Introduction
# 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; Clawdbot 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 "[email protected]" --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).