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wacrawl

Archive and search WhatsApp Desktop messages locally on macOS via the wacrawl CLI.

2.8k|343|Updated Jan 29, 2026
Search Tags:#sqlite#backup#full-text search#WhatsApp#MacOS#chat archive#message export
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/moltis-org/moltis --skill wacrawl
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: wacrawl
Source: https://github.com/moltis-org/moltis/tree/main/crates/skills/src/assets/messaging/wacrawl
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/moltis-org/moltis --skill wacrawl

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Searching and exporting WhatsApp Desktop chat history is difficult because messages live in local SQLite databases with no built-in full-text search or export tooling. This Skill provides read-only archiving, full-text search, and encrypted backups of WhatsApp Desktop messages on macOS.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Local Snapshot Sync: Snapshots WhatsApp Desktop's ChatStorage.sqlite and ContactsV2.sqlite into a local store without modifying the originals.
  • Full-Text Search & Export: Search messages by keyword, list chats, and export conversations as JSON for parsing or summarization.
  • Encrypted Backups: Create age-encrypted JSONL.gz backup shards suitable for Git-backed storage.
  • Use Case: Ask the agent to find every message mentioning "invoice" from the past month, then save a summarized digest of the relevant conversations to memory for future recall.

Quick Start

Use the wacrawl skill to search my WhatsApp chat history for messages mentioning "project meeting" and summarize the results.

Frequently Asked Questions about wacrawl

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search my WhatsApp chat history on macOS?▼

Run wacrawl sync to snapshot WhatsApp Desktop's local databases, then use wacrawl search with a keyword query. Add --json for machine-readable output or --limit to control result counts.

How do I back up WhatsApp Desktop messages locally?▼

Run wacrawl backup to create age-encrypted JSONL.gz shards of your message archive. The encryption key is auto-generated at ~/.wacrawl/age.key, and the shards are suitable for Git-backed storage.

Does wacrawl work on Linux or Windows?▼

No, wacrawl is macOS only because it reads WhatsApp Desktop's local SQLite databases, which exist only in the macOS app's container. It cannot run inside a Linux sandbox.

What is the difference between wacrawl and wacli?▼

wacrawl is a read-only archive tool that snapshots and searches local WhatsApp Desktop data. wacli is an active WhatsApp Web client for sending and receiving messages.

Why does wacrawl fail to read WhatsApp data?▼

The terminal app may lack Full Disk Access, which is required to read WhatsApp Desktop's container. Also verify WhatsApp Desktop is installed and has synced messages, then run wacrawl doctor to diagnose.

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