How to Capture and Recover Deleted WeChat Messages with Python itchat

Overview

The author discovered the Python itchat library and built a script that captures withdrawn private chat messages on WeChat and forwards them to the personal file helper, recording who sent the message, when it was sent, the content, and its type (text, image, voice, video, share, location, attachment).

Code Implementation

# -*-encoding:utf-8-*-
import os
import re
import shutil
import time
import itchat
from itchat.content import *

# 说明：可以撤回的有文本文字、语音、视频、图片、位置、名片、分享、附件
# {msg_id:(msg_from,msg_to,msg_time,msg_time_rec,msg_type,msg_content,msg_share_url)}
msg_dict = {}

# 文件存储临时目录
rev_tmp_dir = "/home/alic/RevDir/"
if not os.path.exists(rev_tmp_dir): os.mkdir(rev_tmp_dir)

# 表情有一个问题 | 接受信息和接受note的msg_id不一致 巧合解决方案
face_bug = None

# 将接收到的消息存放在字典中，当接收到新消息时对字典中超时的消息进行清理 | 不接受不具有撤回功能的信息
# [TEXT, PICTURE, MAP, CARD, SHARING, RECORDING, ATTACHMENT, VIDEO, FRIENDS, NOTE]
@itchat.msg_register([TEXT, PICTURE, MAP, CARD, SHARING, RECORDING, ATTACHMENT, VIDEO])
def handler_receive_msg(msg):
    global face_bug
    # 获取的是本地时间戳并格式化本地时间戳 e: 2017-04-21 21:30:08
    msg_time_rec = time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", time.localtime())
    # 消息ID
    msg_id = msg['MsgId']
    # 消息时间
    msg_time = msg['CreateTime']
    # 消息发送人昵称 | 这里也可以使用RemarkName备注　但是自己或者没有备注的人为None
    msg_from = (itchat.search_friends(userName=msg['FromUserName']))["NickName"]
    # 消息内容
    msg_content = None
    # 分享的链接
    msg_share_url = None
    if msg['Type'] == 'Text' or msg['Type'] == 'Friends':
        msg_content = msg['Text']
    elif msg['Type'] == 'Recording' or msg['Type'] == 'Attachment' or msg['Type'] == 'Video' or msg['Type'] == 'Picture':
        msg_content = r"" + msg['FileName']
        # 保存文件
        msg['Text'](rev_tmp_dir + msg['FileName'])
    elif msg['Type'] == 'Card':
        msg_content = msg['RecommendInfo']['NickName'] + r" 的名片"
    elif msg['Type'] == 'Map':
        x, y, location = re.search("<location x=\"(.*?)\" y=\"(.*?)\".*label=\"(.*?)\".*", msg['OriContent']).group(1, 2, 3)
        if location is None:
            msg_content = r"纬度->" + x.__str__() + " 经度->" + y.__str__()
        else:
            msg_content = r"" + location
    elif msg['Type'] == 'Sharing':
        msg_content = msg['Text']
        msg_share_url = msg['Url']
    face_bug = msg_content
    # 更新字典
    msg_dict.update({
        msg_id: {
            "msg_from": msg_from,
            "msg_time": msg_time,
            "msg_time_rec": msg_time_rec,
            "msg_type": msg['Type'],
            "msg_content": msg_content,
            "msg_share_url": msg_share_url
        }
    })

# 收到note通知类消息，判断是不是撤回并进行相应操作
@itchat.msg_register([NOTE])
def send_msg_helper(msg):
    global face_bug
    if re.search(r"<!\[CDATA\[.*撤回了一条消息\]\]>", msg['Content']) is not None:
        # 获取消息的id
        old_msg_id = re.search("<msgid>(.*?)</msgid>", msg['Content']).group(1)
        old_msg = msg_dict.get(old_msg_id, {})
        if len(old_msg_id) < 11:
            itchat.send_file(rev_tmp_dir + face_bug, toUserName='filehelper')
            os.remove(rev_tmp_dir + face_bug)
        else:
            msg_body = "告诉你一个秘密~" + "
" + old_msg.get('msg_from') + " 撤回了 " + old_msg.get('msg_type') + " 消息" + "
" + old_msg.get('msg_time_rec') + "
" + "撤回了什么 ⇣" + "
" + old_msg.get('msg_content')
            # 如果是分享存在链接
            if old_msg['msg_type'] == "Sharing":
                msg_body += "
就是这个链接➣ " + old_msg.get('msg_share_url')
            # 将撤回消息发送到文件助手
            itchat.send(msg_body, toUserName='filehelper')
            # 有文件的话也要将文件发送回去
            if old_msg["msg_type"] in ["Picture", "Recording", "Video", "Attachment"]:
                file = '@fil@%s' % (rev_tmp_dir + old_msg['msg_content'])
                itchat.send(msg=file, toUserName='filehelper')
                os.remove(rev_tmp_dir + old_msg['msg_content'])
            # 删除字典旧消息
            msg_dict.pop(old_msg_id)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    itchat.auto_login(hotReload=True, enableCmdQR=2)
    itchat.run()

Running the Program

The script can be executed directly in a terminal; after scanning the QR code it logs in automatically. It can also be packaged for Windows, but paths should be adjusted (relative paths are recommended).

Screenshot

About itchat

Introduction

Itchat is an open‑source Python interface for personal WeChat accounts, allowing simple construction of instant‑messaging bots and easy extension to other platforms.

Installation

pip3 install itchat

Hello World Example

import itchat
itchat.auto_login(hotReload=True)
itchat.send('Hello AlicFeng', toUserName='filehelper')

Client View

Resources

GitHub repository: https://github.com/liduanwei/ItChat

Chinese API documentation: http://itchat.readthedocs.io/zh/latest/