| name | wacli |
| description | Send WhatsApp messages to other people or search/sync WhatsApp history via the wacli CLI (not for normal user chats). Use when the user asks to send a WhatsApp message, text someone on WhatsApp, search WhatsApp chat history, sync WhatsApp conversations, backfill message history, or forward a file via WhatsApp to a third party. |
| homepage | https://wacli.sh |
| metadata | {"otto":{"emoji":"📱","requires":{"bins":["wacli"]},"install":[{"id":"brew","kind":"brew","formula":"steipete/tap/wacli","bins":["wacli"],"label":"Install wacli (brew)"},{"id":"go","kind":"go","module":"github.com/steipete/wacli/cmd/wacli@latest","bins":["wacli"],"label":"Install wacli (go)"}]}} |
wacli
Use wacli only when the user explicitly asks you to message someone else on WhatsApp or when they ask to sync/search WhatsApp history.
Do NOT use wacli for normal user chats; Otto routes WhatsApp conversations automatically.
If the user is chatting with you on WhatsApp, you should not reach for this tool unless they ask you to contact a third party.
Safety
- Require explicit recipient + message text.
- Confirm recipient + message before sending.
- If anything is ambiguous, ask a clarifying question.
Auth + sync
wacli auth (QR login + initial sync)wacli sync --follow (continuous sync)wacli doctor
Find chats + messages
wacli chats list --limit 20 --query "name or number"wacli messages search "query" --limit 20 --chat <jid>wacli messages search "invoice" --after 2025-01-01 --before 2025-12-31
History backfill
wacli history backfill --chat <jid> --requests 2 --count 50
Send
- Text:
wacli send text --to "+14155551212" --message "Hello! Are you free at 3pm?"
- Group:
wacli send text --to "1234567890-123456789@g.us" --message "Running 5 min late."
- File:
wacli send file --to "+14155551212" --file /path/agenda.pdf --caption "Agenda"
Notes
- Store dir:
~/.wacli (override with --store).
- Use
--json for machine-readable output when parsing.
- Backfill requires your phone online; results are best-effort.
- WhatsApp CLI is not needed for routine user chats; it’s for messaging other people.
- JIDs: direct chats look like
<number>@s.whatsapp.net; groups look like <id>@g.us (use wacli chats list to find).
