Creating an Automated WhatsApp Chatbot with N8N on Docker

In this guide, we will set up an automated WhatsApp chatbot using N8N and Docker. This workflow will allow the bot to receive and respond to WhatsApp messages using the WAHA module.

Step 1: Create the Project Structure

mkdir -p ~/dev/docker/n8n
cd ~/dev/docker/n8n
mkdir n8n_data local_files waha_tmp waha_sessions

Step 2: Create the docker-compose.yml File

Create a docker-compose.yml file and add the following configuration:

services:
  n8n:
    image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - WEBHOOK_URL=http://host.docker.internal:5678
      - GENERIC_TIMEZONE=America/Bahia
    volumes:
      - ./n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
      - ./local_files:/files

Step 3: Run the Container

docker compose up -d

Access the N8N panel at: http://localhost:5678/

Step 4: Install the WAHA Extension

  • Go to Settings > Community Nodes
  • Click Install a community node
  • Enter the package name: @devlikeapro/n8n-nodes-waha
  • Click Install

Install WAHA Extension

Step 5: Insert the WAHA Webhook Component

  • On the homepage, click Start from scratch
  • Click the + button and search for Waha Trigger
  • In the component panel, copy the Webhook URL

Insert WAHA Webhook

Step 6: Add WAHA Service to docker-compose.yml

Edit docker-compose.yml and add:

  waha:
    image: devlikeapro/waha
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      - WHATSAPP_DEFAULT_ENGINE=NOWEB
      - WHATSAPP_HOOK_EVENTS=message
      - WHATSAPP_HOOK_URL=http://n8n:5678/webhook-test/{YOUR-WEBHOOK-URL}/waha
    volumes:
      - ./waha_tmp:/tmp
      - ./waha_sessions:/app/.sessions

Replace WHATSAPP_HOOK_URL with the copied Webhook URL and change the domain to n8n.

Restart the containers:

docker compose up -d

Access the WAHA panel: http://localhost:3000/dashboard/

  1. In the WAHA panel, go to Sessions
  2. Click Start on the default row
  3. Click Login to generate the QR Code
  4. On your phone, open WhatsApp and scan the QR Code
  5. Still on the default row, click Configuration, scroll down to Webhooks, click +Webhook, and add the Webhook URL from N8N
  6. Click Update

Link WAHA to WhatsApp

Step 8: Test the Webhook

  1. In N8N, click Test step inside the Waha Trigger component
  2. Send a message via WhatsApp
  3. N8N will display the received data
  4. Click Message Branch(1 item) to view the details

Test Webhook

Step 9: Parse Received Messages

  1. Add the Edit Fields (Set) component
  2. Configure the following fields:
    • session: json.session
    • from: json.payload.from
    • message: json.payload.body
    • message_id: json.payload.id

Parse Messages

Step 10: Send Read Confirmation (✔✔ Blue Checks)

  1. Click the Edit Fields (Set) branch and add the WAHA Send Seen component
  2. Create a credential under Credential to connect with, setting Host URL to http://waha:3000
  3. Configure the fields:
    • Session: json.session
    • Chat Id: json.from
    • Message Id: json.message_id
    • Participant: (Leave empty)

Send Read Confirmation

Step 11: Send an Automated Response

  1. Click the Send Seen branch and add the WAHA Send a text message component
  2. Configure the fields:
    • Session: json.session
    • Chat Id: json.from
    • Text: PingPong: json.message

Send Automated Response

Step 12: Run the Complete Workflow

  1. Stop the containers: docker compose down
  2. Replace WHATSAPP_HOOK_URL in docker-compose.yml with the production Webhook URL
  3. Restart the containers: docker compose up -d
  4. In N8N, activate the workflow
  5. In WAHA, click Start in the default session, then go to Configuration to update the Webhook URL
  6. In N8N, click Executions to see the workflow running
  7. Test by sending a WhatsApp message to see the execution in action

Complete Workflow

Conclusion

Now you have an automated WhatsApp chatbot using N8N and WAHA. This workflow can be expanded to respond to specific commands, integrate with databases, and much more!

Final Result