WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. A key feature of WhatsApp is the ability to chat with people even if they are not in your phone’s contact list. There are several methods to add a new WhatsApp contact without having their phone number saved already.
Adding Someone by QR Code
One easy way is by using the QR code feature within WhatsApp. Here is how it works:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your phone.
- Tap on the 3 dot menu icon in the top right.
- Select “Settings” from the menu.
- Go to “Profile” and tap on “QR code”.
- Your unique QR code will show on the screen. Have the other person open WhatsApp and go to “Add contact” > “QR code”.
- Point their phone’s camera at your QR code so they can scan it.
- Their phone will now read your QR code and automatically add you as a contact!
The QR code method works great if you are physically together with the other person. It saves having to exchange phone numbers and adds them instantly just by scanning. One thing to note is that you will still need to create a chat with the new contact after connecting.
Adding by Phone Number
If you don’t have physical access to the person, another way is by using their phone number directly in WhatsApp. Here is how it works:
- Open the WhatsApp app and tap on “Calls” tab at the bottom.
- Next tap on the phone icon in the top right to open your phone dialer in WhatsApp.
- Type in the phone number of the person including the country code you want to add.
- Tap on the phone icon to directly call them through WhatsApp.
- End the call after 1 ring. This should automatically add them as a WhatsApp contact.
Calling through WhatsApp instead of your regular phone app connects that number within WhatsApp’s system. As long as the person you are calling has an active WhatsApp account with that number, they will be added even without answering. You can then start chatting with your new contact!
Adding from Recent Chats
If you have recently received a message or call from someone not in your contacts, you can easily add them through the recent chats section:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on “Calls” tab.
- Tap on the “RECENTS” text at the top of the screen.
- Here you will see any recent missed calls and messages from non-contacts.
- Tap on the number you want to add.
- Tap on “Add to Contacts” at the top of the chat.
- Select “Create contact” to add them directly from here.
This method allows you to conveniently create a new contact entry from any recent communication you’ve had with someone through WhatsApp. It saves you from having to re-obtain their number.
Importing Contacts
You can also import entire contact lists from sources outside WhatsApp. Here are some options to import and bulk add contacts:
- Phone Contacts – Open WhatsApp Settings > Contacts > Import > select phone contacts to import.
- SIM Card – Import all contacts stored on your SIM card to WhatsApp.
- Gmail – Open WhatsApp > Menu > Settings > Contacts > Import > Gmail contacts.
- Outlook – Open Import contacts from Outlook email account into WhatsApp.
- CSV File – Import a CSV contact list exported from other apps.
Importing contacts is handy if you are switching to a new device or want to batch add a large list of contacts available in another source. All imported numbers will be added as individual WhatsApp contacts.
Adding Contacts via Invite Link
WhatsApp also gives you an invite link to add contacts. Here is how it works:
- Open WhatsApp and tap “Settings”.
- Go to “Invite via link” and tap “Share invite link”.
- Choose the application to share the link through.
- Send the invite link to the person you want to add.
- When they tap the link, it will open a page to download and install WhatsApp.
- They can sign up and verify their number. This will add them as your contact!
This method allows you to send someone a link via email, social media, etc to get them setup on WhatsApp. They can install WhatsApp and connect their number to contacts who have shared invite links with them.
Adding from Address Book
Here are the steps to add someone by searching for their number in your device’s address book:
- Open the WhatsApp app.
- Tap on the 3 dot menu icon at the top right.
- Tap on “New contact” to add a new person.
- Tap on “Add from Contacts” at the top.
- This will open your phone’s contacts. Search and select the contact you want to add.
- Select “Add to WhatsApp” to add them.
This method is helpful when you have the number saved locally on your device but not on WhatsApp. You can search and select them easily from your address book to get them on WhatsApp.
Adding Group Participants
You can also invite non-contacts to join WhatsApp groups. Here is how:
- Open the WhatsApp group you want to add people to.
- Tap on the Group name at the top to open Group info.
- Scroll down and tap “Add participants”.
- Tap on “Invite to group via link”.
- Share the group invite link with the non-contact.
- They can join the group directly through the link!
By generating a group invite link, you can add new people directly to your WhatsApp groups without needing their contact information.
Joining via WhatsApp Group Links
You can also join WhatsApp groups via invite links without having the admin’s contact number saved. Here’s how:
- Ask the group admin to generate a “Group Invite Link”.
- The admin can share this link publicly or directly with you.
- Tap on the link on your device to open it in WhatsApp.
- You will see a preview of the group’s info and members.
- Tap on “Join” to join the group!
Group links provide a quick and easy way to join new WhatsApp groups without needing a saved contact. This lets you connect with new groups and communities directly.
Creating a WhatsApp Group Link
As a group admin, you can proactively generate a public invite link and share it to add new members. Here are the steps:
- Open the WhatsApp group and tap on the group name.
- Tap on “Invite to group via link”.
- Turn on the toggle for “Groups via link”.
- Tap “Generate link” to create the public invitation link.
- Tap on the link to copy it, or share it directly through WhatsApp.
Enabling public links allows anyone to join your group by simply tapping the link, without needing prior contact approval. This makes it easy to distribute and get new members.
Adding from Nearby Places
You can also discover WhatsApp users and groups nearby by location. Here’s how it works:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the 3 dot menu.
- Select “Nearby places” from the menu.
- This will open a list of nearby WhatsApp users and groups.
- Browse and view details of nearby options.
- Tap “Add” next to a user or “Join” for a group to connect.
The nearby places feature uses your device’s location to show WhatsApp profiles and groups that are active near you. This provides proximity based discovery and adding of new contacts on WhatsApp.
Using WhatsApp Click to Chat Links
Websites and apps can also create clickable WhatsApp links to add contacts or launch chats. Here’s how to use them:
- Look for a “Chat on WhatsApp” link on a website or profile.
- Tap on the link on your device.
- This will open a WhatsApp chat window with the number/contact.
- Send a message to start chatting!
Click to chat links provide a fast way to begin a WhatsApp conversation directly from a webpage. Developers can enable these to boost messaging from their sites and apps.
Using WhatsApp Business Profile Links
Businesses using WhatsApp Business accounts can also create public profile links for easy contacting. For example:
- The business profile link might be listed on their website or storefront.
- When you click the link on your device, it will open their WhatsApp chat window.
- You can directly send them a message without having their number saved.
WhatsApp business profile links allow customers to instantly message and connect with businesses for faster communication and support.
Summary Table
| Method | How it Works |
|---|---|
| QR Code Scan | Scan a WhatsApp user’s unique QR code to instantly add them. |
| By Phone Number | Add a number by calling it through WhatsApp even if not saved in contacts. |
| Recent Chats | Add any unsaved numbers from your chat/call history. |
| Import Contacts | Import entire contact lists from sources like Google Contacts. |
| Invite Link | Send invite links via email/social media to add new contacts. |
| Address Book | Search for unsaved numbers in your local address book and add them. |
| Group Link | Generate a group invite link that anyone can use to join. |
| Nearby Places | Browse and add WhatsApp users and groups near your location. |
| Click to Chat Link | Websites can create links to launch chats with new numbers. |
| Business Profile Link | Clickable links to open business chat windows for messaging. |
Finding Unknown Senders in Message Requests
If you receive a message on WhatsApp from an unknown number, it goes into your Message Requests. Here is how to view and add unknown senders:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the “Chats” tab.
- At the top, tap on the Message Requests notification if shown.
- This will open all pending messages from unidentified contacts.
- Tap on a message to view the full chat.
- You can tap “Add” from here to add the unknown sender.
Using message requests, you can choose to add only senders you want to chat with. All messages will be queued there until you add the contact.
Troubleshooting Tips
While adding unknown WhatsApp contacts is easy, sometimes things might not work as expected. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Confirm the contact has an active WhatsApp account – they will only show up once registered.
- Double check the accuracy of any number or links you are using.
- Check your internet connection is working and try the steps again.
- For QR codes, check that both phones have a working camera and are scanning the code properly.
- With phone numbers, include the country code prefix when adding unknown international contacts.
- Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed.
- Force close and restart the WhatsApp app if issues persist.
Following these tips should help resolve any common problems faced when adding new WhatsApp contacts without saved numbers.
Adding Contacts on Multiple Devices
A useful WhatsApp feature to know is that new contacts get automatically synced across linked devices. Here’s how it works:
- When you add a new contact on one device, it will be visible on your other linked devices like PC or tablet too.
- You don’t need to manually add it again on each device.
- Saving a contact’s number or QR code scan gets reflected across WhatsApp.
- This makes switching devices or messaging from PC easier.
WhatsApp uses your WhatsApp account to sync your contacts. Add someone once and chat with them seamlessly from phone, tablet or computer!
Backing Up Your Contacts
It’s also good practice to regularly back up your WhatsApp contacts. Here are two easy ways to do it:
- Google Drive Backup – Enable WhatsApp backup to Google Drive to save your contacts.
- Local Backup – Create a manual backup locally on your phone’s storage.
Backing up ensures you have a copy of your contacts saved. This safeguards you from losing contacts if switching devices or in case your phone is damaged or lost.
Conclusion
Adding new WhatsApp contacts without having their number saved first has become easier than ever using invite links, QR codes, and more. With over 2 billion users globally, WhatsApp aims to make connecting easy and accessible to everyone.
Using the techniques covered in this article, you can easily build up your WhatsApp contacts beyond just the phone numbers stored locally on your device. The wide adoption of WhatsApp makes it possible to connect with new friends, groups, businesses and other contacts through convenient digital means.
From scanning someone’s QR code when meeting them, to tapping a website’s chat link, to joining a group via invite link – there are now numerous streamlined ways to add WhatsApp contacts. So go ahead and start expanding your WhatsApp network today with these handy tips!