FAQ
Overview · Installation · Configuration · Usage · Developer notes
Do I need a WhatsApp Business account or an API key?
Section titled “Do I need a WhatsApp Business account or an API key?”No. The button uses the public click-to-chat links of WhatsApp (wa.me), Messenger (m.me) and Telegram (t.me). Any WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business number works. Messages arrive in your normal app.
Does it work with Multi-Vendor?
Section titled “Does it work with Multi-Vendor?”Yes. Vendors can enter their own WhatsApp number in the vendor panel; their product pages and store page then show the vendor first and your store support as the fallback. Vendors see their own click counts.
Which CS-Cart versions are supported?
Section titled “Which CS-Cart versions are supported?”4.17.2 to 4.21.x, CS-Cart (including Ultimate) and Multi-Vendor, PHP 7.2.5 to 8.3.
Will it slow down my store?
Section titled “Will it slow down my store?”No. The add-on loads no third-party script: the button is a small script and stylesheet bundled with the store’s own files, and nothing is requested from WhatsApp or any other service before the visitor clicks. The page HTML is the same for every visitor, so the full page cache of CS-Cart 4.21 keeps working.
Do I need cookie consent for the button?
Section titled “Do I need cookie consent for the button?”Usually not: it sets no cookie and loads nothing from third parties (a session storage flag only remembers a closed greeting). If your privacy policy requires it, set Wait for cookie consent and the button stays hidden until the visitor allows Preferences or Marketing in our Cookie Consent add-on.
Can I show different people for sales and support?
Section titled “Can I show different people for sales and support?”Yes. Add agents or departments in Marketing → WhatsApp chat with their own number, role, photo and working hours. Use Rotate to spread visitors over the agents who are online.
What happens outside working hours?
Section titled “What happens outside working hours?”Offline agents show when they are back (“Back tomorrow at 08:00”) and can still receive a message, or they are hidden (Outside working hours setting). Working hours are kept in each agent’s time zone, so visitors anywhere see the right state.
The button covers my sticky add-to-cart bar or bottom menu.
Section titled “The button covers my sticky add-to-cart bar or bottom menu.”Keep Move above sticky bars automatically on: the button moves above fixed bars at the bottom of the screen while they are visible. You can also change the offsets or use Bottom left.
I already use another chat widget (for example Re:plain).
Section titled “I already use another chat widget (for example Re:plain).”Both can run. Put the chat button at the bottom left, or hide the floating button and keep only Ask about this product and the cart help link (uncheck all pages in Show the floating button on).
Is the message sent automatically?
Section titled “Is the message sent automatically?”No. The chat opens with the message typed in; the visitor can change it and sends it themselves.
How do I get updates?
Section titled “How do I get updates?”Updates are free during your updates and support period (12 months, extendable). Download the new version from your account on cs-cart.kaviolabs.com or install it from the Upgrade center, and upload it over the installed one. Settings, agents and statistics are kept.
What happens without a valid license?
Section titled “What happens without a valid license?”Without a valid license (no key after the 14-day start period, an invalid or revoked key, a domain the license does not cover, or no successful check for 14 days), the chat button, the “Ask about this product” button and the cart help link are hidden on the storefront and no new clicks are counted; agents, settings and statistics stay in the admin panel. Once the license is valid again, everything is back.
The admin panel shows a license notice.
Section titled “The admin panel shows a license notice.”Open Add-ons → Manage add-ons → WhatsApp Chat Button: the License card at the top says what is wrong. Fix it on the License tab and click Check now. See License.
Does the add-on work on my staging copy?
Section titled “Does the add-on work on my staging copy?”Yes. Subdomains of your licensed domain and local development hosts (localhost, private IP addresses, *.local, *.test) are covered by the same license.
What happens if your license server is down?
Section titled “What happens if your license server is down?”Nothing changes for 14 days: the add-on keeps working and retries every hour. Only if no check succeeds for 14 days is it switched off until the next successful check.
Does the license check slow down my storefront?
Section titled “Does the license check slow down my storefront?”No. The check runs only in the admin panel or from cron, at most once a day, never while customers browse or check out.
Still stuck?
Section titled “Still stuck?”Work through the troubleshooting guide, then contact support with your CS-Cart version, edition, PHP version and the add-on version (1.0.0).