wacli WhatsApp

Send WhatsApp messages or files from the command line using wacli (WhatsApp Web via whatsmeow). Use when the user asks to message someone on WhatsApp (send text, reply/quote, send a file/media with caption, react), or to auth/sync/search WhatsApp history via wacli.

wacli (WhatsApp CLI)

Use wacli via exec.

Safety / permission

• Treat sending as an external, privacy-sensitive action.
• Only send when the user explicitly provided (a) recipient and (b) message/file content and asked to send.
• If any detail is missing/ambiguous (wrong number, unclear chat, not sure which attachment), ask one clarifying question before sending.

Quick checks

• Verify install:
  • wacli version
• If missing, suggest:
  • brew install steipete/tap/wacli

Auth + sync (required before sending)

• Login (shows QR) and bootstrap initial sync:
  • wacli auth
• Keep syncing in the background (recommended so messages/IDs resolve):
  • wacli sync --follow
• Diagnostics:
  • wacli doctor

Send a WhatsApp message

Text:

• wacli send text --to <PHONE_OR_JID> --message "<TEXT>"

Quoted reply (needs message id, usually from messages list/search/show/context):

• wacli send text --to <PHONE_OR_JID> --message "<TEXT>" --reply-to <MSG_ID>

React:

• wacli send react --to <PHONE_OR_JID> --id <MSG_ID> [--reaction "<EMOJI>"]

Send a file

• wacli send file --to <PHONE_OR_JID> --file <PATH> [--caption "<TEXT>"] [--filename <DISPLAY_NAME>] [--mime <MIME>]

Finding chats / message ids

• Search messages:
  • wacli messages search "<QUERY>"
• List recent messages (for a known chat JID):
  • wacli messages list --chat <JID> --asc --limit 50
• Show context around a message:
  • wacli messages context --chat <JID> --id <MSG_ID>
• Find chats/groups:
  • wacli chats list --query "<NAME>" --limit 50
  • wacli groups list --query "<NAME>" --limit 50

Store location (FYI)

• Default store is ~/.wacli on macOS; override with --store DIR or WACLI_STORE_DIR.