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Updated Aug 4, 2026

Adding and Editing Contacts

What you'll learn
  • How to add a new contact from the Contacts page
  • How to create a contact inline when starting a conversation
  • How to edit an existing contact's information
  • How automatic contact creation works from messaging channels

You can add contacts to your database in several ways: manually from the contact list, inline when creating a conversation, or let AutoTalk create them automatically when someone messages you through a connected channel.

Adding a contact from the Contacts page​

  1. Click Contacts in the sidebar menu.
  2. Click the + button at the top of the page (its tooltip reads "Add new contacts").
  3. Fill in the contact details:
    • Name — The contact's display name
    • Contact identification — Their phone number (with international country code, for example +55 for Brazil) or channel username
    • Channel — The messaging channel this contact belongs to
  4. Add any additional information such as tags or custom attributes under the Options tab.
  5. Save the contact record.

The new contact appears in your Contacts list immediately and is ready to be assigned to events or conversations.

Creating a contact inline from a conversation​

When you are about to start a new conversation and the person is not yet in your database:

  1. Open the New conversation dialog.
  2. In the contact picker, type the new contact's name or phone number.
  3. Choose the Add <value> option that appears in the picker, then fill in the contact's details (name, contact identification).
  4. The contact is created and automatically selected for the new conversation.

This inline method saves a trip to the Contacts page when you need to message someone who is not yet in your database.

Editing an existing contact​

  1. Go to Contacts in the sidebar.
  2. Find the contact you want to edit. Use the Filter button or scroll through the list.
  3. Click on the contact's name or row to open their profile.
  4. Update any fields: name, contact identification, tags, or custom attributes.
  5. Save your changes.

All changes take effect immediately. Updated information is reflected across the platform -- in the calendar, in conversations, and in any reports that reference the contact.

Automatic contact creation from messaging channels​

When a message arrives from a new contact through a connected channel (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Page, Telegram), AutoTalk automatically creates a contact record using:

  • The contact's display name from the messaging platform
  • Their phone number (for WhatsApp) or social profile ID (for Instagram and Facebook Page)

These auto-created profiles contain only the basic information that the messaging platform provides. You can enrich them later by adding tags and custom attributes.

Mass updates​

To change multiple contacts at once (for example, adding a tag to a group of contacts or changing a shared attribute), open the Actions menu at the top of the Contacts page and choose Mass update (or Mass delete to remove records). You define the conditions that select which contacts to match, choose the fields to change, and apply the update to every matching record.

tip

When adding phone numbers, always include the international country code. AutoTalk uses these codes to route messages correctly through WhatsApp. For example, a Brazilian number should be entered as +55 followed by the area code and number.

Contact Information Fields​

Each contact profile in AutoTalk stores the information used for messaging, notifications, and appointment reminders across connected channels.

Standard contact fields​

FieldDescriptionExample
NameThe contact's display name as shown throughout AutoTalkMaria Silva
Contact identificationThe contact's identifier on the channel — a phone number (with international country code) for WhatsApp, or a username/profile ID for other channels+55 11 98765-4321
TagsCustom labels for categorizing and filtering contactsvip, lead
Custom attributesFree-form key-value pairs for any extra data you want to storeplan: gold

Phone numbers and messaging channels​

Phone numbers are a critical piece of contact data because they are the primary identifier for WhatsApp communication. When entering a phone number:

  • Always include the international country code -- For example, +55 for Brazil, +1 for the United States, +351 for Portugal.
  • AutoTalk uses the country code to route messages through the correct channel.
  • If a contact contacts you through WhatsApp, their phone number is automatically captured and stored with the correct country code.

A contact's identification links directly to their messaging channel:

  • WhatsApp -- Matched by phone number. When a contact sends a WhatsApp message, AutoTalk identifies them by their phone number and connects the conversation to the correct contact record.
  • Instagram and Facebook Page -- Matched by social profile ID. The contact's social account is linked to their AutoTalk profile automatically when they first message you.

Automatic contact information from messaging platforms​

When a contact contacts you through a connected channel for the first time, AutoTalk pulls available information from the platform:

  • Display name from the messaging service becomes the contact's name
  • Phone number is captured from WhatsApp
  • Profile picture may be imported where available

You can manually update or enrich this information at any time. If you correct a contact's name and do not want it overwritten the next time the messaging platform sends an update, enable the Disable name update option on the contact's profile.

tip

Keep contact information accurate and up to date. Incorrect phone numbers mean messages will not reach your contact. Take a moment to verify contact details whenever you interact with a contact, especially if they were auto-created from a messaging channel.

Next steps​

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