# Quick Start

{% hint style="info" %}
**Good to know:** A quick start guide can be good to help folks get up and running with your API in a few steps. Some people prefer diving in with the basics rather than meticulously reading every page of documentation!
{% endhint %}

## Get your API keys

Your API requests are authenticated using API keys. Any request that doesn't include an API key will return an error.

All you need is to provide an WAPIM API key. Please [**click**](https://api.wapim.io) to create a new API key. (app.wapim.io is being rewritten, please mail to info\[at]wapim.io for API key.)

<figure><img src="https://4087303536-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJRDj77CpqsFquO8wknGP%2Fuploads%2FZpJ3eTM60YxW6rWSWwFY%2Fwapim-api-key.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=8f4e1559-c743-4e7e-aa2f-58fd0eca32a2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Read QR Code

You will see a QR code on the WAPIM instance screen. Please read the QR code with WhatsApp.<br>

1. **Open WhatsApp on your phone.**

<div align="center"><figure><img src="https://4087303536-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJRDj77CpqsFquO8wknGP%2Fuploads%2FEnzw9dwZHXpOtbDAIpdJ%2Fopen-whatsapp-settings-2-710x1536.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=2f923ec5-e8ab-48ab-b777-31ba70c40879" alt="Main Screen To Settings"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

2\. Tap **Menu** or **Settings** and select **Linked Devices.**

<figure><img src="https://4087303536-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJRDj77CpqsFquO8wknGP%2Fuploads%2F7FnkYDM5Qrt8RukqNpfH%2Flinked-devices-whatsapp-settings-iphone-718x1536.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cc35fc29-c409-479f-90c9-f18c16d8ed57" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3\.  Tap **Link a Device** and **point** your phone to this screen to **capture the qr code**.

<figure><img src="https://4087303536-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJRDj77CpqsFquO8wknGP%2Fuploads%2FR6QvGinDELWLSqhdbQBP%2Flinked-device-list-whatsapp-settings-iphone-718x1536.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fa69aa62-8c88-4196-81ef-733306750e62" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Important Warning❗️

Please do not spam with this API. If you spam, you can be banned by WhatsApp.

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