Cross Platform Messaging Via Beeper

---
name: cross-platform-messaging-via-beeper
description: "Use when sending messages, searching chats, or managing conversations across messaging platforms (Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, iMessage, etc.) via Beeper Desktop API."
category: "Communication"
author: community
version: "0.1.4"
icon: message-circle
---

# beepctl

CLI for [Beeper Desktop API](https://developers.beeper.com/desktop-api) — unified messaging from your terminal. Control all your messaging platforms (Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, iMessage, etc.) through one interface.

📖 **Setup & installation:** see [GitHub repo](https://github.com/blqke/beepctl)

## Quick Start

```bash
beepctl accounts                    # List connected accounts
beepctl chats list                  # List recent chats
beepctl chats list --search "John"  # Find a chat
beepctl search "meeting" --after "1d ago"  # Search messages
beepctl send <chat-id> "Hello!"     # Send a message
```

## Commands

### Auth Management
```bash
beepctl auth show           # Check auth status and token
beepctl auth set <token>    # Set API token
beepctl auth clear          # Clear saved token
```

### Accounts
```bash
beepctl accounts            # List all connected accounts
```

### Browse Chats
```bash
beepctl chats list                        # List inbox (non-archived)
beepctl chats list --limit 20             # Limit results
beepctl chats list --search "John"        # Filter by name
beepctl chats list --inbox archive        # Archived chats only
beepctl chats list --inbox low-priority   # Low-priority chats
beepctl chats list --inbox all            # All chats
beepctl chats list --type group           # Filter by type (single/group/any)
beepctl chats list --unread-only          # Unread chats only
beepctl chats list --activity-after "1d ago"  # Recent activity filter
beepctl chats show <chat-id>              # Detailed chat info with participants
beepctl chats create <account> <users...> # Create new chat
```

**Inbox filters:** `primary` (default), `archive`, `low-priority`, `all`

### List Messages
```bash
beepctl messages <chat-id>              # Recent messages from a chat
beepctl messages <chat-id> --limit 10   # Limit results
beepctl messages work --after "1d ago"  # Use alias + time filter
beepctl messages <chat-id> --before "1h ago"  # Messages before a time
```

### Search Messages
```bash
beepctl search "query"                    # Search across all chats
beepctl search "query" --limit 10         # Limit results
beepctl search "meeting" --after "1d ago" # Time filter
beepctl search "hello" --chat work        # Filter by chat/alias
beepctl search "files" --media file       # Filter by media type
beepctl search "dm" --chat-type single    # Filter by chat type
beepctl search "update" --sender others   # Filter by sender (me/others)
beepctl search "msg" --account <id>       # Filter by account
beepctl search "todo" --include-low-priority   # Include low-priority chats
beepctl search "important" --exclude-muted     # Exclude muted chats
```

**Combine filters:**
```bash
beepctl search "deploy" --chat work --sender others --after "1d ago" --media link
beepctl search "hello" --chat work family  # Multiple chats (space-separated)
beepctl search "test" --chat id1,id2,id3   # Multiple chats (comma-separated)
```

**Time formats:** `1h ago`, `2d ago`, `3w ago`, `1mo ago`, `yesterday`, `today`  
**Media types:** `any`, `video`, `image`, `link`, `file`

### Aliases
Create shortcuts for frequently used chat IDs:

```bash
beepctl alias list                    # List all aliases
beepctl alias add work <chat-id>      # Create alias
beepctl alias show work               # Show alias value
beepctl alias remove work             # Remove alias
beepctl send work "Using alias!"      # Use alias in any command
```

### Archive Chats
```bash
beepctl archive <chat-id>              # Archive a chat
beepctl archive <chat-id> --unarchive  # Unarchive
beepctl archive work                   # Use alias
beepctl archive <chat-id> --quiet      # No confirmation message
```

### Send Messages

⚠️ **NEVER send messages without explicit user approval first!**
Always show the message content and recipient, then ask for confirmation.

```bash
beepctl send <chat-id> "Hello!"                    # Send message
beepctl send myself "Quick note"                   # Send to self
beepctl send <chat-id> "Reply" --reply-to <msg-id> # Reply to message
beepctl send <chat-id> "msg" --quiet               # No confirmation output
```

### Focus (Bring to Foreground)
```bash
beepctl focus                           # Bring Beeper to foreground
beepctl focus <chat-id>                 # Open a specific chat
beepctl focus <chat-id> -m <msg-id>     # Jump to specific message
beepctl focus <chat-id> -d "draft"      # Pre-fill draft text
beepctl focus <chat-id> -a /path/file   # Pre-fill draft attachment
```

### Send Media
`beepctl send` only supports text. To send media, use focus with draft:

```bash
beepctl focus <chat-id> -a /path/to/image.png -d "Caption"
# Then press Enter in Beeper to send
```

### Contacts
```bash
beepctl contacts search <account> <query>  # Search contacts on an account
```

### Download Attachments
```bash
beepctl download <mxc-url>              # Download attachment (mxc:// URLs)
beepctl download <mxc-url> -o /path     # Save to specific path
```

### Reminders
```bash
beepctl reminders set <chat> 30m       # Remind in 30 minutes
beepctl reminders set <chat> 1h        # Remind in 1 hour
beepctl reminders set <chat> 2d        # Remind in 2 days
beepctl reminders set <chat> tomorrow  # Remind tomorrow
beepctl reminders clear <chat>         # Clear reminder
```

## Tips

- Chat IDs look like: `!gZ42vWzDxl8V0sZXWBgO:beeper.local`
- Use aliases to avoid typing long chat IDs
- The special alias `myself` sends to your own chat