How to Send WhatsApp Messages from TypeScript

whatsmeow-node gives you typed async methods for every kind of WhatsApp message — text, replies, mentions, media, polls, and reactions. This guide covers each one with TypeScript examples.

Prerequisites

whatsmeow-node installed (Installation guide)
A paired session (How to Pair WhatsApp)

Set Up the Client

import { createClient } from "@whatsmeow-node/whatsmeow-node";

const client = createClient({ store: "session.db" });

async function main() {
  const { jid: myJid } = await client.init();
  if (!myJid) {
    console.error("Not paired — run the pairing flow first");
    process.exit(1);
  }
  await client.connect();
  await client.waitForConnection();

  const recipient = "5512345678@s.whatsapp.net";

  // ... send messages here
}

main().catch(console.error);

Send a Text Message

The simplest way — pass a conversation string:

const resp = await client.sendMessage(recipient, {
  conversation: "Hello from TypeScript!",
});

console.log(`Sent with ID: ${resp.id}`);

sendMessage is the high-level method. It takes a JID and a MessageContent object, and returns a SendResponse with the message id and timestamp.

Reply with a Quote

To show the original message in a quote bubble, use sendRawMessage with contextInfo:

// Assume we received a message and have its info
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;

  await client.sendRawMessage(info.chat, {
    extendedTextMessage: {
      text: `You said: "${text}"`,
      contextInfo: {
        stanzaId: info.id,
        participant: info.sender,
        quotedMessage: { conversation: text },
      },
    },
  });
});

@Mention Users

Include JIDs in mentionedJid and use @<number> in the text:

await client.sendRawMessage(groupJid, {
  extendedTextMessage: {
    text: `Hey @${memberJid.split("@")[0]}, check this out!`,
    contextInfo: {
      mentionedJid: [memberJid],
    },
  },
});

To mention everyone in a group:

const group = await client.getGroupInfo(groupJid);
const jids = group.participants.map((p) => p.jid);
const mentions = jids.map((j) => `@${j.split("@")[0]}`).join(" ");

await client.sendRawMessage(groupJid, {
  extendedTextMessage: {
    text: `Attention: ${mentions}`,
    contextInfo: { mentionedJid: jids },
  },
});

Send Media

Upload first, then send the metadata with a raw message:

// Upload an image
const media = await client.uploadMedia("/path/to/photo.jpg", "image");

await client.sendRawMessage(recipient, {
  imageMessage: {
    URL: media.URL,
    directPath: media.directPath,
    mediaKey: media.mediaKey,
    fileEncSHA256: media.fileEncSHA256,
    fileSHA256: media.fileSHA256,
    fileLength: String(media.fileLength),
    mimetype: "image/jpeg",
    caption: "Check this out!",
  },
});

Other media types follow the same pattern — videoMessage, audioMessage, documentMessage, stickerMessage.

Proto field casing

Upload response fields use exact protobuf casing: URL, fileSHA256, fileEncSHA256 — not url, fileSha256. Wrong casing silently fails.

Send a Poll

const resp = await client.sendPollCreation(
  groupJid,
  "Where should we eat?",       // question
  ["Pizza", "Sushi", "Tacos"],   // options
  1,                              // max selectable
);

React to a Message

// Add a reaction
await client.sendReaction(chat, senderJid, messageId, "🔥");

// Remove a reaction (empty string)
await client.sendReaction(chat, senderJid, messageId, "");

Edit a Sent Message

const sent = await client.sendMessage(recipient, {
  conversation: "Hello!",
});

// Edit it — only works on your own messages
await client.editMessage(recipient, sent.id, {
  conversation: "Hello! (edited)",
});

Delete a Message

// Revoke for everyone — only your own messages, within the time limit
await client.revokeMessage(chat, myJid, sent.id);

Mark as Read

await client.markRead([info.id], info.chat, info.sender);

Complete Example

A bot that echoes text messages back as quoted replies:

import { createClient } from "@whatsmeow-node/whatsmeow-node";
import qrcode from "qrcode-terminal";

const client = createClient({ store: "session.db" });

client.on("error", (err) => console.error("Error:", err));

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;

  await client.markRead([info.id], info.chat, info.sender);
  await client.sendChatPresence(info.chat, "composing");

  await client.sendRawMessage(info.chat, {
    extendedTextMessage: {
      text: `Echo: ${text}`,
      contextInfo: {
        stanzaId: info.id,
        participant: info.sender,
        quotedMessage: { conversation: text },
      },
    },
  });
});

async function main() {
  const { jid } = await client.init();
  if (!jid) {
    client.on("qr", ({ code }) => qrcode.generate(code, { small: true }));
    await client.getQRChannel();
  }
  await client.connect();
  console.log("Listening for messages...");

  process.on("SIGINT", async () => {
    await client.sendPresence("unavailable");
    await client.disconnect();
    client.close();
    process.exit(0);
  });
}

main().catch(console.error);

Common Pitfalls

sendMessage vs sendRawMessage

sendMessage is for simple text. For anything structured (quotes, mentions, media), use sendRawMessage with the full protobuf shape.

Group messages go to info.chat

In groups, always send to info.chat (the group JID), not info.sender (the individual). Sending to info.sender starts a private conversation.

Rate limiting

WhatsApp rate-limits sending. Space out messages, especially in groups. See Rate Limiting for details.

Prerequisites​

Set Up the Client​

Send a Text Message​

Reply with a Quote​

@Mention Users​

Send Media​

Send a Poll​

React to a Message​

Edit a Sent Message​

Delete a Message​

Mark as Read​

Complete Example​

Common Pitfalls​

Related Guides

Build a Bot

Automate Group Messages

Send Stickers

Send Notifications