Quick Start
This guide takes you from a fresh deployment to a working inbox. If you are setting up the server itself for the first time, read Self-Hosting requirements first, then come back here.
By the end of this guide you will have an admin account, an activated license, and your first WhatsApp number linked and ready to receive messages.
Prerequisites
- A running Loopwave deployment (the API on
:4000and the web dashboard). - Your license key (looks like
LW1.<payload>.<signature>). - A phone with WhatsApp installed, holding the number you want to connect.
Step 1: Open the install wizard
Visit your Loopwave web address for the first time. Because no admin exists yet, Loopwave opens the install wizard automatically.
The wizard runs system checks against your server:
| Check | Required | What it verifies |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18+ | Yes | The runtime version |
| MongoDB connection | Yes | The database is reachable |
| Writable data directory | Yes | WhatsApp sessions can be stored |
| JWT secret configured | Recommended | A non-default JWT_SECRET is set |
If the JWT secret check shows “using default”, set a strong JWT_SECRET before going
to production. See Configuration.
Step 2: Create your admin account
In the wizard, enter your name, email, and a password. This becomes the first admin — the role that can configure numbers, team, templates, automations, broadcasts, and billing.
The install wizard only works while no users exist. Once an admin is created, the wizard is closed and the system is marked as installed.
Step 3: Activate your license
You can paste your license key during the wizard, or later in Settings → Billing & License. Loopwave verifies the key offline using a built-in public key — no phone-home is required.
After activation you will see your license state: plan, expiry, and status
(active, grace, or expired). For the full state machine, see
Licensing.
Step 4: Log in
You are dropped into the dashboard. The inbox is empty because no WhatsApp number is linked yet.
Step 5: Connect your first number
Open Numbers (or the inbox header) and add a number. Loopwave shows a QR code — scan it with your phone exactly like WhatsApp Web. Within a few seconds the status changes to Ready and your recent chats begin syncing.
Full walkthrough: Connect WhatsApp.
Step 6: Invite your team
Open Team and add your agents by email. Each gets a login. Agents handle conversations; admins manage configuration. See Team Access & Roles.
Next: protect your number→Before you start messaging customers, read the outreach best practices to keep your number healthy.