VS Code
VS Code setup

Connect WhatsApp to VS Code

VS Code connects to MCP servers through GitHub Copilot's agent mode. Add SheetWA in a small mcp.json file and Copilot can use your WhatsApp Business API from the chat panel.

The file lives in your project, so it suits a team that builds on SheetWA together. Keep real keys out of version control.

Before you start#

  • A SheetWA workspace with a WhatsApp number connected through the WhatsApp API.
  • An API Growth or API Max plan, or the 7-day free trial.
  • An MCP key from the workspace owner or an admin, made under MCP Server in the dashboard.

New to keys? See how to create one.

Add SheetWA to VS Code#

  1. 1Create .vscode/mcp.json in your project.
  2. 2Paste this, then start the server from the MCP view in Copilot Chat.
json.vscode/mcp.json
{
  "servers": {
    "sheetwa": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://backend.sheetwa.com/api/v3/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer sk_live_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace sk_live_your_key_here with your key. The server URL is https://backend.sheetwa.com/api/v3/mcp.

Check it works#

  1. 1Open the MCP servers view or the mcp.json file and start the SheetWA server.
  2. 2Open Copilot Chat, switch to Agent mode and check SheetWA's tools appear in the tools picker.
  3. 3Ask: "Is my WhatsApp number connected?"

Things to try#

  • "Show my unread WhatsApp chats and summarise them."
  • "Find contacts tagged VIP who have not messaged in 30 days."
  • "Which of my templates are approved, and what placeholders do they need?"
  • "How did yesterday's broadcast do? List the failed numbers."

VS Code picks the right tools on its own. See the tools.

If something goes wrong#

The tools do not show in Copilot Chat
Make sure chat is in Agent mode and the SheetWA server is started, not stopped.
mcp.json with a key was committed
Add .vscode/mcp.json to .gitignore, remove the key in SheetWA and give a new one.
Every call answers PLAN_LIMIT_REACHED
MCP is included in API Growth and API Max. A workspace on API Lite needs to upgrade first.
All error codes