Threadline

Connecting WeChat

Beta. This connection was built from WeChat's own documentation and tested with WeChat's published examples, but not yet with a verified live account. Try it with a test account first.

What it is

WeChat is the main chat app in China and is popular across Asia. Businesses talk to customers through an Official Account. Connecting it lets those customers' messages arrive in your Inbox and be answered by the AI or your team, like any other channel.

The problem it solves

If your customers use WeChat, you would otherwise have to check a separate app and answer in two places. With the channel, WeChat is one more source in the same Inbox, with the same AI, team, notes and labels.

How it works

WeChat sends each customer message to a server address that you enter in the WeChat console. Threadline checks each one is genuine (WeChat signs every message with a token), reads it, and sends replies back through WeChat's customer-service message service.

1. Before you start

  • A WeChat Official Account (a Service Account or a verified Subscription Account can send customer-service messages).
  • Its AppID and AppSecret, from the WeChat console under Settings and development, Basic configuration.
  • Your plan must include the WeChat feature. If WeChat is missing from the channel list, your plan does not have it.

2. Connect it in Threadline

  1. Channels, Connect a channel, choose WeChat (beta).
  2. Enter a Name, the AppID and the AppSecret. Choose an assistant if you want the AI to answer.
  3. Click Connect.

Threadline then shows a server address and a Token on the channel page.

3. Finish in the WeChat console

  1. In the WeChat console, go to Settings and development, Basic configuration.
  2. Under Server configuration, paste the server address and the Token Threadline gave you.
  3. Choose the plain-text message mode (encrypted mode is not supported).
  4. Enable the configuration. WeChat checks the address; if it is right, it is accepted.
  5. Add Threadline's server to WeChat's IP allow list if your account uses one. If it does not, replies fail with a "server not on the allow list" message.

4. What works

  • Customers' text messages and pictures arrive in the Inbox.
  • You and the AI can reply with text and pictures. A picture is uploaded to WeChat first; a caption is sent as its own message.
  • The Inbox, labels, notes, snooze, assistants, automations and auto replies all work as on other channels.

5. The 48-hour rule

WeChat only lets you reply with a customer-service message within 48 hours of the customer's last message. Threadline applies the same rule as it does for WhatsApp's 24 hours, but with 48 hours: after that, free text is refused. WeChat has no template system here, so a template falls back to plain text.

6. What is not supported

  • Encrypted message mode.
  • WeChat template messages.
  • Typing indicators, voice and video messages.
  • Events such as someone following your account are acknowledged but start nothing.

Common questions

WeChat says the server address is not valid. Check you pasted both the address and the Token exactly, and that you chose plain-text mode.

Replies fail. Most often the 48 hours passed, the AppID or AppSecret is wrong, or Threadline's server is not on your WeChat IP allow list. The message under the reply says which.

Can I start a conversation with a WeChat user? No. They must write to you first.