Send Images to WhatsApp Groups in Python 2 - Legacy Guide

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

Posted on October 30, 2017   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: February 13, 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Important Note: Python 2 reached end-of-life on January 1, 2020, and is no longer maintained.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 Group Image Sharing with Python 2 (Legacy)

Need to integrate WhatsApp group image sharing into legacy Python 2 applications for team collaboration or automated reporting? This legacy guide shows you how to deliver images to WhatsApp groups 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 Forever Green account - Required for group messaging API access
  2. Group setup - Create a WhatsApp group with a unique name and add the gateway
  3. Python 2.7 installed - Legacy Python version (end-of-life)
  4. Required Python packages - requests library (installation instructions included)
  5. Image file ready - Have the image you want to send available locally

⚠️ Important: You need a Forever Green account to send messages to WhatsApp groups. The gateway must be added to your WhatsApp group before it can send messages. Sign up for a Forever Green account to enable group messaging capabilities.

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to send your first image to a WhatsApp group from a legacy Python 2 script:

1. Prepare Your WhatsApp Group

Before coding, set up your WhatsApp group:

  1. Create a new group in WhatsApp with a unique name (the API won’t work if the name isn’t unique)
  2. Add the secret gateway number to the group
  3. Send a “Hi” message (or any message) in the group from your personal WhatsApp account - this helps the gateway silently recognize the new group in the background

2. Install Required Package

Install the requests library if you don’t have it already:

pip install requests

3. Copy the Python 2 Source Code

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

4. Configure Key Parameters

Customize these essential 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 Forever Green Client ID and Secret
  • Line 12: Specify your group name (must be unique)
  • 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

5. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your Python script:

chmod 755 send-image-group.py

6. Send Your Image

Run the script to deliver your image to the WhatsApp group:

./send-image-group.py

Alternative execution method (without making executable):

python send-image-group.py

🔧 Common Use Cases (Legacy Systems)

This Python 2 integration is for legacy systems only and is ideal for:

  • Legacy enterprise applications - Maintain WhatsApp group image sharing in existing Python 2 business systems
  • Older automation scripts - Support scheduled tasks in legacy Python 2 environments
  • System migration projects - Maintain functionality during transition from Python 2 to Python 3
  • Legacy monitoring tools - Integrate with older system monitoring applications
  • Historical codebases - Support maintenance of Python 2 code that cannot be immediately upgraded

🚀 Get Started Today (For Legacy Systems Only)

Ready to maintain WhatsApp group image sharing in your legacy Python 2 applications? You’ll need a Forever Green account to access the group messaging API. Sign up for a Forever Green account to enable group messaging capabilities.

⚠️ Important Reminder: Python 2 is no longer supported. Consider migrating to Python 3 for security updates, new features, and ongoing community support.

Next Steps: Once you’ve mastered group image sending, explore advanced features like sending documents to groups or individual messages through the WhatsMate WA Gateway API documentation.

Migration Recommendation: For long-term maintainability and security, plan your migration to Python 3 using our Python 3 WhatsApp group image sending guide.