Quick answer: No, you cannot find someone on WhatsApp with just their name. WhatsApp requires you to have the person’s phone number in order to search for and add them as a contact.
How Does WhatsApp Work?
WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to send messages, photos, videos and make calls to other WhatsApp users. It operates by syncing your phone’s contacts list with the app. This means in order to message someone on WhatsApp, their phone number needs to already be saved in your phone’s contacts.
When you first sign up for WhatsApp, the app automatically detects which of your contacts also have WhatsApp installed. These contacts are then added to your WhatsApp contacts list, allowing you to immediately start messaging them through the app.
Verifying Contacts
WhatsApp verifies your contacts’ identities by matching the phone numbers saved locally on your device against registered WhatsApp users.
So if you have a friend’s phone number saved as ‘John Smith’ in your phone’s contacts, but they have registered their WhatsApp account under the number with the display name ‘JSmith123’, WhatsApp will still match them successfully and add them to your contacts because it matches the phone number.
How WhatsApp Search Works
When you search for a contact in WhatsApp, you are searching through your WhatsApp contacts list – not through an external database of all WhatsApp users. This contact list is initially populated by syncing the numbers in your existing phone contacts.
The only information WhatsApp has to go off when searching is the display name and number that particular contact has registered with. It does not search by characteristics like first/last name or location.
So if you have ‘John Smith’ saved locally in your phone’s contacts, but John has not registered that number to his WhatsApp account, searching for ‘John Smith’ in WhatsApp will not find him.
Ways to Find Someone on WhatsApp
While searching by name alone won’t find WhatsApp contacts, there are a couple ways you can search and find people on WhatsApp:
1. Search by Phone Number
The only foolproof way to find someone on WhatsApp is to have their phone number. You can either:
– Save their phone number to your contacts, then search on WhatsApp. WhatsApp will match the numbers and add them to your contacts.
– Go directly to the Add Contact screen in WhatsApp and enter their phone number. WhatsApp will attempt to match it to an existing account.
As long as the person has registered with that number, this method will allow you to successfully find and message them.
2. Ask in Mutual Groups
If you and the person you are trying to find have any mutual WhatsApp groups, you can search for them there:
– Open the group and tap on the Group Members tab.
– Scroll through the list of members to see if your contact is listed there.
– Tap on their name to open their profile info and send them a message.
This works because WhatsApp lists the display name and number that particular user registered with, which may allow you to identify them even if you only know their first name.
3. Get a Number from Mutual Connections
If you have mutual connections on WhatsApp, reach out to those connections and ask if they have the person’s phone number. With their number, you can add them as a contact and then search and message them on WhatsApp.
4. Use WhatsApp Business Profile Links
Some businesses and public figures will list their WhatsApp number or Business Profile link on their websites or social media bios. Clicking these links on mobile will open a chat with their business account on WhatsApp.
Tips for Finding Someone Without Their Number
If you don’t have someone’s number, here are some tips for tracking them down on WhatsApp:
- Search your email and messaging history to see if you ever communicated with them and received their phone number
- Check their social media profiles and bios to see if their WhatsApp number is publicly listed
- Ask mutual connections if they have the person’s contact info
- Search their name on WhatsApp in case their display name matches their first/last name
- Use their name and location to search for them on Google/Facebook and find any associated phone numbers
Is There a WhatsApp Phone Number Lookup?
There is no official phone number lookup or search database for WhatsApp. Because WhatsApp is based on your existing phone contacts, the only official way to find someone is by having their number.
Third-party apps and websites that claim to lookup WhatsApp users by name are likely scams and should be avoided. WhatsApp does not allow third parties to access their user data.
Some websites may allow searching people by phone number and then viewing limited profile data if they have an account. However, there is no way to search for someone by characteristics like name without having their number.
Risks of WhatsApp Number Lookup Sites
While some websites claim to offer WhatsApp lookup services, these come with significant risks:
- Breaching people’s privacy by scraping their data without consent
- Spreading phone numbers publicly without the owner’s permission
- Charging fees for pointless lookups that can’t access real WhatsApp data
- Installing malware or viruses on your device
- Spreading spam by selling phone number lists
For these reasons, it’s best to avoid these third-party lookup services and rely only on the official WhatsApp search based on your contacts.
WhatsApp Safety Tips
When trying to find someone on WhatsApp, keep these safety tips in mind:
- Never share your personal phone number publically online
- Don’t add unknown users who message you out of the blue
- Enable two-step verification for added security
- Report spam or abuse within WhatsApp
- Block users who are harassing you or making unwanted contact
Conclusion
While WhatsApp can be a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, its contact system is limited to the phone numbers you already have saved. There is no reliable way to lookup or find someone by name alone on WhatsApp without having their phone number. Be wary of any third party sites that claim to offer WhatsApp search by name, as these are likely inaccurate or scams. Your best bet is obtaining a phone number directly from the person or mutual connections in order to successfully find and message them on WhatsApp.