---
title: Quickstart
description: Get WAHA MCP Server running in 5 minutes
---
# Quickstart
Get the WAHA MCP Server running and connected to Claude Desktop.
## Installation
<Steps>
<Step title="Clone the repository">
```bash
git clone https://github.com/your-org/waha-mcp-server.git
cd waha-mcp-server
```
</Step>
<Step title="Install dependencies">
```bash
npm install
```
</Step>
<Step title="Configure environment">
Copy the example environment file and edit it with your WAHA credentials:
```bash
cp .env.example .env
```
Edit `.env` with your values:
```bash
WAHA_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3000
WAHA_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
WAHA_SESSION=default
```
</Step>
<Step title="Build the project">
```bash
npm run build
```
</Step>
<Step title="Test with MCP Inspector">
Verify everything works using the MCP Inspector:
```bash
npm run inspector
```
This opens a web UI where you can test all tools interactively.
</Step>
</Steps>
## Connect to Claude Desktop
Add the server to your Claude Desktop MCP configuration:
<Tabs>
<Tab title="macOS">
Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"waha": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/waha-mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"WAHA_BASE_URL": "http://localhost:3000",
"WAHA_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here",
"WAHA_SESSION": "default"
}
}
}
}
```
</Tab>
<Tab title="Windows">
Edit `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"waha": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["C:\\path\\to\\waha-mcp-server\\dist\\index.js"],
"env": {
"WAHA_BASE_URL": "http://localhost:3000",
"WAHA_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here",
"WAHA_SESSION": "default"
}
}
}
}
```
</Tab>
</Tabs>
Restart Claude Desktop to load the new configuration.
## Verify the connection
In Claude Desktop, you should now see the WAHA tools available. Try asking Claude:
> "Show me my recent WhatsApp chats"
Claude will use the `waha_get_chats` tool to retrieve your conversations.
## Development mode
For development with auto-reload:
```bash
npm run dev
```
## Next steps
- [Configure webhooks](/integrations/webhooks) for real-time message notifications
- [Explore all available tools](/tools/overview)
- [Learn about chat ID formats](/tools/chat-management#chat-id-format)
