How do I install the Whatsapp CLI skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add dapi/whatsapp-cli in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Whatsapp CLI safe to use?

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Which AI agents work with Whatsapp CLI?

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Is Whatsapp CLI free to use?

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Who published Whatsapp CLI?

dapi (@dapi) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Whatsapp CLI by dapi — Agent Skill

Name: Whatsapp CLI
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: dapi

Whatsapp CLI

Use when the user wants to authenticate, sync, read, search, or send WhatsApp messages through the local whatsapp-cli user-account client. Also covers contacts, chats, joined groups, media downloads, and WhatsApp archive access. This is for the unofficial WhatsApp Web client, not the WhatsApp Business API.

dapi 5bf0d39 11 files · 78.2 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

whatsapp-cli

Use whatsapp-cli for local WhatsApp user-account automation and archive access.

Install

Install or update the CLI from this repository:

go install github.com/dapi/whatsapp-cli@main

Install this skill for supported agents:

npx skills add dapi/whatsapp-cli --skill whatsapp-cli --agent '*' -g -y

Execution Rules

Treat the WhatsApp store as a credential store. Never print, copy, commit, or delete its session database. By default it lives in the operating system's per-user application configuration directory.
Use whatsapp-cli sync for first-time setup: it displays the QR code and captures the initial message history. auth links the account without running the archive sync.
sync is long-running. Do not start a second instance for the same store.
Reuse the same default store or the same explicit global --store DIR for all related commands. A missing store on a read/send command is not a reason to create a second store or relink the account.
Resolve an ambiguous recipient with contacts search, chats list, or groups list before sending. Send only when the user's request authorizes it.
If command syntax is uncertain, run whatsapp-cli --help or inspect the relevant command help instead of guessing flags.
Commands return structured JSON. Parse the success, data, and error fields instead of scraping human-readable log output.

Core Commands

Authenticate and Sync

whatsapp-cli auth
whatsapp-cli sync
whatsapp-cli version

Read and Search

whatsapp-cli messages list --limit 50
whatsapp-cli messages list --chat <jid> --limit 50 --page 0
whatsapp-cli messages search --query "meeting" --limit 100
whatsapp-cli contacts search --query "Alice"
whatsapp-cli chats list --query "Team" --limit 20
whatsapp-cli groups list --query "Project"

Use the exact JID returned by lookup commands when possible. Direct chats usually end in @s.whatsapp.net; groups end in @g.us.

Send

whatsapp-cli send --to <phone-or-jid> --message "Hello"
whatsapp-cli send --to <phone-or-jid> --image ./photo.jpg --caption "Photo"

--message and --image are mutually exclusive. Use a group JID returned by groups list rather than constructing one manually.

Download Media

whatsapp-cli media download --message-id <id>
whatsapp-cli media download --message-id <id> --chat <jid> --output ./downloads/

The message must already be present in the local archive. Run or resume whatsapp-cli sync when the archive does not contain the requested message.

---name: whatsapp-clidescription: Use when the user wants to authenticate, sync, read, search, or send WhatsApp messages through the local whatsapp-cli user-account client. Also covers contacts, chats, joined groups, media downloads, and WhatsApp archive access. This is for the unofficial WhatsApp Web client, not the WhatsApp Business API.---# whatsapp-cliUse `whatsapp-cli` for local WhatsApp user-account automation and archive access.## InstallInstall or update the CLI from this repository:```bashgo install github.com/dapi/whatsapp-cli@main```Install this skill for supported agents:```bashnpx skills add dapi/whatsapp-cli --skill whatsapp-cli --agent '*' -g -y```## Execution Rules- Treat the WhatsApp store as a credential store. Never print, copy, commit, or delete its session database. By default it lives in the operating system's per-user application configuration directory.- Use `whatsapp-cli sync` for first-time setup: it displays the QR code and captures the initial message history. `auth` links the account without running the archive sync.- `sync` is long-running. Do not start a second instance for the same store.- Reuse the same default store or the same explicit global `--store DIR` for all related commands. A missing store on a read/send command is not a reason to create a second store or relink the account.- Resolve an ambiguous recipient with `contacts search`, `chats list`, or `groups list` before sending. Send only when the user's request authorizes it.- If command syntax is uncertain, run `whatsapp-cli --help` or inspect the relevant command help instead of guessing flags.- Commands return structured JSON. Parse the `success`, `data`, and `error` fields instead of scraping human-readable log output.## Core Commands### Authenticate and Sync```bashwhatsapp-cli authwhatsapp-cli syncwhatsapp-cli version```### Read and Search```bashwhatsapp-cli messages list --limit 50whatsapp-cli messages list --chat <jid> --limit 50 --page 0whatsapp-cli messages search --query "meeting" --limit 100whatsapp-cli contacts search --query "Alice"whatsapp-cli chats list --query "Team" --limit 20whatsapp-cli groups list --query "Project"```Use the exact JID returned by lookup commands when possible. Direct chatsusually end in `@s.whatsapp.net`; groups end in `@g.us`.### Send```bashwhatsapp-cli send --to <phone-or-jid> --message "Hello"whatsapp-cli send --to <phone-or-jid> --image ./photo.jpg --caption "Photo"````--message` and `--image` are mutually exclusive. Use a group JID returned by`groups list` rather than constructing one manually.### Download Media```bashwhatsapp-cli media download --message-id <id>whatsapp-cli media download --message-id <id> --chat <jid> --output ./downloads/```The message must already be present in the local archive. Run or resume`whatsapp-cli sync` when the archive does not contain the requested message.

Frequently asked questions