WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. A key feature of WhatsApp is that it uses your phone number as your account identifier. So in order to add a contact on WhatsApp, you need to have their phone number saved in your phone’s contacts.
Is it possible to add a WhatsApp contact without a phone number?
The short answer is no. There is no direct way to add a WhatsApp contact without having their phone number. Since WhatsApp uses your phone number as your account identity, it requires you to have the contact’s phone number in order to connect with them on WhatsApp.
However, there are a few workaround methods that allow you to communicate with someone on WhatsApp without having their phone number saved already:
- Share your WhatsApp QR code and have them scan it to add you
- Ask them to share their WhatsApp QR code which you can scan to add them
- Use WhatsApp’s Click to Chat feature to send them a chat link
- Add their phone number to your phone contacts first, then add the contact to WhatsApp
Let’s look at each of these methods in more detail:
Share your WhatsApp QR code
WhatsApp allows you to share your contact details with others easily using QR codes. You can find the option to display your unique WhatsApp QR code in the app Settings > QR code. When someone scans this QR code using their WhatsApp app, it will instantly add you as a contact in their WhatsApp.
So if you want to let someone add you on WhatsApp without already having your number saved, you can share your QR code with them through an online chat, email, social media, printed out, etc. As soon as they scan your QR code, you will show up as a contact on their WhatsApp and they can start chatting with you.
Ask them to share their WhatsApp QR code
Alternatively, you can ask the other person to share their WhatsApp QR code with you first. Then you can scan their QR code by going to WhatsApp > Settings > QR code > Scan code. This will instantly add them as a contact in your WhatsApp without needing to save their number in your phonebook first.
The benefit of using QR codes is that it avoids the need to exchange phone numbers just to connect on WhatsApp. The QR code contains their WhatsApp account details encrypted within it. So by scanning each other’s codes, you can add new WhatsApp contacts seamlessly.
Use WhatsApp’s Click to Chat feature
WhatsApp also offers a Click to Chat feature which lets you create a chat link to your WhatsApp account. You can then share this link with anyone you want to message you on WhatsApp. When they click the link, it will open a chat with your account directly in their WhatsApp app.
To generate your personal Click to Chat link, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Click to Chat. Tap Create Link to generate a unique link to your account. You can then share this link through any channel with the person you want to message you.
The main benefit of Click to Chat is convenience. You don’t need to exchange contact details first. Just sharing the link allows someone to start chatting with you instantly on WhatsApp.
First add their number to your contacts
While WhatsApp requires you to have someone’s phone number to connect with them directly, it doesn’t have to already be saved in your contacts. You can manually enter any phone number in your phone’s Contacts app to create a new contact.
Once you have added their phone number as a contact, you can then go to WhatsApp and tap on New Contact. Search for the new contact you just added and select it. This will add them as a WhatsApp contact too.
So if you meet someone and they share their phone number directly, you can first save it as a phone contact. This then allows you to add them as a WhatsApp contact using their number.
Use WhatsApp Web/Desktop
You can also use WhatsApp Web/Desktop to message new contacts without saving their phone numbers first. WhatsApp Web/Desktop syncs your chats and contacts from your phone.
But on the desktop app, you have the option to start a new chat using a phone number that is not already saved in your contacts. Enter the phone number and you can start chatting with that unsaved number directly on WhatsApp Web/Desktop.
This chat will still show up on your phone WhatsApp too. So it allows you to conveniently message new contacts without needing their number saved on your phone.
Use a WhatsApp business account
WhatsApp also offers business accounts that come with some additional features. One of them is the ability to add quick replies, away messages, etc without needing somebody’s phone number.
With a WhatsApp business account, people can message you through your WhatsApp business profile without having your number saved already. So this allows you to respond to them and add them as a contact from there.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp is designed to connect using phone numbers, there are some handy workarounds that allow you to message new contacts without having their number saved already:
- Exchange WhatsApp QR codes to instantly add new contacts
- Share your WhatsApp Click to Chat link to start a chat without sharing numbers
- Manually add their number to your phone contacts first
- Use WhatsApp Web/Desktop to message unsaved numbers
- Get a WhatsApp business account to enable quick replies without saved contacts
These tricks help you use WhatsApp conveniently and connect with new people easily without the need to exchange phone numbers each time.