Wacli – WhatsApp CLI • Hacker News Board

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#91

Post by wisenull » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:49 AM UTC

stavros wrote: post #65

taminka wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can ( https://faq.whatsapp.com/1046791737425017/?cms_platform=andr... ) they even have it on fb messenger and instagram (though they recently removed e2ee completely from instagram lol)

That's still one device. If you turn the primary phone off, the secondary device stops working. WhatsApp just proxies everything through the primary device, it's like WhatsApp Web.

It used to be like that but not anymore. As siblings suggested you can now use it on up to 4 (I believe) additional devices.

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#92

Post by lxgr » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:51 AM UTC

rafaelmn wrote: post #72

taminka wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's really unfortunate that telegram doesn't do e2ee, bc it's hands down the best messenger otherwise :(

From what I understand you can have secure chats e2ee ? I like that I can login from multiple devices and continue the conversation. This was always annoying with whatsapp and signal. Worst case is mildly embarrassing stuff leaks.

> From what I understand you can have secure chats e2ee ?

Not with bots, though.

> I like that I can login from multiple devices and continue the conversation

This is also not possible with Telegram E2E, while it is with Signal and WhatsApp.

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#93

Post by lxgr » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:52 AM UTC

stavros wrote: post #88

canpulseword wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not true, even if the primary phone is offline you can send messages via secondary device, even whatsapp web It’s not proxied via primary, otherwise it wouldn’t work if primary were offline

> It’s not proxied via primary, otherwise it wouldn’t work if primary were offline That is correct, it doesn't work.

Please stop spreading misinformation that can trivially be disproved with five minutes of effort.

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#94

Post by stavros » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:52 AM UTC

lxgr wrote: post #93

stavros wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It’s not proxied via primary, otherwise it wouldn’t work if primary were offline That is correct, it doesn't work.

Please stop spreading misinformation that can trivially be disproved with five minutes of effort.

I just tried it. Did you?

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#95

Post by lxgr » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:53 AM UTC

stavros wrote: post #71

taminka wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oh, i see, is it the same for facebook messenger and instagram, imessage, etc?

I don't know, I don't use those. It is for Signal, I don't think so for Instagram, since I don't think that encrypts end to end.

It's not true for Signal either. Why don't you try it for yourself instead of spreading outdated (at best) information? Signal supports native multi-device capabilities without relaying everything through the "primary" device.

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#96

Post by lxgr » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:54 AM UTC

mentalgear wrote: post #87

Reading a lot about people getting banned here for not using the official client, but doesn't Whatsapp have to be interoperable now (at least in the EU due to new legislation) ? At least Whatsapp itself shows ad banners that you can now connect other messaging clients into Whatsapp, so it should be normal that other clients can equally access Whatsapp.

Officially interoperating with them is extremely onerous, to the point where their mechanism borders malicious compliance, as far as I remember.

In any case, official interoperability is only for third-party messengers communicating with WhatsApp users, not for automation or bots, as I understand, so it's not a replacement for things like this project.

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#97

Post by tcfhgj » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:54 AM UTC

ymolodtsov wrote: post #27

tazjin wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does, but only for chats between two specific devices. Multi-device support is one of its best features that you lose with E2E. Key distribution is just too hard. I think we won't get a messenger for non-tech people that works well with multi-device and E2E basically ever.

It's called iMessage. It's possible, Telegram just doesn't care. All their differentiating features (large groups, channels, device sync) is directly enabled by the lack of encryption.

you can have large groups and device sync WITH e2ee, see Matrix.

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#98

Post by lxgr » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:56 AM UTC

stavros wrote: post #94

lxgr wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please stop spreading misinformation that can trivially be disproved with five minutes of effort.

I just tried it. Did you?

Yes, and it works, as it has for the past few years.

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#99

Post by stavros » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:58 AM UTC

lxgr wrote: post #98

stavros wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just tried it. Did you?

Yes, and it works, as it has for the past few years.

So I don't need my primary device any more? I can just shut that phone down forever?

Re: Wacli – WhatsApp CLI

#100

Post by mawax » Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:58 AM UTC

nkzd wrote: post #14

What is the best way to get a throwaway phone number to try this? Is it possible to get one online?

You can get a prepaid eSIM online, depending on your country. It's cheap and you don't have a monthly fee