Searching for a contact by their phone number is easy in WhatsApp. The app allows you to quickly find any of your contacts using just their phone number. This can be helpful if you don’t have the contact saved in your phone, or if you only know their number.
Open the Search Bar
To start searching by phone number, open the WhatsApp app on your phone. At the top of the Chats tab, you’ll see a search bar. Tap inside the search bar to open the keyboard.
Type the Phone Number
Into the search bar, type the full phone number of the contact you want to find. Make sure to include the country code at the beginning. For example, if you’re searching for a contact in the United States, type “+1” followed by the 10 digit phone number.
As you start typing the phone number, WhatsApp will automatically begin searching your contacts for matches. A list of suggested contacts will populate below the search bar if their numbers contain the digits you’ve entered so far.
Select the Matching Contact
Once you’ve finished typing the entire phone number, select the matching contact from the list of suggestions. This will open the chat with that phone number. If WhatsApp finds an exact match, it will take you directly into the chat.
If WhatsApp doesn’t find any matches, it likely means you don’t have that phone number saved in your contacts. You can still chat with the number by selecting the “New Chat” option at the top of the results.
Start Your Chat
After selecting the matching contact or choosing to start a new chat, you can begin messaging the number. Send a WhatsApp message introducing yourself if it’s your first time chatting with them.
Searching by phone number is also useful if you need to message someone that’s not in your contacts. As long as you have their full phone number, you can easily start a WhatsApp chat.
Tips for Searching Numbers
Here are some tips to keep in mind when searching for contacts by their phone number:
- Make sure to include the country code – Don’t forget to type the “+” and country code before the number.
- Check for typos – Double check that you entered the number correctly with no typos.
- Search your contacts first – Try searching your contacts app before going to WhatsApp, you may find a match there.
- Update your contacts – If you chat with someone often, save their number in your contacts for easier searching later.
- Refresh your contacts – Occasionally refresh your WhatsApp contacts in the app settings to match your phone contacts.
Searching by Name
In addition to searching by phone number, you can also find WhatsApp contacts by name:
- Open the WhatsApp search bar and type the contact’s name.
- Select the correct match from the list of suggestions.
- You’ll enter a chat with the contact to start messaging them.
Searching by name can be faster if you know the contact is saved in your phone already. But if you only have someone’s number, the phone number search is the way to go.
Using WhatsApp Click to Chat Links
Another way to start chatting on WhatsApp with someone is to use a click to chat link. This generates a URL that opens a chat with a specific number when clicked. For example:
https://wa.me/15105551234
To use a click to chat link, replace the number in the URL with the phone number you want to message. Then send the link to someone and have them click it on their phone to start chatting with you instantly.
Conclusion
Searching for contacts by phone number makes it easy to quickly find anyone in your WhatsApp messages. Whether you’re chatting with an old friend or connecting with someone new, a simple search can get you into a conversation right away. With useful tools like contact search and click to chat links, WhatsApp provides multiple options for easily messaging anyone.
| Search Method | How to Use | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Number Search | Type full number into search bar | When you only have someone’s phone number |
| Name Search | Type contact name into search bar | When you know the contact is saved in your phone |
| Click to Chat Link | Generate URL with number and send to contact | When you want someone to start chatting instantly |
With WhatsApp’s handy contact search tools, staying connected with your contacts is smooth and simple. Next time you need to reach out to someone new or find an old chat, try searching by phone number or name for the fastest results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I find someone by searching their phone number?
If you can’t find someone by searching their phone number, here are some potential reasons:
- You may have the number saved incorrectly in your contacts
- The country code might be missing from the number
- The contact may not have WhatsApp installed on their phone
- Their privacy settings may prevent their number from appearing in searches
Double check you entered the country code and full phone number correctly. You can also try having them message you first before attempting to search again.
Can I search WhatsApp on a computer?
Unfortunately, WhatsApp’s search feature is only available on mobile devices and not through WhatsApp Web or Desktop. To search for a contact by name or number, you’ll need to open WhatsApp on your iPhone, Android, or other mobile device.
Why can I only see some of my contacts in WhatsApp search?
WhatsApp will only display contacts that also have WhatsApp installed during a search. If some of your phone contacts don’t appear in search results, it likely means they don’t use WhatsApp.
You can invite them to download WhatsApp by using the click to chat link. This will open a chat window where you can send them an invitation to start using WhatsApp.
Can I search WhatsApp messages?
Yes, WhatsApp has a message search feature that lets you search through your chats to find specific messages. To use it:
- Open the chat you want to search.
- Tap the search icon in the top right.
- Type keywords into the bar to search through message history.
This is helpful for finding an old message without having to scroll forever in the chat. You can search for words, phrases, URLs, photos, GIFs, videos and more.
How do I find my own phone number in WhatsApp?
To find your phone number in WhatsApp:
- Go to Settings > Account.
- Tap “About and Phone number”.
- Your WhatsApp number will be displayed at the top.
This displays the phone number linked to your WhatsApp account. You can also give this number to others so they can search for and chat with you.
Can I find someone’s profile information by number?
When you search for a number in WhatsApp, you’ll only see limited profile info before chatting with them. Their profile photo, name and online status may be visible.
To see more detailed profile information like their bio, read receipts setting and more, you’ll need to actually chat with the contact first. Open a chat by number to view their full profile details.
Using Third-Party Apps to Search WhatsApp
In addition to the built-in search tool, there are also several third-party apps that offer enhanced search capabilities for WhatsApp data.
WhatsApp Plus
WhatsApp Plus is an unofficial mod of WhatsApp that has customizable features like different themes and expanded size limits. It also offers better search tools like searching multiple chats at once.
WhatsApp Manager
Tools like WhatsApp Manager provide PC-based search options for your WhatsApp chats and data. You can search multiple chats quickly and restore previous messages if needed.
Chat Analyzer Apps
Mobile apps like Chat Analyzer for WhatsApp index all of your chats and messages to allow for quick searching and analysis. Useful for tracking info and statistics.
Backup Tools
WhatsApp backup tools like Dr.Fone let you extract and search your WhatsApp data from either your phone’s local backup or your Google Drive backup.
Important Things to Remember When Searching
Here are some key tips to remember when using WhatsApp’s search tools:
- Use quotes for exact phrase matching – Search “John Smith” not John Smith
- Sort results by Most Recent or Relevance
- Try alternate spellings if no matches found
- The > icon filters media types like photos
- You can search users not in your contacts
- Delete search history for privacy if needed
Taking the time to learn WhatsApp’s search functions can save you lots of time when trying to find previous conversations and information. With billions of users worldwide, there’s a good chance just about anyone you need to contact is available on WhatsApp.
So next time you need to reach out to a friend, family member, coworker or business, search by phone number or name to instantly get in touch. WhatsApp makes it quicker than ever to connect with the people who matter most.
Fun Facts About WhatsApp
- WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, former employees of Yahoo!
- The name WhatsApp is a play on the phrase “What’s up?”
- In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion
- WhatsApp has over 2 billion users worldwide as of 2020
- It would take 31 years for one person to call every WhatsApp user for 1 minute each
- WhatsApp is available in over 180 countries and supports over 60 languages
- The most shared type of WhatsApp content is photos
- WhatsApp launched video calling in 2016
- Voice messages were introduced in 2013
- WhatsApp has over 65 billion messages sent per day
Comparison of WhatsApp and Other Apps
| App | Messages | Group Chat | Media Sharing | Video Call |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encrypted | Up to 256 people | Photos, videos | Yes | |
| Facebook Messenger | Encrypted | Up to 250 people | Photos, videos | Yes |
| Skype | Encrypted | Up to 300 people | Photos, video | Yes |
| Encrypted | Up to 500 people | Photos, videos | Yes | |
| Line | Encrypted | Up to 200 people | Photos, videos | Yes |
As this comparison shows, WhatsApp is very competitive when it comes to features. Its excellent group chat capability, media sharing, and video calling make it a versatile messaging app.
Conclusion
Searching for contacts and messages quickly is vital to getting the most out of WhatsApp. Whether scanning your chats by keyword or finding someone by their phone number, utilizing WhatsApp’s search tools can save a lot of time.
With over 2 billion users, WhatsApp makes it easy to reconnect with old friends, contact businesses, and chat with anyone across the globe. The next time you need to reach someone but don’t have their number saved, search for their phone number instead. In just a few taps, you’ll be messaging them on WhatsApp.
So unlock the full potential of WhatsApp and enjoy easier conversations by mastering these search techniques. With the ability to instantly find and chat with contacts, WhatsApp provides a convenient way to stay connected with the people who matter most in your life.