---
title: "WhatsApp Phone Capture / TM WPA App"
slug: "introduction-wpa"
status: "update"
updated: 2026-04-01T06:42:52Z
published: 2026-04-01T06:43:23Z
canonical: "docs.smarsh.com/introduction-wpa"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smarsh.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WhatsApp Phone Capture / TM WPA App

WhatsApp Phone Capture is an archiving application that archives WhatsApp communication data from iOS and Android devices. The application captures the following WhatsApp features:

- One-to-one chats
- Group chats
- Calls
- Channels
- Broadcasts

> **Note**
> 
> The minimum Android version required for WhatsApp Phone Capture is Android 10.

WhatsApp Phone Capture captures communication data from the following applications when synchronized:

- WhatsApp Phone Capture mobile application
- WhatsApp web
- WhatsApp desktop.

The captured communication can be archived to any supported secondary storage device. The archived messages and calls are stored with the content, employee email, and other message metadata. You can search and filter calls and messages in the archive using employee name, email, mobile number, message type, and attachments.

WhatsApp Phone Capture separates private and business communication data on BYOD devices.

You can use this solution when:

- Employees use WhatsApp to communicate with peers, clients, and stakeholders.
- You need to capture, archive, administer, and reporting of WhatsApp communications.
- The organization allows employees to use their own mobile devices (BYOD).
- The organizations provide corporate devices to employees, with WhatsApp Phone Capture installed.

Administrators can distribute the application to employees using [Apple Business Manager](/capture-mobile/docs/distribute-using-apple-business-manager-wpa), [Microsoft Intune](/capture-mobile/docs/distributing-the-app-using-microsoft-intune), or [Google Enterprise Private Store](/capture-mobile/docs/deploy-using-google-enterprise-private-store-1).

> **Important**
> 
> When migrating between WhatsApp Phone Capture for iOS and Android, users must disconnect all linked devices before starting the migration.

Employees can also download the application from the [Welcome Email](/capture-mobile/docs/download-and-install-the-unlisted-app-wpa) received from their organization admin or install the app when deployed through an MDM.

> [!NOTE]
> ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Picture 1(1).svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T16%3A18%3A25Z&se=2026-11-10T17%3A18%3A25Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=xgDfAnKKZnUcLKSoDLNgiQzcXkvKb6CQbKKfxIUWfCY%3D) Some topics in this documentation are private. [Log in](https://identity.document360.io/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fconnect%2Fauthorize%2Fcallback%3Fclient_id%3DKbSiteAngular%26scope%3Dopenid%2520email%2520profile%2520kbSiteAdmin%2520offline_access%26response_type%3Dcode%26redirect_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fdocs.smarsh.com%252Fsignin-oidc%26state%3Dreturn_to%253D%25252Fcapture-mobile%25252Fdocs%26session%3Dtrue%26property%3Duser%26defaultStrategy%3Doidc%26code_challenge%3Dzu9Vc2Rj6bacMj8g1Gkw_DoebOD_UcUV7EHy8vfpBe4%26code_challenge_method%3DS256) to the Smarsh documentation portal to access them.

### Self Onboarding

Self-onboard WhatsApp Phone Capture users to Capture Mobile through the Capture Mobile Admin Portal. For more information, see [Self-Onboarding to WhatsApp Phone Capture](/capture-mobile/docs/self-onboardingtowhatsappphonecapturedoc).

### App Distribution

- [Distribute the Android app](/capture-mobile/docs/distributing-the-whatsapp-phone-capture-android-application)
- [Distribute the iOS app](/capture-mobile/docs/distributing-the-whatsapp-phone-capture-ios-application)

### Sign Up

Set up your account and sign-in. For more information, see [Setting Up Your WhatsApp Phone Capture Account](/capture-mobile/docs/setting-up-your-whatsapp-phone-capture-account).

### Update the App

- [Update the Android app](/capture-mobile/docs/updating-the-android-app)
- [Update the iOS app](/capture-mobile/docs/updating-the-ios-app)

### Troubleshooting

Find solutions to common issues and errors. For more information, see [Troubleshooting](/capture-mobile/docs/troubleshooting-wpa).

### Events Captured

WhatsApp [conversation types](/capture-mobile/docs/whatsapp-phone-capture-communication-types-captured) captured by WhatsApp Phone Capture.