Get a full-size picture in the response

How to get a media file via a link

When working with our API to receive messages containing images, you might notice that initially, only the preview information of the image is included in the response. This guide will help you understand how to retrieve the original, full-size images using two different methods.

1. Receiving Image Preview in the Response

When an image message is received, the initial response and callback include only the preview data. Here’s an example of such a response:

{
      "id": "yRz1.VbdOFCdSWFGDPEYDg-gNEIDpL.CQ",
      "from_me": false,
      "type": "image",
      "chat_id": "[e-mail]",
      "timestamp": 1719323789,
      "source": "mobile",
      "image": {
        "id": "jpeg-c91cf5f956dd38509d4961460cf1180e-80d1080e92fe09",
        "mime_type": "image/jpeg",
        "file_size": 25950,
        "sha256": "IKc25C+1fi7Q5+k4Pejd4+t+022TLlu94wkFQv0X5+Y=",
        "caption": "Hello world",
        "width": 356,
        "height": 366,
        "preview": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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"
      },
      "from": "919984351847",
      "from_name": "Jonathan"
    },

2. Automatically retrieve the original image or file

Enable "Auto Download" Setting

By enabling the "Auto Download" setting in your channel settings, you can receive a link to the original image or file directly in the response. This link will be accessible for 30 days as we store these files in the cloud. To enable this setting, please follow the instructions provided here: Setting "Auto Download"

Example Response with Auto Download Enabled

{
      "id": "YLO7_qNlFMsjIEZ1m7Lmxg-gFcIDpL.CQ",
      "from_me": false,
      "type": "image",
      "chat_id": "[e-mail]",
      "timestamp": 1719324086,
      "source": "mobile",
      "image": {
        "id": "jpeg-60b3bbfea3652046759bb14cb232e6c6-8057080e92fe09",
        "mime_type": "image/jpeg",
        "file_size": 41490,
        "sha256": "NYegMy3NmhxO4oKgi7qlMy/8p9zqcGU4Gtgu3l8bTAg=",
        "link": "https://s3.eu-central-1.wasabisys.com/in-files/919984351847/jpeg-60b3bbfea3652046759bb14cb232e6c6-8057080e92fe09.jpeg",
        "caption": "Hello",
        "width": 1050,
        "height": 700,
        "preview": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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"
      },
      "from": "919984351847",
      "from_name": "Jonathan"
    }

An additional link parameter appears, which stores a link to the original file.

3. Retrieve Original Image/File via Get Media Endpoint

If you prefer, you can use the Get Media endpoint to retrieve the original image or file. Here’s how you can do it:

Example of Using the Get Media Endpoint

First, make a GET request to the endpoint with the media ID received in the initial response:

Endpoint: GET /media/{media-id}

Get mediaWhapi Cloud - Whatsapp API for developers

Receive a file from the cloud by ID

In the case of our example, the media id is jpeg-60b3bbfea3652046759bb14cb232e6c6-8057080e92fe09

curl --request GET \
     --url https://gate.whapi.cloud/media/jpeg-60b3bbfea3652046759bb14cb232e6c6-8057080e92fe09 \
     --header 'accept: application/pdf' \
     --header 'authorization: Bearer iwpVwcco2bBdvShV4sbzBNB1BDCXPmcs'

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If you need any help, our support team is always available via live chat on any dashboard page or via email at [e-mail].