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How to search a user via whatsapp ID

  • February 28, 2026
  • 1 comment
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fablearner

I am creating a manychat subscriber using api.

Create failed, attempting to FIND existing user. Error: {"status":"error","message":"Validation error","details":{"messages":{"wa_id":{"message":["This WhatsApp ID already exists: 91*********"]},

Now the frustrating thing is how do i get the subscriber id of this id so i can update some important fields that i need to communicate with this customer.

There is no search by wa_id feature available. And it would make more sense that when this error is thrown you should also give the subscriber id of the contact already in manychat. 
 

Best answer by Gustavo Boregio

@fablearner you can’t search by WhatsApp user unfortunately.

My solution is to set a custom field with the value of the WhatsApp number, and set a rule so that whenever I have a new WhatsApp subscriber this rule triggers and sets the custom field with the WhatsApp value.

Then, I use the ‘findByCustomField’ endpoint to do the search and see if the user already exists.

Hope this helps!!

1 reply

Gustavo Boregio
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  • Community Moderator & Expert
  • Answer
  • March 2, 2026

@fablearner you can’t search by WhatsApp user unfortunately.

My solution is to set a custom field with the value of the WhatsApp number, and set a rule so that whenever I have a new WhatsApp subscriber this rule triggers and sets the custom field with the WhatsApp value.

Then, I use the ‘findByCustomField’ endpoint to do the search and see if the user already exists.

Hope this helps!!