A specialized command-line utility to create local, searchable mirrors of WhatsApp Desktop chat history on macOS.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install wacrawl
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install wacrawl using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is wacrawl?
wacrawl is a developer-centric tool designed to bridge the gap between closed chat ecosystems and local data accessibility. By creating read-only snapshots of the WhatsApp Desktop SQLite database, it allows users to archive, query, and export their messaging history without any risk of modifying the original app container. This makes it an essential addition to the library of Openclaw Skills for those who need to integrate chat data into their local workflows.
The tool operates strictly on the local machine, requiring no cloud decryption or WhatsApp Web authentication. It respects the sandbox environment of macOS while providing a scriptable interface for interacting with message data that is otherwise locked within the desktop application.
wacrawl Use Cases
- Creating permanent local backups of important business or personal conversations.
- Performing high-speed full-text searches across years of message history.
- Exporting specific chat threads into JSON format for data analysis or AI processing.
- Building automated reporting tools that trigger based on new message arrivals in the local database.
How wacrawl Works
- The utility verifies the environment and checks for Full Disk Access to read the protected WhatsApp Group Containers.
- When an import is triggered, wacrawl creates a temporary snapshot of the live SQLite databases to avoid file-locking conflicts with the active app.
- Relevant chat metadata and message content are extracted and indexed into a local SQLite database at ~/.wacrawl/wacrawl.db.
- Users can then interact with this indexed data through a series of CLI commands or direct SQL queries, ensuring the live application remains untouched.
wacrawl Setup
To get started with this skill, ensure you are using the Mac App Store version of WhatsApp Desktop. Install the tool using Homebrew and grant the necessary permissions:
brew tap steipete/tap
brew install wacrawl
# Manually grant Full Disk Access to your Terminal in System Settings
wacrawl doctor
wacrawl import
wacrawl Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill organizes its data within a local SQLite environment, facilitating easy integration with other Openclaw Skills.
| Component | Path / Detail |
|---|---|
| Source Path | ~/Library/Group Containers/group.net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.shared |
| Local Database | ~/.wacrawl/wacrawl.db |
| Data Format | Structured SQLite tables with JSON export support |
| Query Support | Standard SQL via the wacrawl sql command |
wacrawl Advanced Features
- Snapshot-based architecture that allows for importing data while WhatsApp is actively running.
- Full-text search (FTS) capabilities for rapid keyword retrieval across all chats.
- Native JSON output for all list and search commands, facilitating easy piping into other automation tools.
- Scriptable interface compatible with system schedulers for maintaining a real-time message archive.
SKILL.md
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