WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the handy features of WhatsApp is that you can easily start a chat with someone just using their phone number, without needing to have them in your contacts. This can be useful if you meet someone new and want to connect with them on WhatsApp or if you have an old number for someone but don’t have them in your current contacts.
In this article, we will walk through the steps to easily open a WhatsApp chat just by using someone’s phone number on both iPhone and Android devices. We will also provide some tips and tricks for looking up numbers and starting conversations once you’ve opened a new chat.
Prerequisites
Before you can start a WhatsApp chat by number, there are a couple requirements:
- You need to have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your phone
- You need to have the phone number of the person you want to message
- That phone number needs to be registered to an active WhatsApp account
So as long as you have those three things, you are ready to open a chat! Let’s look at the specifics for iPhone and Android.
On iPhone
Opening a WhatsApp chat by number on an iPhone is very simple. Here are the steps:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your iPhone
- Tap on the Chats tab at the bottom if you aren’t already there
- Tap on the New Chat icon in the top right (it looks like a pen and paper)
- In the To field at the top, enter the full phone number you want to message
- Tap on the Create New Chat button below the number
That’s it! Those few steps will start a brand new chat with the number you entered.
Once you tap Create New Chat, the chat will open and you can start messaging that person. Their name may automatically populated if they are in your contacts. If not, you can add their name for your reference.
One thing to note is that starting a chat by phone number alone will not automatically share your phone number with the recipient. Your privacy is maintained until you explicitly choose to share your number.
Tips for iPhone
Here are some additional tips for easily opening WhatsApp chats by number on your iPhone:
- If you have a number copied, you can paste it into the To field instead of typing
- You can start group chats by entering multiple numbers separated by commas
- Your recent new chats will show up as suggestions when you start typing a number
- If a number is not registered with WhatsApp, you will get an error when trying to chat
Following these best practices will make starting new WhatsApp chats a breeze!
On Android
The process for starting a chat by number on Android is very similar to iPhone. Here is how to do it:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your Android device
- Tap the Chats tab if you aren’t already viewing it
- Tap the 3-dot Menu button and choose New chat
- Tap New contact and enter the phone number in the field at the top
- Tap the Start chat button below the number
Once you hit Start chat, your chat with that number will begin and you can send them messages.
As with iPhone, the recipient will not automatically see your number when you start the chat. You have control over when to share your number.
Tips for Android
Here are some tips for starting chats easily on Android:
- You can paste a copied number into the field instead of typing it out
- Your recent new chats will show as suggestions
- Hit the 3-dot menu during a chat to add a name for the contact
- You’ll get notified if a number is not registered with WhatsApp
Following these tips will allow you to quickly open chats and start conversing on Android.
Looking Up Numbers
In order to start a WhatsApp chat with someone by number, you first need to get their phone number. Here are some tips for finding numbers if you don’t already have them:
- Check your email or text history to see if you have communicated with that person previously
- Look them up in your contacts app if you have them saved there
- Search your chat history on WhatsApp to see if you ever messaged them
- Ask mutual friends if they have the number and can share it
- Search public directories online (with caution for safety)
- Use your phone’s reverse number lookup if you have a missed call
Also keep in mind that when starting a chat by number, you need to use the full phone number, including the country code. So an American number would be +1-555-555-5555.
Having the right number handy will make starting your chat quick and seamless.
Starting the Conversation
Once you’ve opened a WhatsApp chat with someone new, you’ll want to start the conversation off right. Here are some tips:
- Introduce yourself if they may not know who you are
- Make it immediately clear why you are messaging them
- Ask an open-ended question to get the conversation going
- Keep your first message short, simple and friendly
- Mention if someone mutual gave you their number to chat
Avoid overly formal or long-winded openings. Get right to the point while being polite. And don’t start with anything inappropriate or illegal.
Some good opening messages could be:
- “Hi Sarah, this is Mike from the marketing conference. Thought I’d say hi on WhatsApp!”
- “Hey Juan, Alex gave me your number. I was wondering if you wanted to join our soccer team?”
- “Hi there! I got your number from the flyer you posted. I’m interested in the guitar lessons. Can you tell me more about timing and rates?”
The key is being cordial, direct and giving them context up front. That will increase the chances of a quick and productive response.
Troubleshooting Issues
While starting a WhatsApp chat by number is usually very straightforward, you may encounter some issues at times. Here are solutions for some common problems:
Number Not Registered on WhatsApp
If you attempt to chat a number and get a message that the number is not registered on WhatsApp, there are a few possibilities:
- You may have entered the number incorrectly. Double check that you have the right number.
- The number is valid but that person may not use WhatsApp.
- They used to use WhatsApp but may have changed their number or deleted their account.
Verify you have the correct number. If so, you will need to contact them outside of WhatsApp to see if they use it and get their active number.
Message Not Delivered
If your messages are stuck in “sending” or show one check mark, it means your message was not delivered. Some potential reasons are:
- You or the recipient may have connectivity issues
- Their phone may be off or short on battery
- They may have you blocked
- Their WhatsApp account became deactivated
Wait and retry sending the messages. If the issue persists, contact them outside WhatsApp to troubleshoot.
New Chats Not Showing Up
If you don’t see a new chat you created in your Chats tab, try these steps:
- Restart the WhatsApp app and look again
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version
- Check your internet connection
- Verify the chat creation process worked properly
- Contact WhatsApp support if the issue continues
In most cases, a new chat disappearance is temporary. But if one remains missing, those steps can help resolve it.
Conclusion
Opening a WhatsApp chat by phone number can be an easy way to connect with new contacts on the popular messaging platform. On both iPhone and Android, just a few taps in the app with the right number is all it takes.
Remember to get the full number with country code, introduce yourself politely when you message, and troubleshoot issues like unregistered numbers or failed message delivery.
With over 2 billion users, chances are high that chatting someone by number on WhatsApp will be a smooth and successful way to start a conversation. Use this handy messaging feature to expand your connections and engage with new contacts.
| Platform | Steps to Open Chat |
|---|---|
| iPhone |
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| Android |
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