Microsoft will stop offering Copilot on WhatsApp from January 15, 2026. This is because WhatsApp has changed its Business API rules and now blocks general AI chatbots from working on the platform.
Microsoft said that the new policy stops large language model chatbots from running through WhatsApp’s Business system. After January 15, users will not be able to chat with Copilot on WhatsApp. However, they can still use it on other Microsoft platforms such as the Copilot mobile app, website, and Windows.
WhatsApp’s new Business Solution terms clearly say that companies offering AI chatbots, generative AI tools, or general-purpose assistants cannot use WhatsApp’s Business API as their main service. Because of this, not only Microsoft Copilot but also other chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Perplexity have had to leave the platform. These AI services all depend on the same kind of API connection that WhatsApp has now blocked.
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People who used Copilot on WhatsApp should save their chat history before January 15, 2026. According to Microsoft, chats with Copilot on WhatsApp are “unauthenticated,” meaning they will not be moved automatically to other Copilot platforms. To keep your conversations, you should export them manually.
WhatsApp has an export chat feature that allows saving chats as text files or zip files with media. Many online guides also explain how to export chats to formats like text or PDF. It’s best to do this before the cutoff date.
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| Image Credit: PCMag |
Meta, the company behind WhatsApp, said this change is to keep the Business API focused on business messaging and not general-purpose AI bots. Technology experts say this also helps Meta control access to WhatsApp’s huge user base and encourages people to use its own AI service, Meta AI, instead of others. Because of this rule, AI companies will now have to direct users to their own apps or websites instead of using WhatsApp.
For businesses, the new rule mainly affects AI chatbots made for general conversation. Bots that focus only on customer service or simple automated replies can still work if they follow WhatsApp’s updated business rules.
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Companies that were using WhatsApp for full-featured AI services will now have to change their setup or product plans to meet these new terms. It’s important for developers and businesses to read the new WhatsApp Business Solution terms carefully and adjust their systems in time.
If you use Copilot or ChatGPT in WhatsApp, here’s what you should do: open the settings on your phone, go to Chats, and tap Export Chat to save your important conversations. Store the exported files safely on cloud storage or send them to your email. Then, log into or create an account on the official Copilot or ChatGPT apps or websites to keep using these assistants after WhatsApp ends support. Microsoft and OpenAI both suggest users move to these official apps or web versions to continue chatting with their AI tools.