Content
# WAHA
<p align="center">
<img src="./logo.png" style='border-radius: 50%' width='150'/>
</p>
**WAHA** - **W**hats**A**pp **H**TTP **A**PI (REST API) that you can install on your own server and run in less than 5 minutes!
[](https://hub.docker.com/r/devlikeapro/waha)
- Documentation: [https://waha.devlike.pro/](https://waha.devlike.pro/)
- Dashboard Example: [https://waha.devlike.pro/dashboard](https://waha.devlike.pro/dashboard)
- Swagger Example: [https://waha.devlike.pro/swagger](https://waha.devlike.pro/swagger)
# Tables of Contents
<!-- toc -->
- [Quick start](#quick-start)
* [Requirements](#requirements)
* [Send your first message](#send-your-first-message)
+ [1. Download image](#1-download-image)
+ [2. Run WhatsApp HTTP API](#2-run-whatsapp-http-api)
+ [3. Start a new session](#3-start-a-new-session)
+ [4. Get and scan QR](#4-get-and-scan-qr)
+ [5. Get the screenshot](#5-get-the-screenshot)
+ [6. Send a text message](#6-send-a-text-message)
* [What is next?](#what-is-next)
- [Development](#development)
* [Start the project](#start-the-project)
<!-- tocstop -->
# Quick start
## Requirements
Only thing that you must have - installed docker. Please follow the original
instruction <a href="https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to install docker -></a>.
When you are ready - come back and follows the below steps to send the first text message to WhatsApp via HTTP API!
## Send your first message
Let's go over steps that allow you to send your first text message via WhatsApp HTTP API!
### 1. Download image
Assuming you have installed [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/), let's download the image.
```bash
docker pull devlikeapro/waha
```
```bash
docker login -u devlikeapro -p {KEY}
docker pull devlikeapro/waha-plus
docker logout
```
Read more about how to get `PASSWORD` for [**➕ WAHA Plus**](https://waha.devlike.pro/docs/how-to/waha-plus/)
### 2. Run WhatsApp HTTP API
Run WhatsApp HTTP API:
```bash
docker run -it --rm -p 3000:3000/tcp --name waha devlikeapro/waha
# It prints logs and the last line must be
# WhatsApp HTTP API is running on: http://[::1]:3000
```
Open the link in your browser [http://localhost:3000/](http://localhost:3000/) and you'll see API documentation
(Swagger).
### 3. Start a new session
To start a new session you should have your mobile phone with installed WhatsApp application close to you.
Please go and read how what we'll need to a bit
later:
<a href="https://faq.whatsapp.com/381777293328336/?helpref=hc_fnav" target="_blank">
How to log in - the instruction on WhatsApp site
</a>
When your ready - find `POST /api/sessions`, click on **Try it out**, then **Execute** a bit below.
The example payload:
```json
{
"name": "default"
}
```
By using the request with `name` values you can start multiple session (WhatsApp accounts) inside the single docker container in Plus
### 4. Get and scan QR
Find `GET /api/screenshot` and execute it, it shows you QR code.
**Scan the QR with your cell phone's WhatsApp app.**
### 5. Get the screenshot
Execute `GET /api/screenshot` after a few seconds after scanning the QR - it'll show you the screenshot of you Whatsapp
instance. If you can get the actual screenshot - then you're ready to start sending messages!
### 6. Send a text message
Let's send a text message - find `POST /api/sendText` in [swagger](http://localhost:3000/) and change `chatId` this
way: use a phone international phone number without `+` symbol and add `@c.us` at the end.
For phone number `12132132131` the `chatId` is `12132132131@c.us`.
The example payload:
```json
{
"chatId": "12132132130@c.us",
"text": "Hi there!",
"session": "default"
}
```
Also, you can use `curl` and send POST request like this:
```bash
# Phone without +
export PHONE=12132132130
curl -d "{\"chatId\": \"${PHONE}@c.us\", \"text\": \"Hello from WhatsApp HTTP API\" }" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/sendText
```
## What is next?
[Go and read the full documentation!](https://waha.devlike.pro/docs/overview/introduction/)
# Development
## Start the project
1. Clone the repository
2. Make sure you're using node>=22 (check [.nvmrc](/.nvmrc) to get the version)
3. Install the **whatsapp-rust-bridge prerequisites**:
```bash
# Bun runtime used by whatsapp-rust-bridge prepare scripts
curl -fsSL https://bun.sh/install | bash -s -- bun-v1.3.9
# Rust nightly toolchain used for whatsapp-rust-bridge
curl -fsSL https://sh.rustup.rs | bash -s -- -y --default-toolchain nightly-2026-01-30
rustup target add wasm32-unknown-unknown
cargo install wasm-pack --vers 0.14.0 --locked
```
4. Run the following commands:
```bash
# Install dependencies
yarn install
# Fetch and compile proto files
yarn gows:proto
# Run
yarn start
# open http://localhost:3000
```
