> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chatzy.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to setup WhatsApp calling for AI Agents

This guide explains how to enable and set up WhatsApp calling to assign a Voice AI Agent to answer incoming calls or make outgoing calls via Chatzy AI.

***

### Requirements

* **Connected WhatsApp Number:** You must have a WhatsApp number connected in the [Channels](https://app.chatzy.ai/channels/whatsapp) section.
* [**Voice AI Agent:**](https://app.chatzy.ai/voice-ai-agents) You must have a configured Voice AI Agent.

***

## Enable WhatsApp Calling

1. Navigate to **Channels** in the left-hand menu.
2. Click on **WhatsApp**. Your connected WhatsApp numbers will appear here.
3. Click the **Three Dots** icon under the **Actions** column and select **Enable WhatsApp Calling**.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatzyai/M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH/how/wacall1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH&q=85&s=ee8151ee1beae8c84571b3eb3457f7f9" className="rounded-lg" width="1719" height="998" data-path="how/wacall1.png" />
</Frame>

4. Check the box labeled **Enable WhatsApp calling**.
5. Configure your weekly working hours and select the correct **Time Zone**.
6. Click **Save** or **Update**.

***

# Call Handling Setup

<Accordion title="Incoming Calls – Assign to Voice AI Agent">
  ### Set Up Voice AI Agent for Incoming Calls

  1. Go to the **Journeys** section.
  2. Click **Create Journey**, give it a name, choose **Blank Template**, and click **Create**.
  3. Click **Add Trigger** → select **Incoming Call**.

  <Frame>
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatzyai/M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH/how/wacall3.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH&q=85&s=9cb033448d911f4e7a50332a842b1d15" className="rounded-lg" width="1403" height="518" data-path="how/wacall3.png" />
  </Frame>

  4. Add an action → select **Assign to Voice AI Agent**.

  <Frame>
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatzyai/M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH/how/wacall4.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH&q=85&s=759d69dd56dc3975db890a7440ca835f" className="rounded-lg" width="950" height="723" data-path="how/wacall4.png" />
  </Frame>

  5. Open the settings of the action. Select the **Voice AI Agent** from the dropdown.

  <Frame>
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatzyai/M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH/how/wacall5.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH&q=85&s=4d594909df4152c5422c9cab15a49b5d" className="rounded-lg" width="1920" height="996" data-path="how/wacall5.png" />
  </Frame>

  6. Click **Save**, then **Publish** to activate the journey.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Outbound Calls – Using Voice AI Agent">
  ### Step 1: Create a WhatsApp Call Permission Template

  For business-initiated WhatsApp calls, you must first get the user's permission.

  1. Go to **Message Templates** → select **WhatsApp**.
  2. Click **+ Create Template**.
  3. Set **Category: Marketing**, give it a name, and choose the **Language**.
  4. Write your permission message inside the **Body** field.
  5. Enable the **Call permission request** toggle.

  <Frame>
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatzyai/M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH/how/wacall2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M_bkZnXrP8YKuLuH&q=85&s=3878516f983c96f115984e374622baeb" className="rounded-lg" width="1706" height="872" data-path="how/wacall2.png" />
  </Frame>

  6. Review the preview and click **Create**.

  > WhatsApp may take up to 24 hours to approve the template.

  ***

  ### Step 2: Set Up Outbound WhatsApp Calls in Journeys

  1. Go to **Journeys** and open the journey where you want to trigger the call.

  2. Go to the step after which the call should be initiated (e.g., after an `Execute Code` action, `Wait` action, etc.).

  3. Add a new action: **Initiate Outbound WhatsApp Call**.

  4. Set the correct **Phone Number**, depending on the trigger:

  * Inbound Webhook trigger:\
    `{{inbound_webhook.phone_number}}`

  * Conversation trigger:\
    `{{contact.phone_number}}`

  5. Select the **Voice AI Agent** that should make the call.

  <Frame>
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatzyai/E425-Qj0bjrV1MA4/how/wacall6.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=E425-Qj0bjrV1MA4&q=85&s=07273d368c3b0a18ca8d526496d12fb9" className="rounded-lg" width="1920" height="996" data-path="how/wacall6.png" />
  </Frame>

  6. Click **Save**, then **Publish**.
</Accordion>

***

[Learn more](https://docs.chatzy.ai/ai-agents/conversational-ai-agent/additional-concepts#advance-settings-for-conversational-ai-agent) about how call buttons work inside a Conversational AI Agent.