Send Telegram Messages from Shell Script - Complete Guide

Automate Telegram messaging using the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway REST API

Posted on June 16, 2022   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: January 28, 2026  

🚀 Automate Telegram Messaging with Shell Scripts

Looking to automate Telegram notifications, alerts, or messages directly from your terminal? This guide walks you through sending Telegram messages using a simple shell script and the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway REST API. Perfect for system administrators, developers, and automation enthusiasts who want to integrate Telegram into their workflows.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A WhatsMate Telegram Gateway account - Required for API access
  2. Recipient registration - Each recipient must register with the Gateway first
  3. Basic shell scripting knowledge - Familiarity with terminal commands

⚠️ Important: Recipients must register with the WhatsMate Telegram 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.

🎥 Video Walkthrough

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to send your first Telegram message from a shell script:

1. Copy the Script Template

Start by copying the following source code into your script file:

2. Configure a few Parameters

Customize these key parameters in the script:

  • Line 3: Replace with your Telegram gateway instance ID
  • Lines 4-5: Update with your Client ID and Secret
  • Line 10: Specify the target phone number (including the country code, e.g., 12025550108)
  • Line 11: Provide your message content

3. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your script:

chmod 755 send-telegram-text.sh

4. Send Your Message

Run the script to deliver your Telegram message:

./send-telegram-text.sh

🔧 Common Use Cases

This automation approach is ideal for:

  • System monitoring alerts - Get notified when servers go down
  • Scheduled reminders - Send daily or weekly notifications
  • Automated reports - Deliver regular updates via Telegram
  • Integration with cron jobs - Combine with scheduled tasks

🚀 Get Started Today

Ready to automate your Telegram messaging? You’ll need a trial account to access the API. Sign up for a 2-week trial and start sending messages within minutes!

Next Steps: Once you’ve mastered basic message sending, explore advanced features like sending images, documents, or group messages through the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway API documentation.