WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, with over 2 billion users. Its massive user base means that locating someone’s phone number or profile on WhatsApp can be challenging at times. While WhatsApp doesn’t have a built-in search option to look up users by name or number, there are some useful online tools and methods that can help you find WhatsApp contacts more easily.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different techniques you can use to search WhatsApp number by name from the comfort of your desktop or smartphone.
Searching WhatsApp by Phone Number
One of the most straightforward ways to search for someone’s WhatsApp account is by using their phone number. WhatsApp uses your mobile number as your primary account identity, so if you have the number linked to someone’s WhatsApp account, you can easily view their profile and initiate a chat. Here are some ways to search WhatsApp by phone number:
Method 1: Use WhatsApp Web/Desktop App
The official WhatsApp Web platform allows you to sync your WhatsApp account on your computer’s web browser or the desktop app. Here are the steps to search for a WhatsApp number using the desktop version:
1. Open web.whatsapp.com on your computer’s browser and scan the QR code using your WhatsApp mobile app to link it.
2. Once linked, click on the Chat tab at the top left corner of the screen.
3. Click on the New Chat option > New Contact.
4. Enter the phone number with country code you want to search and hit Enter.
5. If the number exists on WhatsApp, it will show the contact’s name and profile photo to confirm. You can then start chatting with them directly from your computer.
Method 2: Ask in WhatsApp Group
If you have a common WhatsApp group with that contact, you can simply ask other members if they have the person’s number to connect with them easily. This method works well if you have the person’s name and need to get their number from your WhatsApp contacts.
Method 3: Look up Phone Contacts
Check your phone contact list to see if you still have their number saved from previous interactions. WhatsApp automatically scans your local contact list and links any matching numbers to accounts. So if the number is still in your contacts, it will show up when you search on WhatsApp.
Searching WhatsApp by Name
Finding someone’s WhatsApp profile by their name can be more challenging if you don’t have their number. WhatsApp doesn’t have a search directory that lets you lookup users by their names or usernames.
However, there are some indirect methods you can use to search WhatsApp contacts by name:
Method 1: Use WhatsApp Contact Info Shortcut
If you already have an existing chat open with that contact, follow these steps:
1. Open the chat window with the contact.
2. Tap on their name/profile picture at the top.
3. Scroll down and tap ‘Share Contact Info’.
4. It will create a pre-filled message with their phone number that you can forward to any other contact or group to get their details.
Method 2: Look Up WhatsApp Groups
Go through the common WhatsApp groups you share with that contact and check their names in the participant list. Once you find them, tap and hold to open their profile info and start a chat.
Method 3: Ask Friends and Family
Reach out to your other WhatsApp contacts who might know that person and request them to share the number if they have it saved in their phonebook.
Method 4: Use Third-Party WhatsApp Search Tools
Some unofficial online services allow you to search WhatsApp by name and display matching user profiles. However, these tools scrape data from public sources so the contact details may be outdated or incorrect in some cases. Use them at your own discretion.
Some popular WhatsApp search engines include:
– WhatsApp Lookup
– WhatsApp Group Links Finder
– WhatsApp Search
– WhatsNumberOf
– Truecaller
Tips for Finding WhatsApp Contacts by Name
Here are some additional tips to help you search for WhatsApp numbers of your contacts by name:
– Try nickname variations or shortened versions of their name that you may have saved them as. WhatsApp matches names in your contacts list, so check different formats.
– If you know any of their family members or close friends who use WhatsApp, ask them for the number or to forward your message.
– Join WhatsApp finder and lookup groups on Facebook where you can post requests to help locate people.
– Check your email contacts and SMS history to see if you ever communicated with them in the past using the number.
– If you have an old smartphone, restore your contacts backup and check if the number still exists.
– For a business, call their office landline number and request to be forwarded to the person’s direct WhatsApp account.
Limitations of WhatsApp Lookup Methods
While the above methods can help you track down your required WhatsApp contact, there are some limitations to be aware of:
– WhatsApp has over 2 billion users worldwide, so common names are harder to search without additional contact details.
– Phone numbers can be changed or reassigned so the person may not be using the same number anymore on WhatsApp.
– People can choose to use a different display name that doesn’t match their profile name, making it difficult to search by name.
– If your contacts have opted for enhanced privacy settings, you cannot view their number or profile photo in groups.
– Unofficial third-party lookup sites often rely on outdated or user-submitted data which can be inaccurate.
– WhatsApp does not allow searching contacts across its entire platform to protect user privacy.
How to Use Third-Party WhatsApp Search Tools
While WhatsApp does not have an official name or number search feature, various third-party websites offer this capability by compiling database information from public sources. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use such WhatsApp search engines:
1. Go to the website on your desktop or mobile browser. Some popular options include WhatsApp Lookup, WhatsAppGroup Links Finder, WhatsApp Search, Truecaller, etc.
2. Enter the name of the contact you want to search for in the search bar. Make sure to type the exact name or variations used on WhatsApp.
3. You may also be able to filter by country to improve the search accuracy.
4. The website will start displaying WhatsApp profile matches for the name entered from their database.
5. Scroll through the results to find the matching profile picture or WhatsApp number of the contact if available.
6. Tap on the number to view the full WhatsApp profile details.
7. You can now copy the phone number + WhatsApp link to add the contact in your app by tapping the provided icon.
8. Some sites may allow sending a WhatsApp message directly to the number without having to save the contact first.
9. Use the search results judiciously as some of the data can be crowd-sourced or outdated in a few cases.
Pros of Using WhatsApp Search Tools
- Allows searching by name which WhatsApp itself does not offer
- Fast and convenient way to find WhatsApp profiles from desktop browsers
- Helps discover new WhatsApp contacts of people
- May show alternate number if the original number changed
Cons of Using WhatsApp Search Tools
- Privacy risks as personal data is revealed publicly
- Websites contain user-submitted info which may be inaccurate
- Does not cover all 2 billion+ WhatsApp users worldwide
- Profiles can be outdated if numbers changed significantly
How to Stop Others from Searching for You on WhatsApp
If you want to protect your privacy by preventing people from finding and contacting you easily on WhatsApp, here are some tips:
- Set your Last Seen, Profile Photo and About info to be visible to ‘My Contacts Only’ in WhatsApp privacy settings. This will hide your details from non-contacts.
- Turn off Read Receipts and join broadcast lists to make your online presence more private. Disable showing phone number in groups.
- Be careful about sharing your phone number publicly on social media sites or online directories where it can be scraped.
- If you feel you are being harassed by someone using your number, consider blocking them and changing your number as a last resort.
- Report problematic websites that reveal your private data without consent to get it removed. Opt for removal from data aggregator platforms.
- Keep your name consistent across platforms and use a display name on WhatsApp that others are less likely to search for.
Conclusion
Searching for someone’s WhatsApp number or profile by name can be challenging due to the app’s privacy limitations and massive user base. While WhatsApp’s in-built options are limited, you can use indirect methods like checking your contacts, looking up groups, or asking friends to help find the required contact. Third-party search engines can also assist but may have inaccurate crowd-sourced data in some cases. With over 2 billion users, finding specific WhatsApp contacts by name remains tricky but is possible in many cases through the various techniques discussed here.
| Method | How it Works | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Web/Desktop App | Lets you search using the phone number on linked devices | Requires the exact phone number |
| Ask Contacts in Groups | Leverage shared WhatsApp groups to request info | Other users may not respond or know the number |
| Check Phone Contact List | Lookup saved contacts on mobile device | Number may not be saved or changed |
| Third-Party Websites | Specialized search engines lookup by name | Public data can be inaccurate or outdated |