gowa
Interact with WhatsApp via GOWA (Go WhatsApp Web Multi-Device) REST API for personal automation.
Setup & Installation
Install command
clawhub install aldinokemal/gowaIf the CLI is not installed:
Install command
npx clawhub@latest install aldinokemal/gowaOr install with OpenClaw CLI:
Install command
openclaw skills install aldinokemal/gowaor paste the repo link into your assistant's chat
Install command
https://github.com/openclaw/skills/tree/main/skills/aldinokemal/gowaWhat This Skill Does
GOWA (Go WhatsApp Web Multi-Device) exposes WhatsApp as a local REST API on localhost:3000. It supports sending text, media, polls, contacts, and locations, plus full group management including ghost mentions that notify all members without showing the @ symbol in message text.
It provides full WhatsApp functionality via REST without requiring a paid WhatsApp Business API account or third-party messaging service.
When to Use It
- Sending scheduled reminders to a WhatsApp group with ghost mentions
- Automating image or document delivery from a backend script
- Managing group participants and admins programmatically
- Pushing backend alerts or status updates to personal or group chats
- Building a WhatsApp notification layer for internal tools
View original SKILL.md file
# GOWA - WhatsApp Automation via REST API
Interact with WhatsApp through GOWA (Go WhatsApp Web Multi-Device) REST API for personal automation tasks.
## Installation & Setup
GOWA is available at: https://github.com/aldinokemal/go-whatsapp-web-multidevice
### Download
Go to the [releases page](https://github.com/aldinokemal/go-whatsapp-web-multidevice/releases) and download the zip matching your OS and architecture.
Release files are named: `whatsapp_VERSION_OS_ARCH.zip`
Available platforms: `linux` (amd64/arm64/386), `darwin` (amd64/arm64), `windows` (amd64/386)
### Run REST Server
```bash
./gowa rest
```
The server starts on `http://localhost:3000` by default.
### Login (First Time)
Open `http://localhost:3000` in a browser, scan the QR code with WhatsApp on your phone to link the device.
## Production Setup
**GOWA runs in REST mode:**
- Base URL: `http://localhost:3000`
- GOWA auto-connects to the device stored in the database — no `X-Device-Id` header needed for single-device setups.
**⚠️ Important:** Use REST API (port 3000) only. Do NOT use MCP mode - all schedulers and automation depend on REST.
## Quick Examples
### Ghost Mention (mention all without @)
```bash
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/send/message \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"phone": "120363040656010581@g.us",
"message": "Important announcement",
"mentions": ["@everyone"]
}'
```
### Send Text Message
```bash
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/send/message \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"phone": "628123456789", "message": "Hello!"}'
```
### Send Image
```bash
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/send/image \
-F "phone=628xxx" \
-F "caption=Photo" \
-F "image=@/path/to/image.jpg"
```
### Check Status
```bash
curl http://localhost:3000/app/status | jq .
```
## Complete API Operations
### Messages
**Send Text with Ghost Mention:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/message`
- Body: `{"phone": "group@g.us", "message": "text", "mentions": ["@everyone"]}`
- **@everyone** mentions all members without showing @ in text ✅
**Reply to Message:**
- Body: `{"phone": "...", "message": "...", "reply_message_id": "msg_id"}`
**Disappearing Message:**
- Body: `{"phone": "...", "message": "...", "duration": 86400}` (seconds)
**Forward Message:**
- Body: `{"phone": "...", "message": "...", "is_forwarded": true}`
### Media
**Send Image:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/image`
- Form data: `phone`, `caption`, `image` (file), `compress` (bool)
**Send Document:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/file`
- Form data: `phone`, `caption`, `file`
**Send Video:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/video`
- Form data: `phone`, `caption`, `video`, `compress` (bool)
**Send Audio:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/audio`
- Form data: `phone`, `audio`
**Send Sticker:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/sticker`
- Form data: `phone`, `sticker` (auto-converts to WebP)
**Send Contact:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/contact`
- Body: `{"phone": "...", "contact_name": "...", "contact_phone": "..."}`
**Send Location:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/location`
- Body: `{"phone": "...", "latitude": 0.0, "longitude": 0.0}`
**Send Link:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/link`
- Body: `{"phone": "...", "link": "...", "caption": "..."}`
**Send Poll:**
- Endpoint: `POST /send/poll`
- Body: `{"phone": "...", "question": "...", "options": ["A", "B"]}`
### Connection & Status
**Get Status:**
- `GET /app/status`
- Returns: `{"is_connected": true, "is_logged_in": true}`
**Reconnect:**
- `GET /app/reconnect`
**Logout:**
- `GET /app/logout`
**Get QR Code (for login):**
- `GET /app/login`
- Returns: PNG image (QR code to scan)
**Login with Pairing Code:**
- `GET /app/login-with-code?phone=628xxx`
### Groups
**List My Groups:**
- `GET /user/my/groups`
- Returns: `{results: {data: [...]}}` - groups array is at `.results.data`
- Example: `curl ... | jq '.results.data[] | {Name, JID, Members: .Participants | length}'`
- Max 500 groups (WhatsApp protocol limit)
**Get Group Info:**
- `GET /group/info?group_jid=xxx@g.us`
**Create Group:**
- `POST /group`
- Body: `{"name": "Group Name", "participants": ["628xxx@s.whatsapp.net"]}`
**Get Group Participants:**
- `GET /group/participants?group_jid=xxx@g.us`
**Add Participant:**
- `POST /group/participants`
- Body: `{"group_jid": "...", "participants": ["628xxx@s.whatsapp.net"]}`
**Remove Participant:**
- `POST /group/participants/remove`
- Body: `{"group_jid": "...", "participants": ["628xxx@s.whatsapp.net"]}`
**Promote to Admin:**
- `POST /group/participants/promote`
- Body: `{"group_jid": "...", "participants": ["628xxx@s.whatsapp.net"]}`
**Demote from Admin:**
- `POST /group/participants/demote`
- Body: `{"group_jid": "...", "participants": ["628xxx@s.whatsapp.net"]}`
**Leave Group:**
- `POST /group/leave`
- Body: `{"group_jid": "..."}`
**Set Group Photo:**
- `POST /group/photo`
- Form data: `group_jid`, `photo`
**Set Group Name:**
- `POST /group/name`
- Body: `{"group_jid": "...", "name": "..."}`
**Set Group Description:**
- `POST /group/topic`
- Body: `{"group_jid": "...", "topic": "..."}`
**Get Invite Link:**
- `GET /group/invite-link?group_jid=xxx@g.us`
**Join via Link:**
- `POST /group/join-with-link`
- Body: `{"link": "https://chat.whatsapp.com/..."}`
### Contacts & Chats
**List Contacts:**
- `GET /user/my/contacts`
**Get Chats:**
- `GET /chats`
**Get User Info:**
- `GET /user/info?phone=628xxx`
**Check if User Exists:**
- `GET /user/check?phone=628xxx`
### Message Operations
**Revoke/Delete Message:**
- `POST /message/{message_id}/revoke`
**React to Message:**
- `POST /message/{message_id}/reaction`
- Body: `{"emoji": "👍"}`
**Edit Message:**
- `POST /message/{message_id}/update`
- Body: `{"message": "edited text"}`
**Mark as Read:**
- `POST /message/{message_id}/read`
**Star Message:**
- `POST /message/{message_id}/star`
**Download Media:**
- `GET /message/{message_id}/download`
## Phone Number Format
- **User JID:** `628123456789@s.whatsapp.net`
- **Group JID:** `120363040656010581@g.us`
- **Phone only:** `628123456789` (without +)
## Ghost Mention Feature
**How it works:**
- Use `"mentions": ["@everyone"]` in `/send/message`
- All group members get notification
- **No @ symbol shown in message text** (true ghost mention)
- Tested and confirmed working ✅
**Example for schedulers:**
```bash
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:3000/send/message \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d '{"phone": "120363040656010581@g.us", "message": "Reminder text", "mentions": ["@everyone"]}' | jq .
```
## API Reference
Full OpenAPI 3.0 spec available at:
- OpenAPI: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aldinokemal/go-whatsapp-web-multidevice/refs/heads/main/docs/openapi.yaml
- GitHub: https://github.com/aldinokemal/go-whatsapp-web-multidevice
## Notes
- Auto-compresses images and videos before sending
- Auto-converts images to WebP for stickers
- Max 500 groups can be retrieved (WhatsApp protocol limit)
- All media files can be sent as file upload or URL
- Supports disappearing messages with custom duration
- Multi-device support available via `X-Device-Id` header when running multiple devices
- Built by @aldinokemal: https://github.com/aldinokemal/go-whatsapp-web-multidevice
Example Workflow
Here's how your AI assistant might use this skill in practice.
User asks: Sending scheduled reminders to a WhatsApp group with ghost mentions
- 1Sending scheduled reminders to a WhatsApp group with ghost mentions
- 2Automating image or document delivery from a backend script
- 3Managing group participants and admins programmatically
- 4Pushing backend alerts or status updates to personal or group chats
- 5Building a WhatsApp notification layer for internal tools
Interact with WhatsApp via GOWA (Go WhatsApp Web Multi-Device) REST API for personal automation.
Security Audits
These signals reflect official OpenClaw status values. A Suspicious status means the skill should be used with extra caution.