# How to Resolve the Issue of Duplicate Contacts for WhatsApp Messages

> Duplicate Contacts Created for WhatsApp Messages How to resolve duplicate contact entries even when "Allow Duplicate Contact" is disabled. Overview This…

- Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/reselling-products/whatsapp/how-to-resolve-the-issue-of-duplicate-contacts-for-whatsapp-messages
- Section: Reselling Products / WhatsApp
- Reading time: 1 min
- Images: 1, each explained below

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# Duplicate Contacts Created for WhatsApp Messages

How to resolve duplicate contact entries even when "Allow Duplicate Contact" is disabled.

## Overview

This document outlines the steps to resolve an issue where duplicate contacts are created for WhatsApp messages, even when the **"Allow Duplicate Contact"** setting is disabled in the Business Profile.

## Symptoms

-   Duplicate contact entries are displayed for WhatsApp messages.
-   The **Allow Duplicate Contact** option is disabled under **Business Profile** settings.
-   Despite this, the duplication persists.

## Cause

This issue may occur if the contact search preferences are not configured to include phone numbers as a secondary search criterion.

## Resolution Steps

1

Navigate to **Business Profile**.

2

Go to **Contact Duplicate Preference**.

3

Under **Second Preference for Search (Optional)**, ensure that **Phone** is selected.

![Second Preference for Search set to Phone](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155046756067/original/zQIwXKjIu8u1YlZnPiixEeGlN56VvGhRVA.png)

**Resolution Steps (image 1 of 1)**

This screenshot appears in the "Resolution Steps" section of "How to Resolve the Issue of Duplicate Contacts for WhatsApp Messages". For context, this section explains: Duplicate Contacts Created for WhatsApp Messages How to resolve duplicate contact entries even when "Allow Duplicate Contact" is disabled. Overview This document outlines the steps to resolve an issue where duplicate contacts are created for WhatsApp messages, even when the "Allow Duplicate….
- Controls: "Allow Duplicate Contact", Allow Duplicate Contact, Business Profile, Contact Duplicate Preference, Second Preference for Search (Optional), Phone

Full procedure:

1. Duplicate contact entries are displayed for WhatsApp messages.
2. The Allow Duplicate Contact option is disabled under Business Profile settings.
3. Despite this, the duplication persists.

EXPLANATION: Selecting Phone as the secondary preference for contact search enables the system to match contacts based on phone numbers, which helps prevent the creation of duplicate contact entries.

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Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com