Troubleshooting

Fix: WhatsApp Bot 401 Authentication Error

How to fix "WhatsApp Bot 401 Authentication Error". Step-by-step troubleshooting guide with solutions.

401 = unauthorised, your stored session credentials no longer authenticate against WhatsApp. Always solvable by re-pairing.

Confirm the symptoms

  • Dashboard log shows "401 Unauthorized".
  • Bot disconnects right after.

30-second quick fix

  • Re-pair with pairing-code flow.

Root causes

  1. 1. Credentials rotated

    WhatsApp rotated session keys server-side.

    • Re-pair.
  2. 2. Account password-protected (rare)

    If WhatsApp enabled an extra security layer.

    • Disable that or re-pair after configuring.

Detailed resolution

  1. 1

    Re-pair with pairing code

    BotWave โ†’ Sessions โ†’ Reconnect โ†’ pairing code.

Expected result

No more 401 errors; bot operational.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose config?

No.

Still stuck?

Open a support ticket from the dashboard and we will look at your session logs directly.

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