wa-chat-reader
Unofficial, read-only MCP server for your local WhatsApp chat history.
wa-chat-reader reads the WhatsApp ChatStorage.sqlite database that the WhatsApp
desktop app keeps on your machine and exposes two tools to any MCP client (Claude
Code, Claude Desktop, etc.) so you can summarize, search, and reason over your own
messages. Everything runs locally — no data ever leaves your computer.
⚠️ Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to WhatsApp or Meta. "WhatsApp" is a trademark of Meta Platforms, Inc. This is an independent, unofficial tool that only reads a database WhatsApp already stores on your device.
Privacy & security
This tool touches highly sensitive data — your private conversations. Read this first.
- Read-only. The database is opened with SQLite
mode=ro&immutable=1; the server never writes to, modifies, or deletes anything. - Local-only. There is no network code. Messages are returned to your MCP client and nowhere else. Whatever LLM/client you connect will, of course, see the message text you ask it to read — you control that by choosing which client to run.
- Your consent, your data. Only run this against your own device and your own chats. Do not use it to access anyone else's messages.
- macOS access. The WhatsApp database lives in a protected group container. The
process running this server needs Full Disk Access
(System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access), or point
WHATSAPP_DB_PATHSat a readable copy you export yourself. - Scope control.
WHATSAPP_MAX_DAYS(default 30) caps how far back any single call can read.
Install
Requires Python ≥ 3.10. Recommended: uv so the server
runs in an isolated environment.
# one-shot run (no install)
uvx wa-chat-reader
# or install with pip
pip install wa-chat-reader
wa-chat-reader
Use in Claude Code
claude mcp add wa-chat-reader -- uvx wa-chat-reader
Or install as a plugin (see the marketplace section below), then ask Claude things like:
- "Summarize my unread WhatsApp group chats from the last 3 days."
- "List the WhatsApp chats I've been active in this week."
Configuration
All configuration is via environment variables (all optional):
Default database locations:
Tools
Both tools are annotated readOnlyHint: true.
Bonus: activity dashboard
whatsapp_dashboard.py renders a self-contained, offline HTML dashboard of your
messaging activity (volume over time, daily/weekly rhythm, top chats) straight from
the same database:
python3 whatsapp_dashboard.py # -> whatsapp_dashboard.html
The generated HTML contains real contact names — it is git-ignored and meant to stay local.
Develop
git clone https://github.com/NabheetCloud/wa-chat-reader
cd wa-chat-reader
pip install -e .
python3 simple_whatsapp_mcp.py # run from source without installing
License
MIT © 2026 Nabheet Madan