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wacli-messages-list

List messages from a WhatsApp chat

TLDR

List messages from a specific chat in JSON
$ wacli messages list --chat 491234567890@s.whatsapp.net --json
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List messages received after a date
$ wacli messages list --chat 491234567890@s.whatsapp.net --after 2026-01-01 --json
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Limit results and list oldest first
$ wacli messages list --chat 491234567890@s.whatsapp.net --limit 20 --asc --json
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List only messages you sent
$ wacli messages list --from-me --limit 20 --json
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List messages in a date range
$ wacli messages list --chat 491234567890@s.whatsapp.net --after 2026-01-01 --before 2026-01-31 --json
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SYNOPSIS

wacli messages list [--chat jid] [--sender jid] [--from-me|--from-them] [--asc] [--limit n] [--after date] [--before date] [--forwarded] [--starred] [--json] [--store dir]

DESCRIPTION

wacli messages list retrieves messages from the local SQLite store, optionally filtered to a single chat (JID), sender, direction, flags, and/or a time window. Output is human-readable by default; use `--json` for machine consumption.WhatsApp status broadcasts are stored separately and are not returned by `messages list`.The local store is populated by `wacli sync` (or `sync --follow`). Default store path is `~/.local/state/wacli` on Linux and `~/.wacli` elsewhere (existing `~/.wacli` on Linux continues to work).

PARAMETERS

--chat jid

Restrict to messages in this chat JID (e.g. `491234567890@s.whatsapp.net` or a group JID).
--sender jid
Restrict to messages from this sender JID.
--from-me, --from-them
Only messages sent by you, or only messages from others.
--asc
Sort ascending (oldest first). Default order is newest first.
--after date
Only messages on or after this time (RFC3339 or `YYYY-MM-DD`).
--before date
Only messages before this time (RFC3339 or `YYYY-MM-DD`).
--limit n
Maximum number of messages to return.
--forwarded
Only forwarded messages.
--starred
Only starred messages.
--json
Emit JSON instead of a human-readable table.
--store dir
Override the store directory (cannot be combined with `--account`).

SEE ALSO

RESOURCES

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