Get started with your recorded WhatsApp (iOS)
This article is a step-by-step guide on how to get started with your recorded WhatsApp account on iOS.
Introduction
Before you start, make sure you have received the welcome email from GuardREC or your System Admin. If you have not yet received it, it means your recorded WhatsApp phone number has not been activated, and you won’t be able to log in with your recorded WhatsApp account.
Instead of using the ordinary WhatsApp app, you will be using a recorded edition of WhatsApp; TeleMessage WhatsApp Phone Archiver (hereafter TM WPA).
TM WPA
The interface and features in TM WPA are the same as in the ordinary WhatsApp app – except that all conversations are recorded to meet your company’s regulatory requirements. Depending on your company policy, participants will be notified of recording (E.g. Never, Each thread, Daily or Each message).
The recorded conversations are securely stored in the GuardREC® Compliance portal. Only authorized users have access to your WhatsApp conversations for compliance purposes.
Once you have successfully completed the steps below, you are ready to start using your recorded WhatsApp account.
Read this if your phone number is registered with an existing WhatsApp account
When signing in to the TM WPA app using a phone number already registered with an existing WhatsApp account, please be aware of the following:
Your chat history cannot be transferred from ordinary WhatsApp to TM WPA.
It is recommended that you back up your chats in the ordinary WhatsApp before logging in to the TM WPA.
When logging in to TM WPA, you will be automatically logged out of the ordinary WhatsApp app. TM WPA and the ordinary WhatsApp app cannot be used simultaneously when using the same phone number.
When logged in to TM WPA, you might see the chat groups you were previously a part of, but the chat history will be empty.
To keep your WhatsApp contacts after logging in to TM WPA, be sure to allow the app access to your contacts.
All conversations, including with your personal contacts, will be recorded, unless you add your personal contacts to your whitelist in GuardREC® Compliance.
Download and install
If your System Admin has installed the TM WPA app to your mobile device through your company’s mobile management system, you may skip this step.
Your System Admin will provide you with a unique URL for you to download and install the app yourself by following the steps below:
On your mobile phone, open the URL provided by your System Admin.
Click Install.
In the confirmation popup window, tap Install.
The TM WPA app will now install on your iPhone Home Screen. Note: You might need to swipe to another screen to locate the app.
Turn on Developer Mode
In iOS 16 or later, Developer Mode must must be turned on before you can open the TM WPA app.
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security
Scroll down to Developer Mode (Note: The Developer Mode option only becomes available after the TM WPA app is installed on your phone).
Tap the switch to enable Developer Mode.
You will see a prompt asking you to restart your iPhone to enable the Developer Mode. Tap Restart to proceed.
After the device restarts and you unlock it, the device shows an alert confirming that you want to enable Developer Mode. Tap Turn on.
Login and validate your account
When logging in to TM WPA for the first time, you will be asked to:
Allow TM WPA to send you notifications. Tap Allow when prompted.
Allow TM WPA to access your contacts. Tap Allow when prompted.
Enable Chat Backup. It’s recommended to enable Chat Backup when prompted.
Follow the steps below to log in to TM WPA and validate your account:
Make sure Developer Mode is turned on, as described in previous step, before opening the app.
Locate and open the TM WPA app on your phone.
Agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy by tapping Agree and Continue.
Select your country and enter your phone number. Ensure to enter the country and phone number which is registered by your System Admin for WhatsApp recording with GuardREC® Compliance.
WhatsApp will send you a verification code via SMS or phone call to the number you provided. Enter the verification code into the WhatsApp app when prompted.
Set up your profile by adding a profile picture and your name.
You're now logged in and ready to use TM WPA.
Enable Automatic Wake Up
To ensure the TM WPA app for iOS runs in the background so that you receive calls and messages in real-time, you must not close the app. However, by enabling Automatic Wake Up, the app will automatically wake up, even if you were to close the app.
How it works
Once the TM WPA app is installed on your device, a contact named “Blocked TeleMessage WhatsApp Archiver Number” is automatically added to your iPhone contacts.
Once you have enabled Automatic Wake Up, you will receive a “phone call” every 7 minutes from this contact.
To avoid getting notified of these calls, you can block the caller in your iPhone contacts (not to be confused with WhatsApp blocked contacts). Once you have blocked the contact, you will not experience any notification or interference.
Follow the steps below to log in to enable Automatic Wake Up.
Open the TM WPA app and go to Settings → Help.
Toggle on Wake up when app is closed
Tap OK when asked to enable the Wake-up feature.
Once enabled, you will receive a short sample call with a single ring to your phone from “Blocked TeleMessage WhatsApp Archiver Number”.
If you haven't already granted TM WPA access to your contacts, the incoming caller will be displayed as the incoming number (here: +1 (978) 206-1926).
Open your iPhone contacts, and locate the “Blocked TeleMessage WhatsApp Archiver Number” contact.
Tap Block this caller.
Tap Block Contact.
That’s it – you are all set. Every 7 minutes, a call will be made to your WhatsApp registered number to wake up the app. You will, however, not experience any notifications or interference.
Contacts
To easily add your contacts to TM WPA, make sure the app has access to your phonebook contacts.
Enable access to your contacts (iOS)
Go to iPhone Settings → Privacy
Tap Contacts.
Make sure TM WPA is turned on.
Please refer to WhatsApp’s help center for additional guides on how to add contacts.
Backup chats
Enabling chat backup is highly recommended. This feature is particularly useful in the event that you lose your phone or need to switch to a new one, as it allows you to restore your chat history easily. Please refer to the instructions available on WhatsApp’s own help center:
Change your wallpaper
You can change your wallpaper in the TM WPA app. You can choose wallpapers specific to dark or light modes and dim your dark mode wallpaper.
Tap Settings → Chats → Chat Wallpaper.
Tap Choose Light Mode Wallpaper or Choose Dark Mode Wallpaper.
Select a wallpaper category, then select the image you want to set as your wallpaper.
Tap Set.
Additional guides
For additional guides on how to use WhatsApp, simply refer to the instructions available on WhatsApp’s own help center: https://faq.whatsapp.com.