Hi! I was wondering if anyone has found any solutions for using WhatsApp without App Support and Waydroid? I’m on the FP4 image so none of those are available, sadly.
I’ve come across one client on openrepos, but I find it hard to trust it and have also ran into many issues while using it, both graphical and in messages not being sent/received for no apparent reason
Not Whatsapp - but Facebook Messenger is unfortunately something that is very difficult to get my contacts away from using, and it is in a similar boat in regards to accessibility from SFOS. I, too, have no AAS or Waydroid support on my port.
In the end I spun up a Matrix server on a spare Raspberry Pi and used the Mautrix-meta bridge to get my Facebook messages to come through to the excellent Xmatic app. The same steps would work fine for Whatsapp using mautrix-whatsapp.
That said, I found I was initially lacking in expertise when it came to setting all of this stuff up - I’ve not had a wealth of experience with Docker. YMMV but expect to set aside a good few hours trying to get it all up and running. Once it’s going though, it’s excellent!
This sounds like a doable workaround for me - and big bonus if I can get Messenger too, as I’m in the double-split where I have contacts that I depend on each of the apps to be in contact with 
But, I don’t have a spare computer to use for this for the time being. Do you know if it’s possible to set this up to run on my own computer and just leave it running whenver I leave the house?
Alternatively, I could always try to get an old laptop and set it up on that. Given that it runs on a raspberry pi, I’d assume a laptop from somewhere between 2010 and 2015 would also be able to power the bridge or?
Yeah, no reason you can’t use your own computer. Docker should run in the background just fine.
Make sure you use Synapse - I started with Dendrite and Xmatic requires features it doesn’t support.
Matrix isn’t too resource hungry, it will certainly run on an old laptop if it runs on my Pi 4, especially with just a single user.
You might get banned from Whatsapp:
I’ve been bridging Whatsapp to Matrix for years now without issue. Though if they ever do ban me, I finally have a solid reason I just cannot communicate over whatsapp anymore.
I’m taking the easy option: I set up a Beeper account and used to use Sailtrix/Hydrogen to check my WhatsApp messages. This worked pretty well as Beeper is simply a Matrix client with integrated plugins
That is of course an option, but keep in mind that Beeper then has to decrypt and re-encrypt your messages when bridging, adding another company that can read your messages.
I have used them, but I do strongly recommend Xmatic over Sailtrix and Hydrogen now. They’re both not as fully featured and no longer in active development.
Where could one find a good guide to setting up matrix - whatsapp bridge? Hopefully one that someone who isn’t very experienced in matrix related stuff at all is able to tackle.
There are also commercial solutions, if this is to difficult for you. I’ve been using one.ems.host as a bridge for WhatsApp and signal. No problems so far. Coming from sailtrix, now xmatic. ElementX for AAS, Element in my desktop browser.
As far as I know, you can still do this via tchncs.de and it’s extremely simple
For their whatsappbridge they say: derzeit keine neuen Nutzer (no new users atm).
I totally agree with you and invite any curious to read rubdos’s article about Beeper: My problem with Beeper
I accept that another company may read my Whatsapp messages. Actually I don’t care as meta already does it.
How is Sailtrix working with Beeper? I somehow managed to get it working after a few tries, but it was not displaying the sender’s name
I’d be a little cautious with unofficial WhatsApp clients, especially since messaging and account data are involved. If Waydroid isn’t an option, I’d rather use WhatsApp Web for now than depend on a client that has reliability issues or isn’t actively maintained.
If you use Windows, beware of random update reboots, Microsoft likes forcing their own schedule on their customers.
Out of curiosity, I set the stock browser to desktop mode and went to WhatsAppweb. It didn’t complain, the QR code was created… I didn’t go any further though. If this works, why not create a WebApp? Better than nothing, I suppose.
Hello
I use since appr. 4 months the backend solution from openrespos.
Its a copy at an old Meow app.
This works perfect for me and the developer found also why WA somebody blocked. The reason is, if the app makes too many uploads in a second (mostly at the first connection) WA banned the user. He changed it and now I think it’s not dangers to use it.
Nice is also some features more like in the original. E.g. all status pictures are uploaded every time and will never delete and many options. But you need a main Android WA at a phone for make backups.
But at the first using you have to giv the app some rights to see all pictures, install a Notification service etc. You can also rename the app. I renamed it to WhatsSail.
I’m pretty sure users have complained about this app quite a lot.
