Invite Codes - Baileys

Overview

Baileys provides comprehensive methods for working with WhatsApp group invite codes. You can generate invite links, revoke them, join groups using codes, and get information about groups before joining.

Getting Invite Codes

Retrieve the current invite code for a group.

Function Signature

groupInviteCode(jid: string): Promise<string>

Parameters:

jid - The group JID

Returns: The invite code as a string

Get Invite Code

const code = await sock.groupInviteCode(jid)
console.log('group code: ' + code)

Only group admins can retrieve the invite code.

Creating an Invite Link

To create a clickable WhatsApp invite link:

const getInviteLink = async (groupJid: string) => {
  const code = await sock.groupInviteCode(groupJid)
  const link = 'https://chat.whatsapp.com/' + code
  
  console.log('Invite link:', link)
  return link
}

Complete Example

const generateAndShareInvite = async (groupJid: string) => {
  try {
    // Get the invite code
    const code = await sock.groupInviteCode(groupJid)
    
    // Create full link
    const inviteLink = `https://chat.whatsapp.com/${code}`
    
    console.log('Group invite link generated:', inviteLink)
    
    // Send the link to a user
    await sock.sendMessage('1234@s.whatsapp.net', {
      text: `Join our group: ${inviteLink}`
    })
    
    return inviteLink
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to get invite code:', error)
    throw error
  }
}

Revoking Invite Codes

Revoke the current invite code and generate a new one.

Function Signature

groupRevokeInvite(jid: string): Promise<string>

Parameters:

jid - The group JID

Returns: The new invite code

Revoke and Get New Code

const code = await sock.groupRevokeInvite(jid)
console.log('New group code: ' + code)

Revoking an invite code immediately invalidates all previously shared invite links. Users with old links won’t be able to join.

Safe Revoke Pattern

const revokeGroupInvite = async (groupJid: string) => {
  try {
    const newCode = await sock.groupRevokeInvite(groupJid)
    const newLink = `https://chat.whatsapp.com/${newCode}`
    
    console.log('Invite code revoked!')
    console.log('New invite link:', newLink)
    
    // Notify admins of the new link
    const metadata = await sock.groupMetadata(groupJid)
    const admins = metadata.participants.filter(p => p.admin)
    
    for (const admin of admins) {
      await sock.sendMessage(admin.id, {
        text: `Group invite link has been reset. New link: ${newLink}`
      })
    }
    
    return newLink
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to revoke invite:', error)
    throw error
  }
}

Revoking V4 Invites

Revoke a specific user’s V4 invite.

Function Signature

groupRevokeInviteV4(groupJid: string, invitedJid: string): Promise<boolean>

Parameters:

groupJid - The group JID
invitedJid - JID of the person whose invite you want to revoke

Returns: true if successful

Revoke Specific User’s Invite

const success = await sock.groupRevokeInviteV4(groupJid, '1234@s.whatsapp.net')
console.log('Invite revoked:', success)

Joining Groups with Invite Codes

Join a group using an invite code.

Function Signature

groupAcceptInvite(code: string): Promise<string | undefined>

Parameters:

code - The invite code (without the URL prefix)

Returns: The group JID you joined

Join Using Code

const response = await sock.groupAcceptInvite(code)
console.log('joined to: ' + response)

The code parameter should be only the code, not the full URL. Extract it from https://chat.whatsapp.com/CODE

Join with Error Handling

const joinGroupByCode = async (inviteCode: string) => {
  try {
    // Extract code if full URL was provided
    const code = inviteCode.replace('https://chat.whatsapp.com/', '')
    
    // Join the group
    const groupJid = await sock.groupAcceptInvite(code)
    
    console.log('Successfully joined group:', groupJid)
    
    // Send greeting message
    await sock.sendMessage(groupJid, {
      text: 'Hello everyone! 👋'
    })
    
    return groupJid
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to join group:', error)
    throw error
  }
}

Joining with GroupInviteMessage (V4)

Accept a group invite using a GroupInviteMessage.

Function Signature

groupAcceptInviteV4(
  key: string | WAMessageKey,
  inviteMessage: proto.Message.IGroupInviteMessage
): Promise<string>

Parameters:

key - The message key or sender JID
inviteMessage - The GroupInviteMessage object

Returns: The group JID

Accept V4 Invite

const response = await sock.groupAcceptInviteV4(jid, groupInviteMessage)
console.log('joined to: ' + response)

Handle GroupInviteMessage from Events

sock.ev.on('messages.upsert', async ({ messages }) => {
  for (const msg of messages) {
    const inviteMessage = msg.message?.groupInviteMessage
    
    if (inviteMessage) {
      console.log('Received group invite!')
      console.log('Group:', inviteMessage.groupJid)
      console.log('Invite expires:', new Date(Number(inviteMessage.inviteExpiration) * 1000))
      
      // Auto-accept the invite
      try {
        const groupJid = await sock.groupAcceptInviteV4(
          msg.key,
          inviteMessage
        )
        console.log('Joined group:', groupJid)
      } catch (error) {
        console.error('Failed to accept invite:', error)
      }
    }
  }
})

When you accept a V4 invite, the library automatically expires the invite message in your chat.

Getting Group Info Before Joining

Fetch group metadata using just the invite code, without joining.

Function Signature

groupGetInviteInfo(code: string): Promise<GroupMetadata>

Parameters:

code - The invite code (without URL prefix)

Returns: GroupMetadata object with group information

Get Group Information

const response = await sock.groupGetInviteInfo(code)
console.log('group information: ' + response)

Preview Group Before Joining

const previewGroup = async (inviteCode: string) => {
  try {
    // Extract code if full URL was provided
    const code = inviteCode.replace('https://chat.whatsapp.com/', '')
    
    // Get group info without joining
    const info = await sock.groupGetInviteInfo(code)
    
    console.log('Group Preview:')
    console.log('Name:', info.subject)
    console.log('Description:', info.desc)
    console.log('Participants:', info.size)
    console.log('Created:', new Date(info.creation! * 1000).toLocaleDateString())
    
    // Decide whether to join based on criteria
    if (info.size && info.size > 100) {
      console.log('Group is too large, not joining')
      return null
    }
    
    // Join if criteria met
    const groupJid = await sock.groupAcceptInvite(code)
    console.log('Joined group:', groupJid)
    
    return groupJid
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to preview/join group:', error)
    throw error
  }
}

Complete Invite Management System

Comprehensive example combining all invite functionality:

Generate and share invite

const shareGroupInvite = async (
  groupJid: string,
  recipientJid: string
) => {
  // Get current invite code
  const code = await sock.groupInviteCode(groupJid)
  const link = `https://chat.whatsapp.com/${code}`
  
  // Get group info
  const metadata = await sock.groupMetadata(groupJid)
  
  // Send formatted invite
  await sock.sendMessage(recipientJid, {
    text: `You're invited to join "${metadata.subject}"!\n\n${link}\n\nGroup has ${metadata.participants.length} members.`
  })
  
  console.log('Invite sent to', recipientJid)
}

Manage invite security

const manageInviteSecurity = async (groupJid: string) => {
  // Revoke old invite
  const newCode = await sock.groupRevokeInvite(groupJid)
  console.log('Old invite revoked')
  
  // Enable join approval for extra security
  await sock.groupJoinApprovalMode(groupJid, 'on')
  console.log('Join approval enabled')
  
  // Get new link
  const newLink = `https://chat.whatsapp.com/${newCode}`
  console.log('New secure invite link:', newLink)
  
  return newLink
}

Smart join with validation

const smartJoinGroup = async (
  inviteLink: string,
  criteria?: {
    maxSize?: number
    requireDescription?: boolean
  }
) => {
  // Extract code
  const code = inviteLink.replace('https://chat.whatsapp.com/', '')
  
  // Preview group first
  const info = await sock.groupGetInviteInfo(code)
  
  console.log('Evaluating group:', info.subject)
  
  // Apply criteria
  if (criteria?.maxSize && info.size && info.size > criteria.maxSize) {
    throw new Error(`Group too large (${info.size} members)`)
  }
  
  if (criteria?.requireDescription && !info.desc) {
    throw new Error('Group has no description')
  }
  
  // All checks passed, join the group
  const groupJid = await sock.groupAcceptInvite(code)
  console.log('Successfully joined:', info.subject)
  
  return { groupJid, metadata: info }
}

// Usage
await smartJoinGroup('https://chat.whatsapp.com/ABC123', {
  maxSize: 100,
  requireDescription: true
})

Best Practices

Rate Limiting: Don’t revoke invite codes too frequently. WhatsApp may rate-limit this operation.

Preview Before Joining: Always use groupGetInviteInfo to check group details before joining with groupAcceptInvite.

Code Format: When using invite codes, ensure you pass only the code portion, not the full URL.

Security Tips

Regular Rotation: Periodically revoke and regenerate invite codes for sensitive groups
Approval Mode: Enable join approval mode for additional security
Validate Before Joining: Check group size and description before auto-joining
Track Invites: Keep logs of when invite codes are generated and shared

Helper Functions

// Extract code from various formats
const extractInviteCode = (input: string): string => {
  return input
    .replace('https://chat.whatsapp.com/', '')
    .replace('http://chat.whatsapp.com/', '')
    .replace('chat.whatsapp.com/', '')
    .trim()
}

// Validate invite code format
const isValidInviteCode = (code: string): boolean => {
  // WhatsApp invite codes are typically 22 characters
  return /^[A-Za-z0-9]{20,24}$/.test(code)
}

// Safe invite code getter
const getInviteCodeSafely = async (groupJid: string) => {
  try {
    const code = await sock.groupInviteCode(groupJid)
    return { success: true, code }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Not authorized to get invite code')
    return { success: false, code: null }
  }
}

Common Use Cases

Automated Invite Distribution

const distributeInvite = async (
  groupJid: string,
  recipients: string[]
) => {
  const code = await sock.groupInviteCode(groupJid)
  const link = `https://chat.whatsapp.com/${code}`
  const metadata = await sock.groupMetadata(groupJid)
  
  for (const recipient of recipients) {
    await sock.sendMessage(recipient, {
      text: `Join "${metadata.subject}": ${link}`
    })
    
    // Rate limit
    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000))
  }
  
  console.log(`Invite sent to ${recipients.length} people`)
}

Temporary Invite Links

const createTemporaryInvite = async (
  groupJid: string,
  durationMinutes: number
) => {
  const code = await sock.groupInviteCode(groupJid)
  const link = `https://chat.whatsapp.com/${code}`
  
  console.log('Temporary invite created:', link)
  console.log(`Valid for ${durationMinutes} minutes`)
  
  // Auto-revoke after duration
  setTimeout(async () => {
    await sock.groupRevokeInvite(groupJid)
    console.log('Temporary invite revoked')
  }, durationMinutes * 60 * 1000)
  
  return link
}

Creating Groups - Create new groups
Managing Participants - Handle join requests
Group Settings - Configure join approval mode
Group Metadata - View group information

​Overview

​Getting Invite Codes

​Function Signature

​Get Invite Code

​Creating an Invite Link

​Complete Example

​Revoking Invite Codes

​Function Signature

​Revoke and Get New Code

​Safe Revoke Pattern

​Revoking V4 Invites

​Function Signature

​Revoke Specific User’s Invite

​Joining Groups with Invite Codes

​Function Signature

​Join Using Code

​Join with Error Handling

​Joining with GroupInviteMessage (V4)

​Function Signature

​Accept V4 Invite

​Handle GroupInviteMessage from Events

​Getting Group Info Before Joining

​Function Signature

​Get Group Information

​Preview Group Before Joining

​Complete Invite Management System

​Best Practices

​Security Tips

​Helper Functions

​Common Use Cases

​Automated Invite Distribution

​Temporary Invite Links

​Related Methods

Overview

Getting Invite Codes

Function Signature

Get Invite Code

Creating an Invite Link

Complete Example

Revoking Invite Codes

Function Signature

Revoke and Get New Code

Safe Revoke Pattern

Revoking V4 Invites

Function Signature

Revoke Specific User’s Invite

Joining Groups with Invite Codes

Function Signature

Join Using Code

Join with Error Handling

Joining with GroupInviteMessage (V4)

Function Signature

Accept V4 Invite

Handle GroupInviteMessage from Events

Getting Group Info Before Joining

Function Signature

Get Group Information

Preview Group Before Joining

Complete Invite Management System

Best Practices

Security Tips

Helper Functions

Common Use Cases

Automated Invite Distribution

Temporary Invite Links

Related Methods