WhatFlow Chat Automation) has a redesigned Home with quick on/off toggles for every feature and a step-by-step setup guide.
Full release notes →If your linked WhatsApp session drops, automations now pause instead of failing. Orders whose message may not have arrived are tagged in Shopify.
Full release notes →Start a Shopify Flow workflow when a customer sends a photo, video or file on WhatsApp. Flow actions now show clear errors and retry safely.
Full release notes →Sending WhatsApp messages from Shopify order pages now shows a preview first, bulk sends show a warning, and broadcasts are paced per store.
Full release notes →The billing page now shows and applies trial extensions, and analytics report message usage for your current billing period.
Full release notes →If a customer hasn't confirmed their order on WhatsApp, WhatFlow can send a follow-up reminder automatically.
Full release notes →The unofficial API app (WhatFlow Chat Automation) now runs on a new WhatsApp engine and faster infrastructure. The interface stays the same, and your settings carried over.
Full release notes →Customers can sign up again for back-in-stock WhatsApp alerts after a restock, and alerts track variant changes reliably.
Full release notes →Choose how your tools trigger an Inbox workflow and manage its access from the workflow settings.
Full release notes →Order tags are now standardized and kept under Shopify's 40-character limit. Orders are tagged when a customer must opt in before they can receive messages.
Full release notes →The Team Inbox loads faster, scrolls smoothly through long conversations, and catches up automatically after a dropped connection.
Full release notes →If you uninstall and reinstall WhatFlow, your WhatsApp connection and settings are restored instead of starting from scratch.
Full release notes →Send a WhatsApp message straight from a Shopify order or abandoned checkout, with a template preview, or message many abandoned checkouts in bulk.
Full release notes →Create separate agent accounts, claim conversations and manage assignments from the store owner account.
Full release notes →Leave internal notes in a conversation, quote the message they refer to and keep note drafts separate from customer replies.
Full release notes →Build Inbox workflows with messages, decisions and waits, then trigger them from your own systems.
Full release notes →Work as a team in the WhatsApp Inbox: assign conversations, leave private notes, reuse canned responses, react to messages and store custom customer details.
Full release notes →Choose when cash on delivery is offered at checkout, link it to shipping rates, and run order automations only for the payment methods you choose.
Full release notes →Manage the suggested questions and customer-facing slash commands shown for your WhatsApp number from the Inbox.
Full release notes →Add, change or remove a WhatsApp reaction on a message and see customer reactions alongside the original message.
Full release notes →Organize conversations with shared color labels and combine label filters with search and conversation tabs.
Full release notes →Save common answers in a shared response library and insert them into a draft with a slash shortcut.
Full release notes →Save structured customer details as text, numbers, dates, checkboxes or dropdown choices inside the Inbox.
Full release notes →Build a broadcast audience from a CSV, Excel file or existing conversations, personalize template fields and schedule the send.
Full release notes →Track broadcast delivery for each recipient, export results and manage sends without rebuilding the broadcast.
Full release notes →Send WhatsApp broadcasts from the Team Inbox. Templates sync live from Meta, so variables always match and broadcasts don't fail on mismatched parameters.
Full release notes →Images and files in WhatsApp messages are now served from Shopify's CDN, and templates can include STOP opt-out buttons.
Full release notes →Create and manage WhatsApp Flows, the interactive forms customers fill in inside WhatsApp, and collect their submissions securely.
Full release notes →Stickers display more reliably, and voice recording and media validation better match supported WhatsApp formats.
Full release notes →A real-time shared WhatsApp inbox for Shopify stores, with templates, media, voice notes, quick replies, a mobile layout and no per-seat fees.
Full release notes →The unofficial API app's Home now breaks down WhatsApp message usage by automation, with a date range picker to compare periods.
Full release notes →WhatFlow Business API was rebuilt on a faster global platform, with complete handling of Shopify events, subscription syncing and privacy requests.
Full release notes →When Meta reports that a WhatsApp message couldn't be delivered, WhatFlow adds a note to the Shopify order or draft order so your team can follow up.
Full release notes →Add the WhatsApp number your team uses, and WhatFlow sends store notifications there instead of the general shop phone number.
Full release notes →Stores that already manage their own WhatsApp Business account can now connect it manually, instead of using Embedded Signup.
Full release notes →A new analytics dashboard shows WhatsApp messages, conversations, Meta pricing, template performance and revenue recovered from abandoned carts.
Full release notes →Abandoned checkout follow-ups now stop automatically when the customer completes an order, so nobody gets a reminder for a cart they already bought.
Full release notes →The storefront WhatsApp button can now let shoppers order through WhatsApp, and you can upload your own button icon.
Full release notes →Marketing templates can be sent through Meta's Marketing Messages API, and fall back to the standard Cloud API automatically when needed.
Full release notes →Send WhatsApp confirmations, notifications, fulfillment updates and draft order reminders in bulk from Shopify admin lists, with French translations.
Full release notes →A ready-made Shopify Flow template sends Judge.me review requests on WhatsApp, so you can collect reviews without building the workflow yourself.
Full release notes →The template editor checks templates against Meta's rules before you submit, supports coupon code buttons, and locks templates while Meta reviews them.
Full release notes →Store owners now get a WhatsApp welcome message with setup help after installing WhatFlow, and a follow-up if they uninstall.
Full release notes →Send a WhatsApp broadcast to customers you select in Shopify, or to a whole customer segment, and track or cancel it from a broadcast queue.
Full release notes →The Connections page now shows your WhatsApp number's health and any messaging limits Meta has applied.
Full release notes →Start Shopify Flow workflows when customers tap a WhatsApp button or send a message, and send text, buttons, links, images, documents, video or voice notes from Flow.
Full release notes →Keep customers updated on WhatsApp as their order ships, with tracking messages for each shipment status.
Full release notes →New Shopify admin blocks and actions let you send WhatsApp confirmations, notifications and recovery messages from orders, draft orders and checkouts.
Full release notes →Recover abandoned checkouts and unpaid draft orders with scheduled WhatsApp reminders that check the cart is still open before sending.
Full release notes →Send approved WhatsApp templates from any Shopify Flow workflow, with variables filled from your store data and a preview before you save.
Full release notes →Send a WhatsApp message when an order is paid, filter order messages by fulfillment status, and tag orders whose customer isn't on WhatsApp.
Full release notes →See how many WhatsApp messages WhatFlow sent for you over any date range, broken down by automation.
Full release notes →Messages can now include interactive WhatsApp buttons, and you can suggest and vote on features from inside the app.
Full release notes →Connect your WhatsApp Business account with Meta's Embedded Signup, register your phone number, and manage its display name from WhatFlow.
Full release notes →Shoppers can sign up on a sold-out product page to get a WhatsApp message when it's back in stock.
Full release notes →The unofficial API app (WhatFlow Chat Automation) has a new Home page with a dashboard, your WhatsApp connection status, and all feature settings in one place.
Full release notes →The first WhatFlow Business API features: connect WhatsApp through Meta, design templates in a visual editor, message customers about orders and auto-reply to them.
Full release notes →Order confirmation replies are now handled according to how your WhatsApp is connected, with tutorial links to help you set it up.
Full release notes →Order confirmations can now include each item's SKU and quantity, and you choose whether order messages include product images.
Full release notes →A new Shopify admin action sends a WhatsApp fulfillment message for an order with one click.
Full release notes →Auto-replies now respond to more kinds of incoming WhatsApp messages, and you can send messages for Shopify draft orders.
Full release notes →Order confirmations are checked before sending and fall back to a poll automatically when a list can't be used, with consistent order tags.
Full release notes →Fulfillment and cancellation messages are now sent in the background, so they go out faster and a cancellation is only handled once.
Full release notes →Add a WhatsApp button to product pages with a message you write, and use the refreshed storefront chat button with prefilled messages.
Full release notes →Pick between two WhatsApp connection engines, and switch between them from the connection page if one works better for your store.
Full release notes →Draft order follow-ups handle product image formats more reliably, and typing indicators stop more consistently.
Full release notes →Start WhatsApp checkout recovery and draft order follow-ups directly from actions in the Shopify admin.
Full release notes →Send WhatsApp order confirmations and notifications directly from a Shopify order action.
Full release notes →Order confirmations handle poll failures more reliably and validate poll options before sending.
Full release notes →Customize the storefront chat greeting and get more consistent logo and visibility settings.
Full release notes →Style the WhatsApp direct order button and customize the title and message shoppers see.
Full release notes →The back-in-stock form gives shoppers clearer feedback, and the Flow guide explains list-message actions.
Full release notes →Shoppers can start an order conversation on WhatsApp directly from their cart.
Full release notes →The dashboard shows message usage fetched for your store.
Full release notes →WhatsApp automations retrieve settings more consistently, and bulk sending improves phone-number parsing and scheduling.
Full release notes →Configure automatic WhatsApp replies and process order confirmation list responses more reliably.
Full release notes →Restock alerts handle product variants more accurately, and shoppers get a more flexible subscription widget.
Full release notes →Offer order confirmation choices in a WhatsApp list, with configurable options and optional images.
Full release notes →Abandoned checkout and draft order recovery settings are disabled when a store uninstalls the app.
Full release notes →Manage abandoned checkouts manually and use checkout events to start recovery messages with richer checkout details.
Full release notes →Follow up on Shopify draft orders with delayed WhatsApp messages, personalized details and optional product images.
Full release notes →Abandoned checkout date filtering includes the selected date range more consistently.
Full release notes →Add a storefront widget that lets shoppers request a WhatsApp notification when a product is back in stock.
Full release notes →Manage the agents shown in your storefront WhatsApp chat experience from the app.
Full release notes →The dashboard adds order statistics, while confirmation replies update tags and fill in message placeholders more consistently.
Full release notes →Fulfillment messages use the items actually fulfilled and support tags for scheduled sends.
Full release notes →Choose where the storefront WhatsApp button appears and include the current page address in the conversation.
Full release notes →Text and image messages send more consistently, and abandoned checkout messages have cleaner formatting.
Full release notes →Add an order product image to confirmation and notification messages.
Full release notes →Find abandoned checkouts and send personalized WhatsApp recovery messages after a configurable delay.
Full release notes →Upload a CSV to send personalized text or image messages, with configurable spacing and a message queue.
Full release notes →WhatsApp actions check connection status and validate phone numbers more consistently before sending.
Full release notes →Order confirmation polls can display messages across multiple lines for easier reading.
Full release notes →WhatsApp sending uses country information when interpreting customer phone numbers and checks subscription access more consistently.
Full release notes →An in-app guide helps merchants set up WhatsApp automations in Shopify Flow and understand sending precautions.
Full release notes →Customers can start a WhatsApp conversation from a storefront chat button that you configure in WhatFlow.
Full release notes →Send order notifications without a confirmation poll, and notify multiple team members on WhatsApp when a new order arrives.
Full release notes →Confirmation poll replies are normalized more consistently so customer choices match the configured responses.
Full release notes →Send customizable WhatsApp messages when orders are fulfilled or cancelled, with optional delays.
Full release notes →Set a delay before sending an order confirmation and track scheduled confirmations with order tags.
Full release notes →Order confirmation settings get a dedicated editor with clearer validation, loading feedback and protection for unsaved changes.
Full release notes →Confirmation processing includes better product details and skips orders that have already been fulfilled.
Full release notes →Order processing checks timing and handles missing details more carefully before sending a confirmation.
Full release notes →Order confirmation messages can include more detailed customer names and address information.
Full release notes →Confirmation replies match Shopify orders more reliably and fill in order details more consistently.
Full release notes →The dashboard loads charts and images more efficiently, and confirmation settings are grouped more clearly.
Full release notes →Confirmations use billing and shipping phone details more consistently and check that WhatsApp is connected before sending.
Full release notes →Order confirmations check customer WhatsApp availability more reliably, and replies are matched to their original confirmation message.
Full release notes →The unofficial API app launched in October 2024. Our preserved release history starts in December, with WhatsApp order confirmation polls, replies and order tags.
Full release notes →It covers WhatFlow Business API, the official Meta WhatsApp Cloud API app for Shopify that includes the WhatsApp Team Inbox, and WhatFlow Chat Automation, our unofficial API app, which links a store's regular WhatsApp account. Updates that apply to both are labeled "Both apps".
WhatFlow Chat Automation, our unofficial API app, launched on the Shopify App Store in October 2024. Its preserved release history starts in December 2024, and WhatFlow Business API, our official API app, is covered from its first features in March 2026.
No. WhatFlow updates automatically for every store. If a new feature needs an extra Shopify permission, the app asks you to approve it the next time you open it.
Check this page, or subscribe to the changelog RSS feed at whatflow.io/changelog/rss.xml to see new releases in your feed reader.
WhatFlow Business API, the official API app, connects through Meta's official WhatsApp Cloud API and adds Shopify Flow triggers, catalog sharing and a team inbox. WhatFlow Chat Automation, the unofficial API app, links a regular WhatsApp account as a linked device, for stores that want to start without a Meta Business account.