diff --git a/contributors/emails/fangliquan@qq.com b/contributors/emails/fangliquan@qq.com
index 58b0678f6bd7a..8909594dec660 100644
--- a/contributors/emails/fangliquan@qq.com
+++ b/contributors/emails/fangliquan@qq.com
@@ -1 +1 @@
-fangliquanflq
+fangliquanflq
diff --git a/gateway/platforms/whatsapp_cloud.py b/gateway/platforms/whatsapp_cloud.py
index 41b815088dabe..729ea12fdf1ef 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/whatsapp_cloud.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/whatsapp_cloud.py
@@ -255,13 +255,16 @@ class WhatsAppCloudAdapter(WhatsAppBehaviorMixin, BasePlatformAdapter):
         self._reply_prefix: Optional[str] = extra.get("reply_prefix")
         # Allowlist: honor the *documented* WHATSAPP_CLOUD_ALLOWED_USERS (the
         # var the setup wizard writes) in addition to WHATSAPP_CLOUD_ALLOW_FROM.
-        # Precedence matches construction forever: explicit config, then legacy
-        # ALLOW_FROM, then ALLOWED_USERS. Track the winning source so live DM
-        # checks do not let a lower-precedence env broaden access.
-        explicit_allow = extra.get("allow_from") or extra.get("allowFrom")
-        if explicit_allow:
+        # Precedence matches construction forever: explicit config (by key
+        # presence, including empty []), then legacy ALLOW_FROM, then
+        # ALLOWED_USERS. Track the winning source so live DM checks do not let
+        # a lower-precedence env broaden access.
+        if "allow_from" in extra:
             self._dm_allowlist_source = "config"
-            allow_raw = explicit_allow
+            allow_raw = extra.get("allow_from")
+        elif "allowFrom" in extra:
+            self._dm_allowlist_source = "config"
+            allow_raw = extra.get("allowFrom")
         elif os.getenv("WHATSAPP_CLOUD_ALLOW_FROM"):
             self._dm_allowlist_source = "WHATSAPP_CLOUD_ALLOW_FROM"
             allow_raw = os.getenv("WHATSAPP_CLOUD_ALLOW_FROM")
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py b/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py
index 0254d5f4d073c..ca92e5f69fb2d 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py
+++ b/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py
@@ -409,12 +409,16 @@ class WhatsAppAdapter(WhatsAppBehaviorMixin, BasePlatformAdapter):
         self._reply_prefix: Optional[str] = config.extra.get("reply_prefix")
         self._dm_policy = str(config.extra.get("dm_policy") or os.getenv("WHATSAPP_DM_POLICY", "pairing")).strip().lower()
         # Prefer config.extra, then the documented WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_USERS env
-        # (setup wizard / pairing mirror). Track which source won so live DM
-        # checks preserve that precedence (env must not override explicit config).
-        explicit_allow = config.extra.get("allow_from") or config.extra.get("allowFrom")
-        if explicit_allow:
+        # (setup wizard / pairing mirror). Select by key *presence* so an
+        # explicit empty allow_from: [] stays authoritative and does not fall
+        # through to a lower-precedence env grant. Track which source won so
+        # live DM checks preserve that precedence.
+        if "allow_from" in config.extra:
             self._dm_allowlist_source = "config"
-            allow_raw = explicit_allow
+            allow_raw = config.extra.get("allow_from")
+        elif "allowFrom" in config.extra:
+            self._dm_allowlist_source = "config"
+            allow_raw = config.extra.get("allowFrom")
         elif os.getenv("WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_USERS"):
             self._dm_allowlist_source = "WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_USERS"
             allow_raw = os.getenv("WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_USERS")
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_pairing_allowlist_bypass.py b/tests/gateway/test_pairing_allowlist_bypass.py
index 4f49f20be26f7..e0ac09257d5e3 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_pairing_allowlist_bypass.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_pairing_allowlist_bypass.py
@@ -337,6 +337,28 @@ def test_whatsapp_live_allowlist_keeps_explicit_config_over_env(monkeypatch):
     assert adapter._is_dm_intake_allowed("15550000003") is False
 
 
+def test_whatsapp_explicit_empty_allow_from_blocks_env_grant(monkeypatch):
+    """allow_from: [] is present config — must not fall through to env grants."""
+    from gateway.config import PlatformConfig
+    from plugins.platforms.whatsapp.adapter import WhatsAppAdapter
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_USERS", "15550000002")
+    adapter = WhatsAppAdapter(
+        PlatformConfig(
+            enabled=True,
+            extra={
+                "dm_policy": "allowlist",
+                "allow_from": [],
+            },
+        )
+    )
+
+    assert adapter._dm_allowlist_source == "config"
+    assert adapter._allow_from == set()
+    assert adapter._is_dm_intake_allowed("15550000002") is False
+    assert adapter._is_dm_allowed("15550000002") is False
+
+
 def test_whatsapp_live_allowlist_rereads_env_when_env_seeded(monkeypatch):
     """Env-seeded adapters still pick up pairing allowlist mutations live."""
     from gateway.config import PlatformConfig
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_cloud_allowed_users.py b/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_cloud_allowed_users.py
index 3b2b52437b2ee..955e67cd4a809 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_cloud_allowed_users.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_cloud_allowed_users.py
@@ -103,6 +103,25 @@ def test_explicit_config_beats_cloud_env_on_live_checks(monkeypatch):
     assert adapter._is_dm_allowed("15550000004") is False
 
 
+def test_explicit_empty_allow_from_blocks_cloud_env_grants(monkeypatch):
+    """allow_from: [] is present config — conflicting cloud env must not authorize."""
+    adapter = _build_adapter(
+        monkeypatch,
+        {
+            "WHATSAPP_CLOUD_ALLOW_FROM": "15550000002",
+            "WHATSAPP_CLOUD_ALLOWED_USERS": "15550000003",
+        },
+        extra={"dm_policy": "allowlist", "allow_from": []},
+    )
+
+    assert adapter._dm_allowlist_source == "config"
+    assert adapter._allow_from == set()
+    assert adapter._is_dm_allowed("15550000002") is False
+    assert adapter._is_dm_allowed("15550000003") is False
+    assert adapter._is_dm_intake_allowed("15550000002") is False
+    assert adapter._is_dm_intake_allowed("15550000003") is False
+
+
 def test_cloud_allowed_users_live_reread_when_env_seeded(monkeypatch):
     adapter = _build_adapter(
         monkeypatch,