Media downloads

Message APIs include media metadata, not media bytes. Fetch bytes only when your application needs the file.

curl -L \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $WHATSAPP_USE_API_KEY" \
  "$WHATSAPP_USE_BASE_URL/v1/whatsapp/media/msg_123" \
  --output media.bin

The response body is the media file. Content-Type is set from the WhatsApp media MIME type when available.

When media is unavailable

404 means the message has no downloadable media or WhatsApp Use can no longer fetch it from WhatsApp.

MCP

MCP clients can call whatsapp_download_media for small media. The tool returns MIME metadata and base64 content. Use the REST media endpoint for larger files.