# Filter WhatsApp messages with Google Sheets: n8n workflow

> Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Google Sheets. 15 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/filter-whatsapp-messages-with-google-sheets (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Data collection](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Data+collection#library)

# Filter WhatsApp messages with Google Sheets

Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Google Sheets. 15 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Ffilter-whatsapp-messages-with-google-sheets)

**15 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Logic 13 Service 1

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Manual Trigger, Test Execution** Manual trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Set, Mock WhatsApp Input** Set *Logic*
- 3 **Google Sheets, Fetch Blacklist** Google Sheets *Service*
- 4 **Code, Sanitize Phone Number** Code *Logic*
- 5 **Code, Sanitize Blacklist Rows** Code *Logic*
- 6 **Merge, Match Blacklist** Merge *Logic*
- 7 **Code, Evaluate Blacklist Status** Code *Logic*
- 8 **If, is Blocked?** If *Logic*
- 9 **NoOp, Blocked by Blacklist** No Op *Logic*
- 10 **Set, Max messages per minute** Set *Logic*
- 11 **Code, Mock Review Flood (DELETE IN PRODUCTION)** Code *Logic*
- 12 **Code, Rate Limiter Engine** Code *Logic*
- 13 **If, Rate Limit Exceeded?** If *Logic*
- 14 **NoOp, Blocked by Rate Limit** No Op *Logic*
- 15 **Set, Production Payload** Set *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An event in a connected app
- **Steps:** 15, with 2 branches
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Google Sheets
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Google Sheets account. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an event in a connected app.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 15 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 15 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Ffilter-whatsapp-messages-with-google-sheets)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)

## Workflows like it

Also data collection, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

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- [**Collect keyword clusters for URLs in Google Sheets** 15 steps · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/collect-keyword-clusters-for-urls-in-google-sheets)
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- [**Extract website emails with Google Sheets** 15 steps · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-website-emails-with-google-sheets)
- [**Find jobs with Telegram and Indeed** 15 steps · Airtable, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/find-jobs-with-telegram-and-indeed)