Send Images over Telegram from Shell Script - Complete Guide

Automate Telegram image sharing using the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway REST API

Posted on June 17, 2022   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: January 30, 2026  

🚀 Automate Telegram Image Sharing with Shell Scripts

Looking to automate Telegram image sharing, visual notifications, or media delivery directly from your terminal? This guide walks you through sending images to Telegram users using a simple shell script and the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway REST API. Perfect for system administrators, developers, and automation enthusiasts who want to integrate visual content delivery 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
  4. Image file ready - Have the image you want to send available locally

⚠️ 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 image to a Telegram user 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 13: Replace YOUR_OWN_INSTANCE_ID_HERE with your Telegram gateway instance ID
  • Lines 14-15: Update YOUR_OWN_CLIENT_ID_HERE and YOUR_OWN_SECRET_HERE with your Client ID and Secret
  • Line 18: Replace 12025550108 with the target phone number (including the country code)
  • Line 19: Replace ../assets/cute-girl.jpg with the path to your image file
  • Line 24: Replace Lovely Gal with an optional caption for your image

3. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your script:

chmod 755 send-telegram-image.sh

4. Send Your Image

Run the script to deliver your image to Telegram:

./send-telegram-image.sh

🔧 Common Use Cases

This automation approach is ideal for:

  • Visual system monitoring - Send server status screenshots or graphs to Telegram
  • Automated photo sharing - Deliver daily photos or visual updates via Telegram
  • Image-based reports - Share charts, diagrams, or visual data through Telegram
  • Media content delivery - Distribute images as part of automated Telegram workflows
  • Integration with image processing - Combine with scripts that generate or modify images for Telegram delivery

🚀 Get Started Today

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

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