Self-Hosted WhatsApp Setup Guide

1System Requirements

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Node.js 16 or higher - Download from nodejs.org
• Operating System: Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+, or Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+)
• Active WhatsApp Account on your mobile phone
• Stable Internet Connection
• At least 500MB free disk space

2Download & Extract

Download the server package and extract it to a folder on your computer.

3Install & Start Server (One-Click Method)

The easiest way to get started - one script does everything:

For Windows:

1. Navigate to the extracted whatsapp-server folder
2. Double-click INSTALL-AND-RUN.bat
3. The script will automatically:
   • Check if Node.js is installed
   • Install all dependencies
   • Start the server
   • Display the QR code

For Mac/Linux:

1. Open Terminal
2. Navigate to the folder:
   cd ~/WhatsApp-Server/whatsapp-server/
3. Run the one-click installer:
   ./INSTALL-AND-RUN.sh
4. Or double-click the launcher:
   ./DOUBLE-CLICK-ME.sh

Alternative: Manual Installation

If you prefer step-by-step control:

1. Run install.bat (Windows) or ./install.sh (Mac/Linux) first
2. Then run run.bat (Windows) or ./run.sh (Mac/Linux) to start

4Server is Running!

If you used the one-click method (INSTALL-AND-RUN), the server is already running!

You should see output in the terminal window:

Running Server Later (After First Setup):

For subsequent runs, you can use either:

• One-click: Run INSTALL-AND-RUN.bat/.sh again (faster as dependencies are cached)
• Quick start: Run run.bat (Windows) or ./run.sh (Mac/Linux)

5Scan QR Code

After 10-30 seconds, a Chrome/browser window will automatically open showing the QR code at http://localhost:3000/qr

To scan the QR code:

1. Open WhatsApp on your mobile phone
2. Go to Settings (or tap 3 dots in Android)
3. Select Linked Devices
4. Tap Link a Device
5. Scan the QR code shown in your browser

6Connect to Website

Now connect the website to your local server:

1. Open your web browser
2. Go to: WhatsApp Bulk Sender App
3. In the "Connect to WhatsApp" section, click on "Self-Hosted" tab
4. The default server URL is: http://localhost:3000 (already filled)
5. Click the "Connect" button
6. You should see "Connected successfully!" message

7Start Sending Messages!

You're all set! Now you can:

• Send messages to single or multiple recipients
• Upload Excel/CSV files for bulk messaging
• Send attachments (images, documents, etc.)
• Use all the features of WhatsApp Bulk Sender Pro

All messages will be sent through your own WhatsApp account!

Common Issues & Solutions

Problem: "Node.js is not installed" error

Solution: Download and install Node.js from nodejs.org. Make sure to restart your terminal/command prompt after installation.

Problem: QR code not appearing

Solution:

• Wait 20-30 seconds after starting the server
• Check if a browser window opened automatically at http://localhost:3000/qr
• If browser didn't open, manually visit http://localhost:3000/qr
• Check terminal window - QR also displays there
• Make sure you have internet connection
• Try restarting the server (Ctrl+C, then run again)
• Delete the .wwebjs_auth folder and restart

Problem: "Cannot connect to server" on website

Solution:

• Verify the server is running (check terminal window - should show "Server running on: http://localhost:3000")
• Test by opening http://localhost:3000/health in your browser (should show "ok")
• Check server status: http://localhost:3000/api/status
• Make sure no other program is using port 3000
• Try disabling antivirus/firewall temporarily

Problem: Connection drops after some time

Solution:

• Keep the terminal window open at all times
• Don't log out from WhatsApp on your phone
• Ensure stable internet connection
• Don't let your computer go to sleep mode

Problem: Messages not sending

Solution:

• Verify WhatsApp is still connected (check terminal)
• Make sure phone numbers are in correct format (with country code)
• Check if you've been temporarily blocked by WhatsApp (too many messages)
• Increase delay between messages to avoid rate limiting

Your Data is Safe

• Server runs locally on your computer only
• No data is sent to third-party servers
• Authentication stored in local .wwebjs_auth folder
• No message content is logged or stored
• Direct communication with WhatsApp servers

• WhatsApp Policies: Follow WhatsApp's terms of service. Don't spam or send unsolicited messages.
• Rate Limiting: WhatsApp may temporarily block your account if you send too many messages too quickly. Use appropriate delays.
• Server Uptime: The server must be running continuously while sending messages. Don't close the terminal.
• One Device: Each server instance connects one WhatsApp account. Run multiple servers for multiple accounts.
• Session Persistence: Your WhatsApp session is saved. You don't need to scan QR every time (unless you log out).