Send Images over WhatsApp in Python 2 - Legacy Guide

Automate WhatsApp image sharing using the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API (Python 2)

Posted on September 18, 2017   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: February 11, 2026  

⚠️ Python 2 is Deprecated - Use Python 3 Instead

Important Note: Python 2 reached end-of-life on January 1, 2020, and is no longer maintained. This guide is provided for legacy systems only. For new projects, we strongly recommend using our Python 3 version which includes modern Python practices and ongoing support.

Automate WhatsApp Image Sharing with Python 2 (Legacy)

This legacy guide walks you through sending images to WhatsApp users using Python 2 and the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API. Only use this guide if you’re maintaining legacy Python 2 systems. For all new development, use Python 3.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A WhatsMate WA Gateway account - Required for API access
  2. Recipient registration - Each recipient must register with the Gateway first
  3. Python 2.7 installed - Legacy Python version (end-of-life)
  4. Image file ready - Have the image you want to send available locally
  5. Required Python packages - Install requests library: pip install requests

⚠️ Important: Recipients must register with the WhatsMate WA Gateway before they can receive messages. Unregistered users will not receive any messages from the Gateway. Registration instructions are available on the official WhatsMate site.

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to send your first image to a WhatsApp user from a Python 2 application:

1. Install Required Package

Ensure you have the requests library installed:

pip install requests

2. Copy the Python 2 Code Template

Start by copying the following legacy Python 2 source code into your Python file:

3. Configure a few Parameters

Customize these key parameters in the Python 2 code:

  • Line 8: Replace YOUR_GATEWAY_INSTANCE_ID_HERE with your WhatsApp gateway instance ID
  • Lines 9-10: Update YOUR_OWN_ID_HERE and YOUR_OWN_SECRET_HERE with your Client ID and Secret
  • Line 12: Replace 12025550108 with the target phone number (including the country code)
  • Line 13: Replace ../assets/cute-girl.jpg with the path to your image file
  • Line 14: Replace Lovely Gal with an optional caption for your image

4. Run Your Python 2 Script

Execute your Python 2 script to deliver your image to WhatsApp:

# Navigate to the script directory
cd python

# Make the script executable (Linux/macOS)
chmod +x send-image-individual.py

# Run the script
./send-image-individual.py

# Or run with Python directly
python send-image-individual.py

⚠️ Security Warning: Python 2 no longer receives security updates. Using it in production exposes your system to unpatched vulnerabilities.

🚀 Upgrade to Python 3 Today

Ready to modernize your WhatsApp image sharing? Upgrade to our Python 3 version which offers:

  • Modern Python 3.6+ support - Current, maintained Python version
  • Better security - Regular security updates and patches
  • Improved performance - Python 3 optimizations and features
  • Future compatibility - Compatibility with modern libraries and tools
  • Active community support - Access to current Python ecosystem

Sign up for a 2-week trial and start sending images with modern Python 3!

Next Steps: Once you’ve migrated to Python 3, explore advanced features like sending documents or group messages through the WhatsMate WA Gateway API documentation.