As a developer who frequently works with automated workflows, have you ever faced this frustration: you want to connect N8N’s powerful automation capabilities to the WeChat ecosystem, but struggle to find a straightforward solution? Whether you need to send automated notifications to clients or push AI-generated content to work groups, WeChat—China’s most ubiquitous social platform—remains an indispensable part of many workflows.

Today, I’m excited to introduce a tool that solves this pain point: the Xiyangshi AI WeChat Plugin (officially named n8n-nodes-weixin-wechat). This plugin acts as a bridge, enabling seamless communication between N8N and both personal WeChat and Enterprise WeChat, unlocking new possibilities for automated workflows.

Plugin Overview: Your Gateway to N8N-WeChat Connectivity

The Xiyangshi AI WeChat Plugin is a community node designed exclusively for N8N. Its core value lies in breaking down barriers between N8N and the WeChat ecosystem—whether you’re automating personal WeChat conversations or streamlining team collaboration on Enterprise WeChat, it delivers a stable, reliable integration.

From a user perspective, the plugin has gained solid traction among developers. You can easily find it on NPM, with download metrics and ratings reflecting its growing popularity. Critically, it’s released under the MIT Open Source License, meaning you can use, modify, and distribute it freely without copyright concerns.

Feature Demos: Unleashing the Power of Automated WeChat Interactions

Before diving into technical details, let’s explore what this plugin can do with two practical demos:

  1. Bulk File Sending Demo
    This video shows how to use an N8N workflow to send files to multiple WeChat contacts in bulk. What stands out most is its intelligent delay and randomization features—not only do these boost efficiency, but they also help avoid restrictions caused by frequent automated actions.

  2. AI Digital Human Binary Data Sending Demo
    This demo showcases how content generated by AI digital humans can be sent directly to WeChat via binary data, demonstrating a seamless integration between AI workflows and the WeChat ecosystem. Imagine letting AI generate reports, analyze data, and automatically push results to designated WeChat contacts or groups—no manual intervention required.

Both videos are available in the project’s GitHub repository (download links included in the repo). I highly recommend watching them to see firsthand how automation can transform your WeChat workflows.

Two Usage Modes: Tailored to Your Scenarios

The Xiyangshi AI WeChat Plugin offers two modes to fit different use cases: Personal WeChat Automation and Enterprise WeChat Group Bot.

1. Personal WeChat Automation: Flexible Control with a Real WeChat Client

If you need to interact with personal contacts, work groups, or friend groups, the Personal WeChat mode is ideal. Its key advantages include:

  • Controlled via a real WeChat PC client, minimizing the risk of account restrictions.
  • Supports messaging to any contact or group chat (no arbitrary limitations).
  • Handles multiple message types: text, images, files, videos, and more.
  • Enables URL-based file downloads and binary file processing.
  • Includes bulk sending with intelligent delay to mimic human behavior.

This mode shines in scenarios like sending regular reports to clients, auto-replying to group messages, or sharing updates with personal networks.

2. Enterprise WeChat Group Bot: Simple, Efficient Team Collaboration

For teams that only need to send messages within Enterprise WeChat workgroups, the Group Bot mode is more streamlined:

  • No extra deployment required—configure and use it in minutes.
  • Supports text and Markdown messages (perfect for team notifications and collaboration).
  • Built on Enterprise WeChat’s official API, ensuring stability and reliability.

If your workflow revolves around Enterprise WeChat (e.g., pushing project updates, sharing meeting notes, or alerting teams to critical events), this mode will save you time and effort.

Quick Start: Get Up and Running in Minutes

Regardless of the mode you choose, the Xiyangshi AI WeChat Plugin offers a simplified setup process.

Personal WeChat: 3-Minute Setup

Follow these steps to connect your personal WeChat to N8N:

  1. Install the Plugin (≈30 seconds)
    In N8N, go to SettingsCommunity NodesInstall. Enter n8n-nodes-weixin-wechat and wait for the installation to complete.

  2. Obtain Your API Key (≈30 seconds)
    Follow these steps:

    • Open WeChat and subscribe to the official account: Xiyangshi AI Video (Xiyangshi AI Shipin).
    • Send the message “API” to the account.
    • Copy the API key you receive in the reply.
  3. Prepare Your System Environment
    Ensure your setup meets these requirements:

    • Operating System: Windows 10+ or Windows Server 2016+.
    • Python: Version 3.9–3.12 (the plugin will auto-install it if missing).
    • WeChat PC Client: Recommended versions 3.9.8–3.9.12 (4.0+ is not supported).

  4. Download and Launch the PC Service (≈2 minutes)

    • Visit the plugin’s GitHub repo.
    • Download the files to your Windows PC and navigate to the personal-wechat-service folder.
    • Double-click 一键启动.bat (One-Click Launch.bat) to run the service. If missing dependencies are detected, the script will automatically direct you to download links.
  5. Configure the N8N Service Address (Critical!)
    Choose the correct address based on how you deployed N8N:

    • Local N8N (Windows/Mac): Use http://127.0.0.1:3000 (127.0.0.1 is more stable than localhost for some systems).
    • Local N8N (Docker): Use http://host.docker.internal:3000 (connects Docker to the host Windows machine).
    • Cloud/Remote N8N (VPS/Server): Use an internal network penetration tool (e.g., ngrok, frp, or NATAPP) to expose your local 3000 port. Enter the penetration URL (e.g., https://abc123.ngrok.io).

Once configured:

  • Add a WeChat Send node to your N8N workflow.
  • Select Personal WeChat Automation as the mode.
  • Start sending messages to contacts, groups, or WeChat File Transfer Assistant!

Enterprise WeChat: 1-Minute Setup

The Enterprise WeChat setup is even simpler:

  1. Install the Plugin: Same as Step 1 for Personal WeChat.
  2. Obtain Your API Key: Same as Step 2 for Personal WeChat.
  3. Get Your Enterprise WeChat Webhook

    • Open your Enterprise WeChat group.
    • Go to Group SettingsBotsAdd Bot.
    • Copy the generated Webhook URL.
  4. Configure and Test

    • Add a WeChat Send node to your N8N workflow.
    • Select Enterprise WeChat Bot as the mode.
    • Paste the Webhook URL, choose a message type (text/Markdown/image/file/card), and send a test message.

Feature Comparison: Choose the Right Mode for You

To help you decide between Personal and Enterprise WeChat modes, here’s a detailed comparison:

Feature Personal WeChat Enterprise WeChat
Recipients Any contact/group chat Enterprise WeChat groups
Supported Message Types Text/images/files/videos Text/Markdown/images/files/cards
Image Sending ✅ Full support ✅ URL-based images
File Sending ✅ Full support ✅ URL-based files
Rich Media Cards ❌ Not supported ✅ Supported
URL File Handling Auto-download & send Auto-upload & send
Deployment Requirement PC service needed No extra deployment
Restriction Risk Very low (real client) None
Feature Richness ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of Use ⭐⭐⭐

Advanced Configuration: Build a More Powerful Automation System

For users with advanced needs, the plugin offers additional configuration options to enhance your workflow.

Internal Network Penetration for Cloud N8N

If your N8N is deployed on a cloud/server (remote) but your WeChat service runs on a local Windows PC, you’ll need to solve the “local port exposure” problem. The plugin recommends three solutions:

Option 1: ngrok (Beginner-Friendly) ⭐

  • Download the ngrok client.
  • Run the command: ngrok http 3000.
  • Copy the generated URL (e.g., https://abc123.ngrok.io) and paste it into your N8N credentials.

Option 2: frp (Tech-Savvy Users) ⭐⭐⭐

  • Download frp from the official repo.
  • Configure frpc.ini to connect to your server.
  • Launch frp with: frpc.exe -c frpc.ini.
  • Use your domain as the service address in N8N.

Option 3: NATAPP (China-Based Users) ⭐⭐

  • Register an account on NATAPP.
  • Download the client and configure a tunnel to map to your local 3000 port.
  • Use the assigned domain as your service address.

Recommendation: Use ngrok (free plan) for testing, frp (self-hosted) for production, and NATAPP for faster speeds in China.

Optimizing Bulk Sending

To maximize success rates when sending bulk messages:

  • Set a sending interval of 3–5 seconds (avoids triggering WeChat’s anti-automation rules).
  • Enable random delays to mimic human-like behavior.
  • Use the auto-retry mechanism to handle temporary network issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are solutions to common issues users encounter:

Q: The plugin fails to install. What should I do?
A: Restart N8N and try reinstalling. Ensure your N8N version is ≥0.160.0 (older versions may have compatibility issues).

Q: How do I troubleshoot credential configuration errors?
A: 1. Verify your API key (ensure it’s copied correctly from the Xiyangshi AI Video WeChat Official Account). 2. Check if the PC service is running (look for the service window). 3. Confirm the service address matches your deployment scenario.

Q: Why won’t the PC service start?
A: Check if Python and Node.js are installed correctly. Refer to personal-wechat-service/新手指南.md (Beginner’s Guide.md) in the repo for detailed troubleshooting.

Q: My WeChat messages aren’t sending. What’s wrong?
A: 1. Ensure the WeChat PC client is logged in. 2. Confirm the contact/group name matches exactly (WeChat is case-sensitive for names). 3. Restart the PC service and WeChat if issues persist.

Q: The Enterprise WeChat Webhook isn’t working. How can I fix it?
A: Regenerate the Webhook in your Enterprise WeChat group (old Webhooks may expire) and double-check the URL format (ensure it starts with https://qyapi.weixin.qq.com/).

Version Update Highlights

The Xiyangshi AI WeChat Plugin is regularly updated with new features and bug fixes. Here are the latest improvements:

v1.2.27 (Latest) 🎉

  • Enterprise WeChat Bot Enhancements: Added support for images, files, and rich media cards.
  • Image Messaging: Automatically handles base64 encoding for URL-based images.
  • File Messaging: Supports document/zip uploads (auto-fetches media IDs).
  • Rich Media Cards: Create cards with titles, descriptions, links, and images (up to 8 items per card).
  • Node Naming: Unified node name to “WeChat Send” for consistency.

v1.2.23 🎉

  • Critical Fixes: Resolved personal WeChat file path extraction issues (e.g., correctly parses /data/files/1/3.mp4 as 3.mp4).
  • Caption Support: Passes description text from N8N’s “Additional Options” to WeChat.
  • Parameter Sync: Improved data transfer between Node.js and Python services.

Conclusion & Future Outlook

The Xiyangshi AI WeChat Plugin delivers a powerful, flexible solution for integrating WeChat with N8N—whether you’re a individual developer automating personal tasks or a team streamlining enterprise collaboration. It lowers the technical barrier to WeChat-N8N integration while offering rich features and user-friendly design.

If you’re looking to connect WeChat to your automated workflows or reduce repetitive WeChat tasks, this plugin is a must-try. As it continues to iterate, we can expect even more features and refinements.

Finally, if you find this plugin useful, consider giving it a Star on GitHub—it’s the best way to support the developers. Let’s unlock the full potential of automated workflows together!