How to Forward WhatsApp Messages Programmatically
Forward messages between WhatsApp chats using sendRawMessage(). You can forward text, media, polls, and any other message type — with or without the "Forwarded" label.
Prerequisites
- A paired whatsmeow-node session (How to Pair)
Forward a Text Message
To forward a received message to another chat, pass it via sendRawMessage with the isForwarded flag:
const targetJid = "5598765432@s.whatsapp.net";
client.on("message", async ({ info, message }) => {
if (info.isFromMe) return;
const text =
(message.conversation as string) ??
(message.extendedTextMessage as { text?: string } | undefined)?.text;
if (!text) return;
// Forward as a new message with the "Forwarded" label
await client.sendRawMessage(targetJid, {
extendedTextMessage: {
text,
contextInfo: {
isForwarded: true,
forwardingScore: 1,
},
},
});
});
The isForwarded: true flag shows the "Forwarded" label on the message. forwardingScore tracks how many times the message has been forwarded — WhatsApp shows "Forwarded many times" when this reaches 4+.
Forward Without the "Forwarded" Label
To relay a message without the forwarding label, simply send it as a new message:
// Send as if it's a new message — no forwarding label
await client.sendMessage(targetJid, { conversation: text });
Forward Media Messages
Media messages (images, videos, documents) can be forwarded by passing the original message content. The media is already uploaded to WhatsApp's servers, so no re-upload is needed:
client.on("message", async ({ info, message }) => {
if (info.isFromMe) return;
// Forward images
if (message.imageMessage) {
await client.sendRawMessage(targetJid, {
imageMessage: {
...message.imageMessage,
contextInfo: {
isForwarded: true,
forwardingScore: 1,
},
},
});
return;
}
// Forward videos
if (message.videoMessage) {
await client.sendRawMessage(targetJid, {
videoMessage: {
...message.videoMessage,
contextInfo: {
isForwarded: true,
forwardingScore: 1,
},
},
});
return;
}
// Forward documents
if (message.documentMessage) {
await client.sendRawMessage(targetJid, {
documentMessage: {
...message.documentMessage,
contextInfo: {
isForwarded: true,
forwardingScore: 1,
},
},
});
return;
}
});
Forward Any Message Type
A generic function that forwards any message by detecting its type:
const MESSAGE_TYPES = [
"conversation",
"extendedTextMessage",
"imageMessage",
"videoMessage",
"audioMessage",
"documentMessage",
"stickerMessage",
"contactMessage",
"locationMessage",
"pollCreationMessage",
] as const;
async function forwardMessage(
targetJid: string,
message: Record<string, unknown>,
showForwarded = true,
) {
for (const type of MESSAGE_TYPES) {
if (!(type in message)) continue;
if (type === "conversation") {
// Simple text — wrap in extendedTextMessage for contextInfo support
await client.sendRawMessage(targetJid, {
extendedTextMessage: {
text: message.conversation as string,
...(showForwarded && {
contextInfo: { isForwarded: true, forwardingScore: 1 },
}),
},
});
} else {
// Structured message — spread and add contextInfo
const content = message[type] as Record<string, unknown>;
await client.sendRawMessage(targetJid, {
[type]: {
...content,
...(showForwarded && {
contextInfo: {
...(content.contextInfo as Record<string, unknown> ?? {}),
isForwarded: true,
forwardingScore: 1,
},
}),
},
});
}
return;
}
}
Build a Relay Bot
Forward all messages from one group to another:
const SOURCE_GROUP = "120363XXXXX@g.us";
const TARGET_GROUP = "120363YYYYY@g.us";
client.on("message", async ({ info, message }) => {
if (info.isFromMe) return;
if (info.chat !== SOURCE_GROUP) return;
// Add sender attribution
const attribution = `[${info.pushName}]:\n`;
const text =
(message.conversation as string) ??
(message.extendedTextMessage as { text?: string } | undefined)?.text;
if (text) {
await client.sendMessage(TARGET_GROUP, {
conversation: `${attribution}${text}`,
});
return;
}
// Forward media with caption attribution
await forwardMessage(TARGET_GROUP, message);
});
Complete Example
A relay bot that forwards messages between a private chat and a group:
import { createClient } from "@whatsmeow-node/whatsmeow-node";
const client = createClient({ store: "session.db" });
// Forward messages FROM this chat TO the group
const PRIVATE_CHAT = "5512345678@s.whatsapp.net";
const GROUP_CHAT = "120363XXXXX@g.us";
client.on("message", async ({ info, message }) => {
if (info.isFromMe) return;
const text =
(message.conversation as string) ??
(message.extendedTextMessage as { text?: string } | undefined)?.text;
// Private → Group
if (info.chat === PRIVATE_CHAT && text) {
await client.sendMessage(GROUP_CHAT, {
conversation: `[${info.pushName}]: ${text}`,
});
return;
}
// Group → Private
if (info.chat === GROUP_CHAT && text) {
await client.sendMessage(PRIVATE_CHAT, {
conversation: `[${info.pushName} in group]: ${text}`,
});
return;
}
});
async function main() {
const { jid } = await client.init();
if (!jid) {
console.error("Not paired!");
process.exit(1);
}
await client.connect();
await client.sendPresence("available");
console.log("Relay bot is online!");
process.on("SIGINT", async () => {
await client.sendPresence("unavailable");
await client.disconnect();
client.close();
process.exit(0);
});
}
main().catch(console.error);
Common Pitfalls
If you forward messages from a chat and also listen to the target chat, you can create an infinite loop. Always check the source chat and skip your own messages.
WhatsApp media URLs expire after some time. If you save a message and try to forward it much later, the media may no longer be available. Forward media promptly or download it first with downloadAny().
Forwarding many messages quickly will hit WhatsApp's rate limits. Space out sends, especially for bulk relay operations. See Rate Limiting.
