---
title: "bird whatsapp conversations list-messages"
description: "List messages in a WhatsApp conversation"
canonical: "https://bird.com/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-conversations-list-messages"
---

# `bird whatsapp conversations list-messages`

## Usage

```bash
bird whatsapp conversations list-messages <conversation-id> [flags]
```

## Description

List one conversation's messages, newest first, as a cursor page. These are the same message objects `bird whatsapp list` returns, already narrowed to this conversation's number and contact, so no `to`/`from` filtering is needed. Filter by `direction` to read a single side. Messages are kept for 30 days.

Returns a paginated JSON envelope; narrow with the filters below and page with --limit and --starting-after.

## Examples

```bash
bird whatsapp conversations list-messages <conversation-id>
bird whatsapp conversations list-messages <conversation-id> | jq -r '.data[].id'
bird whatsapp conversations list-messages <conversation-id> --limit 50 --starting-after <cursor>
```

## Options

#### Filters

| Name                | Description                                                                                                                                  |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--direction`       | Return only messages the contact sent (inbound) or only messages sent to them (outbound). Omit for both. Possible values: outbound, inbound. |
| `--response-schema` | Print the fields this command returns, then exit                                                                                             |

#### Pagination

| Name               | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--ending-before`  | Cursor from the prev\_cursor or refresh\_cursor field of a previous list response. Returns items immediately before the cursor position in the current sort order. prev\_cursor returns the preceding page. refresh\_cursor anchors at the first row of that response, which on a newest-first sort is how to fetch the items that have appeared since. |
| `--limit <n>`      | Maximum number of items to return per page. Allowed range: 1 to 100.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| `--starting-after` | Cursor from the next\_cursor field of a previous list response. Returns items immediately after the cursor position in the current sort order.                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

## Related

| Name                                                                                                | Description                              |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| [`bird whatsapp conversations counts`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-conversations-counts)           | Get WhatsApp conversation counts         |
| [`bird whatsapp conversations get`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-conversations-get)                 | Get a WhatsApp conversation              |
| [`bird whatsapp conversations get-message`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-conversations-get-message) | Get a message in a WhatsApp conversation |
| [`bird whatsapp conversations list`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-conversations-list)               | List WhatsApp conversations              |
| [`bird whatsapp conversations list-events`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-conversations-list-events) | List WhatsApp conversation events        |
| [`bird whatsapp conversations update`](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-conversations-update)           | Update a WhatsApp conversation           |

## Related resources

- [Should I use a Bird SDK or call the API directly?](/explained/platform/should-i-use-an-sdk-or-call-the-api-directly) (answer)
- [Build your first integration](/learn/paths/integration) (course)
- [Send your first email](/docs/get-started/send-your-first-email) (docs)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=api-basics)