Many WhatsApp users wonder if they can send a message to their own number on the popular messaging platform. There are a few reasons why someone might want to message themselves – to send reminders, notes or files, test something out, or just for fun.
The short answer is yes, you can send a message to your own number on WhatsApp if you have it set up properly. However, it doesn’t work by default, so you need to use some workarounds to get it enabled.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about messaging yourself on WhatsApp:
Can I message myself on WhatsApp by default?
No, you cannot directly message yourself on WhatsApp just using one device or phone number. WhatsApp requires that you message another unique phone number, so it blocks you from texting your own number.
This restriction is in place to prevent spam and abuse. WhatsApp wants to ensure people use the platform to communicate with others, not just themselves.
So if you try to start a chat with your own number in the WhatsApp contacts list, it will not work. You’ll get an error saying “You can’t send messages to yourself.”
So how can I get around this and message myself?
While you can’t message yourself on WhatsApp using just one phone number, you can use workarounds to enable it:
- Use WhatsApp Web on another device
- Install WhatsApp on a second phone with the same number
- Use another messaging app like Telegram that allows self-messaging
We’ll explain how each method works in more detail below.
Method 1: Use WhatsApp Web
The easiest way to message yourself on WhatsApp is to use WhatsApp Web.
WhatsApp Web allows you to access your WhatsApp account and messages on a computer through the web browser. Here’s how it works:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your phone and go to Settings > WhatsApp Web.
- On your computer, go to web.whatsapp.com.
- Use your phone to scan the QR code on the WhatsApp Web page.
- This will link your phone WhatsApp account to the computer.
Now your WhatsApp on your computer is connected to your phone. When you message your own phone number on WhatsApp Web, it will show up on your phone’s WhatsApp app.
So if you want to send reminders, notes, files or anything else to yourself, simply start a chat on WhatsApp Web using your phone number. This message will be delivered to your actual phone’s WhatsApp inbox.
Pros of using WhatsApp Web
- Easy and quick to set up
- Don’t need an additional phone number or device
- Web access allows larger keyboard and screen to type messages
- Syncs messages across devices automatically
Cons of using WhatsApp Web
- Requires a computer to access WhatsApp Web
- Only works when your phone is connected to the internet
- Can’t use all WhatsApp features like voice messages and calls on web
So in summary, WhatsApp Web gives you an easy way to message yourself without much setup. As long as you have your phone handy, you can chat to yourself from a computer browser.
Method 2: Use WhatsApp on a Second Phone
Another way to message yourself on WhatsApp is by using a second phone with the same number.
For this method, you’ll need:
- Your main smartphone that your WhatsApp account is set up on
- A second phone that supports WhatsApp
- Your phone number’s SIM card inserted in the second phone
Here are the steps to follow:
- Insert your SIM card in the second phone.
- Download and install WhatsApp on the second phone.
- Register your phone number on the second WhatsApp account.
- Open a chat with your number on the second phone.
- This message will appear in your main WhatsApp app.
Now when you send a message to yourself from the second phone, it will be delivered to your real WhatsApp account on your main phone.
Pros of using a second phone
- Don’t need to be connected to a computer/internet
- Get full WhatsApp functionality like calling and media sharing
- Separate device lets you multitask easier
Cons of using a second phone
- Need to have two phones/devices
- Requires swapping SIM card between phones
- Setting up second WhatsApp account takes some time
Having two phones connected to your number takes more effort but gives you more flexibility. You don’t have to rely on a computer and internet connection to message yourself.
Method 3: Use Another Messaging App
If configuring a second WhatsApp account seems like too much work, there are other easier options. Some messaging apps allow you to text your own number without workarounds:
- Telegram – Telegram has a Saved Messages feature where you can send notes to yourself. You can access Saved Messages on all your connected devices.
- Signal – On Signal you can start a group chat with just yourself as the participant. Any messages sent will be visible only to you.
- Slack – Slack has an optional integration that lets you send Slack messages to yourself via SMS or email.
The advantage of using these apps is you don’t have to set up multiple accounts or devices. On most platforms, you can simply open a message to your phone number and start chatting.
The limitations are that you need to install another app, and can only message yourself on that platform, while WhatsApp lets you send notes directly to your main messaging app.
Can I automate self-messaging on WhatsApp?
While WhatsApp doesn’t natively support auto-messaging yourself, there are some third-party apps and tools that enable it:
- IFTTT – Using IFTTT applets, you can connect WhatsApp to other services like email or Facebook Messenger to automatically forward messages to yourself.
- Automate – This Android automation app can send automated WhatsApp messages to yourself or others.
- Bots – There are custom chatbot tools and programs that integrate with WhatsApp to auto-respond to messages from your number.
However, auto-messaging yourself frequently may go against WhatsApp’s Terms of Service on automated or bulk messaging. Use any automation tools judiciously to avoid getting blocked.
Can I message myself on WhatsApp Business?
WhatsApp Business is WhatsApp’s app aimed at businesses to interact with customers. On WhatsApp Business, you can message yourself without workarounds.
WhatsApp Business uses your business phone number, which is different than your personal WhatsApp account. Since these are two different numbers, you can freely send messages between them on your devices.
This allows businesses to easily coordinate messages and notes between devices using WhatsApp Business.
However, regular WhatsApp users can’t directly take advantage of this feature, as you need a business account.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp self-messaging
If you are having trouble getting self-messaging to work properly on WhatsApp, here are some things to check:
- Make sure your WhatsApp apps are updated to the latest version.
- Check your internet connection is working well on all devices.
- On WhatsApp Web, relink your account by scanning the QR code again if needed.
- Restart your phone and computer if Web/secondary device features stop working.
- Clear your WhatsApp cache and data to reset the app if issues persist.
Hopefully these troubleshooting tips will help resolve any connection issues that pop up when trying to message yourself. Reach out to WhatsApp support if problems continue.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp doesn’t allow you to text your own number directly, there are a few handy workarounds:
- Use WhatsApp Web on a computer browser paired to your phone
- Set up a second WhatsApp account on another phone with your SIM
- Switch to Telegram, Signal or other apps that support self-messaging
Setting up these options takes a bit more effort, but gives you the flexibility to send notes, reminders and files to yourself on WhatsApp. This can help you stay organized and access important information easily across devices.
Just be thoughtful about how often you message yourself to avoid spam behavior. With the right setup, self-messaging on WhatsApp can be a useful productivity tool.