WhatsApp

WhatsApp integration via Baileys (QR code link) supporting DMs, groups, reactions, polls, and media exchange.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular OpenClaw channel integrations, connecting your AI agent to the world's most-used messaging platform with over two billion active users. OpenClaw uses the Baileys library to connect via WhatsApp Web protocol — you scan a QR code with your phone, and your agent is live. No API keys, no developer portal, no approval process. The QR code pairing flow is the simplest onboarding in the OpenClaw ecosystem. Run 'openclaw channels login --channel whatsapp', scan the code with your phone's WhatsApp, and you're connected. The gateway maintains the WhatsApp Web session automatically, handling reconnections and session persistence. For personal automation, this means your agent shares your WhatsApp identity — messages from your agent appear as messages from you. WhatsApp supports the full range of messaging features you'd expect: text, images, audio, video, files, reactions, polls, inline buttons, voice messages, stickers, and location sharing. Voice message transcription means your agent can understand and respond to voice notes. The pairing and allowlist system prevents unauthorized access, and group policies let you control bot behavior in group chats with mention gating. For production or client-facing use, OpenClaw recommends a dedicated phone number to keep your personal WhatsApp separate. Multi-account support lets you run both personal and business WhatsApp accounts from the same instance. The main trade-off is that Baileys is an unofficial library — WhatsApp can theoretically break compatibility, though the community keeps it updated rapidly.

Tags: messaging, personal, popular, qr-login

Category: Messaging

Use Cases

  • Personal AI assistant on the app you already check 50 times a day
  • Client-facing support bot on WhatsApp Business number
  • Family group chat assistant with mention-gated access
  • Voice note transcription and response — talk to your agent naturally
  • Travel assistant that sends location-aware recommendations
  • Daily digest bot that sends morning briefings via WhatsApp

Tips

  • Use a dedicated phone number for production/client bots to keep personal WhatsApp separate
  • Enable selfChatMode if you want to message your own number and have the agent respond
  • WhatsApp notifications are the most reliable across all platforms — great for urgent alerts
  • Keep agent responses short and conversational — WhatsApp users expect chat-style messages
  • Send long outputs as file attachments rather than massive text blocks
  • Use multi-account to run personal + business WhatsApp from one OpenClaw instance
  • The session persists across gateway restarts — no need to re-scan QR each time
  • For groups, always set requireMention: true to avoid noise

Known Issues & Gotchas

  • The QR code expires quickly — scan it within 60 seconds of display
  • If your phone loses internet for too long, the WhatsApp Web session disconnects and needs re-linking
  • Using your personal number means the bot replies AS you — use a dedicated number for client-facing use
  • selfChatMode must be explicitly enabled if you want to chat with yourself (your agent on your own number)
  • WhatsApp doesn't support markdown tables or code blocks — format accordingly
  • Group messages require mention gating to prevent the bot from responding to every message
  • Phone numbers in allowFrom must be in E.164 format (e.g., +15551234567)
  • Don't put the country code without the + prefix — it will fail silently

Alternatives

  • Telegram
  • Signal
  • iMessage (BlueBubbles)

Community Feedback

WhatsApp has over two billion active users. Connecting OpenClaw to it means your agents reach you through a channel you already trust and use every day.

— Reddit r/OpenClawInstall

The QR code setup for WhatsApp is dead simple. No API keys, no developer portal. Scan and go. My mom could do it.

— Reddit r/openclaw

Running OpenClaw on WhatsApp with a dedicated number. It's my daily driver for quick queries because WhatsApp notifications are the ones I actually check.

— Reddit r/selfhosted

WhatsApp works great but I wish it had proper code block formatting. Long code outputs look messy compared to Telegram or Discord.

— Reddit r/openclaw

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the WhatsApp integration official or does it use an unofficial library?

OpenClaw uses Baileys, an open-source library that connects via WhatsApp Web protocol. It's unofficial but widely used and actively maintained. For official API access, Meta offers the WhatsApp Business API which is a separate integration path.

Will my WhatsApp account get banned for using this?

Baileys has been used by thousands of projects without widespread bans. However, aggressive automation (mass messaging, spam patterns) could trigger WhatsApp's anti-abuse systems. For personal assistant use with normal messaging patterns, the risk is very low.

Do I need to keep my phone connected?

WhatsApp Web sessions can now operate independently of your phone for extended periods (multi-device support). However, if your phone is completely offline for 14+ days, the linked session may disconnect.

Can I use WhatsApp Business API instead of Baileys?

The built-in OpenClaw WhatsApp channel uses Baileys (QR code linking). For WhatsApp Business API integration, you would need a separate setup. The community has guides for both paths.

How do I handle voice messages?

OpenClaw automatically transcribes incoming WhatsApp voice messages using your configured transcription provider (e.g., Whisper). The agent receives the transcribed text and can respond normally. You can also configure voice responses.

Can I send messages to people who haven't messaged the bot first?

Yes, if you're using your personal number. The agent can send outbound messages to any contact. With a dedicated bot number, the recipient needs to have the number saved or have an existing chat.

Configuration Examples

Personal number with self-chat

channels:
  whatsapp:
    dmPolicy: allowlist
    allowFrom:
      - "+15551234567"
    selfChatMode: true

Dedicated bot number

channels:
  whatsapp:
    dmPolicy: pairing
    allowFrom:
      - "+15551234567"
    groupPolicy: allowlist
    groupAllowFrom:
      - "+15551234567"
    groups:
      "*":
        requireMention: true

Multi-account (personal + work)

channels:
  whatsapp:
    dmPolicy: pairing
    allowFrom:
      - "+15551234567"
    accounts:
      work:
        dmPolicy: allowlist
        allowFrom:
          - "+15559876543"
          - "+15558765432"

Installation

Built-in (bundled with OpenClaw)