Skip to main content

​
WhatsApp Automation

Automate WhatsApp messaging with MachinaOs. Receive messages, process them, and send responses.

​
Prerequisites

  • MachinaOs running with the WhatsApp service
  • A WhatsApp account for pairing

​
Understanding WhatsApp Nodes

NodePurpose
WhatsApp ConnectCheck connection status
WhatsApp ReceiveTrigger on incoming messages
WhatsApp SendSend messages to contacts/groups

​
Step 1: Connect WhatsApp

  1. Click the WhatsApp icon in the toolbar (or add WhatsApp Connect node)
  2. A modal appears with a QR code
  3. Open WhatsApp on your phone > Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device
  4. Scan the QR code
  5. Wait for “Connected” status
Keep the WhatsApp service running. If it stops, you’ll need to re-scan the QR code.

​
Step 2: Create a Message Responder

Let’s build a workflow that auto-replies to incoming messages.

​
Add WhatsApp Receive Trigger

  1. Drag WhatsApp Receive from the WhatsApp category
  2. Configure the trigger:
Message Type Filter: All Messages
Sender Filter: All Messages
Ignore Own Messages: true

​
Filter Options

FilterDescription
All MessagesReceive everything
From Any ContactNon-group messages only
From Specific ContactFilter by phone number
From Specific GroupFilter by group
Contains KeywordsMatch specific words

​
Step 3: Add an AI Response

  1. Drag OpenAI Chat Model onto the canvas
  2. Connect WhatsApp Receive output to AI input
  3. Configure:
Model: gpt-4o-mini
Prompt: "Reply to this WhatsApp message: {{whatsappReceive.text}}"

​
Step 4: Send the Response

  1. Drag WhatsApp Send onto the canvas
  2. Connect AI output to WhatsApp Send input
  3. Configure:
Phone Number: {{whatsappReceive.sender_phone}}
Message: {{openaiChatModel.response}}

​
Complete Workflow

[WhatsApp Receive] --> [OpenAI Chat] --> [WhatsApp Send]

​
Step 5: Deploy

  1. Click Deploy
  2. Send a message to your linked WhatsApp number
  3. The workflow triggers and sends an AI response

​
Available Data from WhatsApp Receive

FieldTypeDescription
message_idstringUnique message ID
senderstringSender JID
sender_phonestringPhone number
chat_idstringChat/group ID
message_typestringtext, image, video, etc.
textstringMessage content
timestampstringWhen message was sent
is_groupbooleanTrue if from a group
is_from_mebooleanTrue if sent by you
push_namestringSender’s display name
is_forwardedbooleanTrue if forwarded
group_infoobjectGroup details (if group message)

​
Group Message Handling

For group messages, use: 
{{whatsappReceive.group_info.group_jid}}
{{whatsappReceive.group_info.sender_name}}
{{whatsappReceive.group_info.sender_phone}}

​
Example: Keyword-Based Response

Set up different responses based on keywords:

​
Configuration

Sender Filter: Contains Keywords
Keywords: help, support, question

​
AI Prompt

The user needs help. Their message: {{whatsappReceive.text}}
Provide a helpful response.

​
Example: Group Bot

Reply only in specific groups: 
Sender Filter: From Specific Group
Group: [Select from dropdown]

​
Troubleshooting

  • Ensure the WhatsApp service is running on port 5000
  • Check Docker logs: docker-compose logs whatsapp
  • Restart the service: docker-compose restart whatsapp
  • Verify the trigger is deployed (not just saved)
  • Check “Ignore Own Messages” setting
  • Ensure filters aren’t too restrictive
  • Verify phone number format (include country code)
  • Check WhatsApp connection status
  • Ensure recipient hasn’t blocked you

​
Tips

Use Simple Memory with WhatsApp for context-aware conversations. Set Session ID to {{whatsappReceive.sender_phone}} for per-contact memory.
Test with your own number first before deploying to production.

​
Next Steps

Android Automation

Control Android devices

WhatsApp Node Reference

Full node documentation