# Phone numbers and @lid

> Docs index: https://wahasend.com/llms.txt · Everything in one file: https://wahasend.com/docs.md · API base URL: https://app.wahasend.com/api/v1

Write numbers in international format: country code then number, with or without `+`. Spaces, dashes and brackets are removed. `+222 12 34 56 78`, `22212345678` and `22212345678@c.us` are the same person. No leading `0` and no `00`.

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### Several numbers

WhatsApp can block a number. To keep going, an organization can send through several of its numbers (WhatsApp numbers page → More settings → Several numbers, or `PUT /session/send-group`). It is off by default: then everything works as before, from your default number.

- **Applies to** sends that name no number: `/alert/send`, `/alert/batch`, `/alert/send-*`, campaigns and reminders, from the dashboard or the account key. An explicit `containerId` or a per-number key always wins and never moves. Connect (Claude) and the assistants stay on their own number.
- **backup**: your default number, and the next one of the group when it is disconnected or may be blocked. **share**: messages spread over the group's connected numbers.
- **Same contact, same number** (on by default): a contact keeps getting messages from the same number while it works. If it goes down, the contact moves to another number of the group and stays there.
- A queued message whose number goes down before it is sent moves to a connected number of the group (never outside it). Something that may already have gone out is never sent again.
- Answers carry `containerId`: the number a message is on. `GET /messages` and the `message.*` [webhooks](https://wahasend.com/docs/webhooks.md) show the number that really sent it.
- Limits stay per number (and per organization): several numbers spread the load, they do not raise any limit. Using several numbers to get around a ban can get them banned too: this is for continuity, not for mass messaging.

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### WhatsApp ids ending in @lid

WhatsApp now hides many people's numbers behind a **Linked ID** such as `104937261508834@lid`. That is how their messages reach you, and it is a valid address: send to it exactly as you received it. Never strip `@lid` or treat its digits as a phone number.

- Accepted wherever a field says "or a WhatsApp id": text and media sends, batches, validation (always counted valid: there is no number to check).
- Not accepted by OTP, campaigns, reminders and `toPhone` of forward: they need a real number.
- In chats, a person is keyed by phone when WhatsApp told us the number behind the id, else by the `@lid` id.