# Wacrawl

> Read-only local archive and search for WhatsApp Desktop chats, messages, and media metadata.

- Skill: `openclaw/wacrawl-2` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add openclaw/wacrawl-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/openclaw/wacrawl-2/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: OpenClaw (https://skillmd.com/u/openclaw)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/openclaw/wacrawl-2

---


# wacrawl

Use `wacrawl` to snapshot local WhatsApp Desktop data into a separate SQLite archive and search it offline.

## When to Use

Use this skill when the user wants to:

- inspect local WhatsApp Desktop history without opening the app
- archive chats into a local SQLite database for repeat queries
- search WhatsApp messages locally with filters
- list chats, recent messages, or archive status from a read-only import

## Requirements

- local WhatsApp Desktop data on the same machine
- enough local disk for `~/.wacrawl/wacrawl.db`
- understand that this is read-only inspection, not message sending

## Setup

- Default source: `~/Library/Group Containers/group.net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.shared`
- Default archive DB: `~/.wacrawl/wacrawl.db`
- First sanity check:
  - `wacrawl doctor`
- First import:
  - `wacrawl import`

## Common Commands

- Doctor: `wacrawl doctor`
- Import fresh snapshot: `wacrawl import`
- Archive status: `wacrawl status`
- List chats: `wacrawl chats --limit 20`
- Recent messages: `wacrawl messages --limit 20`
- One chat: `wacrawl messages --chat 1234567890@s.whatsapp.net --limit 50`
- Search: `wacrawl search "release notes"`
- Filtered search: `wacrawl --json search "invoice" --from-them --after 2026-01-01`

## Notes

- `wacrawl` is read-only and does not send messages.
- It copies WhatsApp SQLite files into a temp snapshot before import.
- Use `--source` to override the WhatsApp Desktop container path.
- Use `--db` to archive somewhere other than `~/.wacrawl/wacrawl.db`.