Troubleshooting the MCP server
What to do when your AI app cannot connect to WhatsAble, a tool is missing, a message comes back Not sent, or the app suddenly asks you to sign in again.
The app cannot connect
- Claude: you must choose Register automatically as the OAuth client. Remove the connector and add it again. See Connect Claude.
- Check the URL: it is
https://api.whatsable.app/mcp, with/mcpat the end and nothing after it. - Check the transport: choose HTTP or Streamable HTTP, not SSE. In the Gemini CLI, use
httpUrl, noturl. - The app has no browser: sign-in opens a browser on the same computer. On a server or over SSH, use an API key.
The sign-in page refuses
- "Only owners and admins of an organization can connect an AI app to it." or "Only owners and admins can connect an AI app.": ask an owner of the organization to connect the app, or to make you an admin.
- An organization is greyed out, "Plan not active": renew the plan in Billing, or choose another organization.
- "Plan does not include the API": the organization's plan does not include the API. Change the plan in Billing.
- "This organization has no connected WhatsApp number": connect a number in Business Numbers, then connect the app again.
- "This link has expired": you took more than ten minutes. Go back to the AI app and start connecting again.
A tool is missing
The assistant sees only the tools that its access allows. With Send and read, for example, it cannot create templates or broadcasts, and with Read only it cannot send. To give it more, revoke the connection and connect again with more access. See Change what an app can do.
If the access is right, your AI app may hold an old list of tools. Start a new chat, or refresh the app in its settings (ChatGPT needs Refresh).
A send is refused before it goes out
WhatsAble checks a send before it reaches WhatsApp. When a check fails, the tool answers with an error that names the problem and how to fix it, and nothing is sent. The most common ones:
- The 24-hour window is closed. A text or media message reaches a person only within 24 hours of their last message. Send an approved template instead. See The 24-hour window.
- A template variable is missing. Ask the assistant to read the template first, then send again.
- The number cannot send right now. Check the number in Business Numbers.
A message comes back "Not sent"
WhatsAble sent the message, and WhatsApp refused it. The result says why and whether a retry can work. Nothing reached the person.
"Not sent, or not confirmed" is different: WhatsApp did not answer in time, so the message may still arrive. Don't send it again until you know it did not arrive. Ask the assistant to check the message a little later.
A send that succeeds means WhatsApp accepted the message, not that it was delivered. Ask the assistant to check the message later: it shows delivered, read or failed. Not sent results explains more.
A tool answers with an error
| The error starts with | What it means |
|---|---|
| No active plan or Feature not in your plan | Your WhatsAble plan changed. Renew or change it in Billing. The connection works again once the plan includes the API. |
| Number not allowed for this key | The connection does not include that number. Revoke it in Connected AI apps, then connect again and choose the number. |
| Too many requests | The connection hit a rate limit. The error says how many seconds to wait. Each connection has the same limits as an API key. |
The app asks you to sign in again
- Someone revoked the connection in Settings > API keys > Connected AI apps.
- The person who approved it is no longer an owner or an admin, or left the organization. Their connections stop at once. Someone else who is an owner or an admin connects the app again.
- You did not use the app for 30 days. The sign-in expired. Sign in again.
Something else
Message us on WhatsApp from the help link in WhatsAble, and tell us which AI app you use and what the assistant answered.