WhatsApp

Send WhatsApp messages, manage templates, handle media, and automate WhatsApp Business messaging workflows via the WhatsApp Business API.

This skill uses ClawLink for hosted connection flows and credentials so you do not need to configure WhatsApp API access yourself.

Setup in 3 Steps

Step 1: Install	Step 2: Pair Account	Step 3: Connect WhatsApp
		App-specific connection GIF coming soon
Run the install command in OpenClaw	Sign in and approve the device	Open the dashboard and connect WhatsApp

How It Works

┌─────────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────────┐
│   OpenClaw      │────▶│   ClawLink   │────▶│  WhatsApp Cloud  │
│   (User Chat)   │     │   (OAuth)    │     │      API         │
└─────────────────┘     └──────────────┘     └──────────────────┘
         │                       │                       │
         │  1. Install Plugin    │                       │
         │  2. Pair Device       │                       │
         │  3. Connect WhatsApp  │                       │
         │                       │  4. Secure Token      │
         │                       │  5. Proxy Requests   │
         │                       │                       │
         ▼                       ▼                       ▼
   ┌──────────┐           ┌──────────┐           ┌──────────┐
   │  SKILL   │           │ Dashboard│           │ WhatsApp│
   │  File    │           │ Auth     │           │ Business │
   └──────────┘           └──────────┘           └──────────┘

Install

Install the verified ClawLink plugin from ClawHub. After the user confirms, complete the full setup so ClawLink tools are visible in the next OpenClaw chat.

openclaw plugins install clawhub:clawlink-plugin
openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
openclaw gateway restart

Then tell the user: "OpenClaw has been restarted. Send /new as a standalone message to start a fresh chat, then ask for WhatsApp again."

Quick Start

# List phone numbers
clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_get_phone_numbers" --params '{}'

# Send a text message
clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_send_message" --params '{"phone_number": "+15551234567", "message": "Hello from OpenClaw!"}'

# List message templates
clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_get_message_templates" --params '{}'

Authentication

All WhatsApp tool calls are authenticated automatically by ClawLink using the user's connected WhatsApp Business account token.

No API token is required in chat. ClawLink stores the token securely and injects it into every WhatsApp Business API request on the user's behalf.

Getting Connected

1. Install the ClawLink plugin (see Install above).
2. Pair the plugin with clawlink_begin_pairing if it is not configured yet.
3. Open https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=whatsapp and connect WhatsApp.
4. Call clawlink_list_integrations to verify the connection is active.

Connection Management

List Connections

clawlink_list_integrations

Response: Returns all connected integrations. Look for whatsapp in the list.

Verify Connection

clawlink_list_tools --integration whatsapp

Response: Returns the live tool catalog for WhatsApp.

Reconnect

If WhatsApp tools are missing or the connection shows an error:

1. Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=whatsapp
2. After they confirm, call clawlink_list_integrations to verify
3. Then call clawlink_list_tools --integration whatsapp

Security & Permissions

• Access is scoped to the WhatsApp Business account connected during OAuth setup.
• All message send operations require explicit user confirmation. WhatsApp messages reach real users — confirm recipients and content.
• Message templates must be pre-approved by WhatsApp before they can be used.
• The 24-hour customer service window applies to free-form messages — outside this window, only approved templates can be sent.
• Confirm recipient phone numbers before sending — messages cannot be recalled.

Tool Reference

Phone Numbers

Tool	Description	Mode
whatsapp_get_phone_numbers	List all phone numbers on the WhatsApp Business account	Read
whatsapp_get_phone_number	Get details for a specific phone number	Read

Messages

Tool	Description	Mode
whatsapp_send_message	Send a text message to a WhatsApp number	Write
whatsapp_send_media	Send an image, video, audio, or document	Write
whatsapp_send_media_by_id	Send media using a previously uploaded media ID	Write
whatsapp_send_location	Send a location message with coordinates	Write
whatsapp_send_contacts	Send contact card(s) to a WhatsApp user	Write
whatsapp_send_interactive_buttons	Send a message with up to 3 reply buttons	Write
whatsapp_send_interactive_list	Send a list message with up to 10 options	Write
whatsapp_send_template_message	Send an approved message template	Write

Media

Tool	Description	Mode
whatsapp_upload_media	Upload media (image, video, audio, document) to WhatsApp servers	Write
whatsapp_get_media_info	Get metadata and download URL for uploaded media	Read

Message Templates

Tool	Description	Mode
whatsapp_get_message_templates	List all message templates	Read
whatsapp_get_template_status	Get approval status of a specific template	Read
whatsapp_create_message_template	Create a new message template	Write
whatsapp_delete_message_template	Delete a message template	Write

Business Profile

Tool	Description	Mode
whatsapp_get_business_profile	Get the business profile information	Read

Code Examples

List phone numbers

clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_get_phone_numbers" \
  --params '{}'

Send a text message

clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_send_message" \
  --params '{
    "phone_number_id": "PHONE_NUMBER_ID",
    "recipient_phone": "+15551234567",
    "message": "Hi! Your order #12345 has shipped and is on its way."
  }'

Send an image

clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_send_media" \
  --params '{
    "phone_number_id": "PHONE_NUMBER_ID",
    "recipient_phone": "+15551234567",
    "media_url": "https://example.com/receipt.png",
    "caption": "Here is your receipt for order #12345"
  }'

Send interactive buttons

clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_send_interactive_buttons" \
  --params '{
    "phone_number_id": "PHONE_NUMBER_ID",
    "recipient_phone": "+15551234567",
    "header": "Order Update",
    "body": "Has your package arrived?",
    "buttons": [
      {"id": "yes", "title": "Yes"},
      {"id": "no", "title": "No"}
    ]
  }'

Send a template message

clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_send_template_message" \
  --params '{
    "phone_number_id": "PHONE_NUMBER_ID",
    "recipient_phone": "+15551234567",
    "template_name": "shipping_confirmation",
    "language_code": "en",
    "components": [
      {
        "type": "body",
        "parameters": [
          {"type": "text", "text": "John"},
          {"type": "text", "text": "#12345"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }'

Upload media

clawlink_call_tool --tool "whatsapp_upload_media" \
  --params '{
    "phone_number_id": "PHONE_NUMBER_ID",
    "media_url": "https://example.com/image.png",
    "media_type": "image/png"
  }'

Discovery Workflow

1. Call clawlink_list_integrations to confirm WhatsApp is connected.
2. Call clawlink_list_tools --integration whatsapp to see the live catalog.
3. Treat the returned list as the source of truth. Do not guess or assume what tools exist.
4. If the user describes a capability but the exact tool is unclear, call clawlink_search_tools with a short query and integration whatsapp.
5. If no WhatsApp tools appear, direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=whatsapp.

Execution Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  READ OPERATIONS (Safe)                                     │
│  list → get → describe                                     │
│                                                             │
│  Example: List templates → Get template status → Report     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  WRITE OPERATIONS (Require Confirmation)                    │
│  describe → preview → confirm → call                       │
│                                                             │
│  Example: Preview message → User approves → Send message    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. For unfamiliar tools, ambiguous requests, or any write action, call clawlink_describe_tool first.
2. Use the returned guidance, schema, whenToUse, askBefore, safeDefaults, examples, and followups to shape the call.
3. Prefer read, list, and get operations before writes when that reduces ambiguity.
4. For writes or anything marked as requiring confirmation, call clawlink_preview_tool first.
5. Execute with clawlink_call_tool. Pass confirmation only after the preview matches the user's intent.
6. If the tool call fails, report the real error. Do not invent results or restate the failure as a missing capability unless the live catalog supports that conclusion.

Notes

• You need a phone_number_id from whatsapp_get_phone_numbers to send messages.
• The 24-hour customer service window: free-form messages can only be sent to users who have messaged you within the past 24 hours.
• Outside the 24-hour window, you must use approved message templates.
• Template deletion has a 30-day cooldown before the name can be reused.
• Media downloads expire — use whatsapp_get_media_info to get a fresh download URL.
• Recipient phone numbers must include country code (e.g., +1 for US).

Error Handling

Status / Error	Meaning
Tool not found	The tool name does not exist in the current catalog. Verify with clawlink_list_tools --integration whatsapp.
Missing connection	WhatsApp is not connected. Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=whatsapp.
131026 — Message undeliverable	The recipient's phone number is not a valid WhatsApp account.
133010 — Phone number not on WhatsApp	The recipient has not registered on WhatsApp.
131047 — Outside 24-hour window	Must use a template message. Send a template instead.
Template not found	The template name does not exist or hasn't been approved.
Template rejected	The template is pending review or was rejected by WhatsApp.
Media upload failed	The media URL is inaccessible or the format is unsupported.
Write rejected	User did not confirm a write action. Always confirm before executing writes.

Troubleshooting: Tools Not Visible

1. Check that the ClawLink plugin is installed:

   openclaw plugins list
   

2. If the plugin is installed but tools are missing, tell the user to send /new as a standalone message to reload the catalog.
3. If a fresh chat does not help, run:

   openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
   openclaw gateway restart
   

4. After restart, tell the user to send /new again and retry.

Troubleshooting: Message Send Fails

1. Confirm the recipient phone number is correct and includes the country code.
2. Check if the 24-hour window has expired — use a template message instead.
3. Verify the template is approved before trying to send it.
4. Check the phone number ID is correct for the business account.

Resources

• WhatsApp Business API Documentation
• WhatsApp Business API Reference
• Message Templates Guidelines
• ClawLink: https://claw-link.dev/?utm_source=clawhub&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=whatsapp-messaging
• ClawLink Docs: https://docs.claw-link.dev/openclaw
• ClawLink Verification: https://claw-link.dev/verify

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