Controlling Claude Code via WhatsApp with Channels Feature

✍️ OpenClawRadar📅 Published: March 23, 2026🔗 Source
Controlling Claude Code via WhatsApp with Channels Feature
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WhatsApp Integration with Claude Code

A developer on r/ClaudeAI demonstrated connecting WhatsApp to a live Claude Code session using the new Channels feature available in version 2.1.80+. This setup allows text messages, voice notes, and voice replies to interact with the same CLI session that has full tool access.

Technical Implementation

The stack includes:

  • A Go bridge using whatsmeow on a spare phone with a prepaid SIM
  • TypeScript MCP Channel server
  • OpenAI Whisper for transcription
  • OpenAI TTS for voice replies

The workflow described: sending a voice note from a phone triggers Whisper transcription, then Claude can check emails via M365 MCP and reply with a voice note. All interactions happen in the same terminal session with shared context and tool access.

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Commands and Setup

The command to run this setup:

claude --dangerously-skip-permissions --dangerously-load-development-channels server:whatsapp-channel

The developer mentioned using "other known methods" for the WhatsApp bridge beyond whatsmeow, and plans to extend the system with live phone calls via WhatsApp Business API + Vapi.ai, pushing calls into the same session for shared context across text, async voice, and real-time calls.

Community Questions

The post asks several technical questions for other developers:

  • Experimentation with Channels and what's being pushed into sessions
  • Connections with Telegram or Slack as Channels
  • Better alternatives to whatsmeow for WhatsApp bridging
  • Experience with Vapi or similar services for live voice with Claude Code

The developer offered to share architecture details and build prompts if there's community interest.

📖 Read the full source: r/ClaudeAI

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👀 See Also

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