WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. A key feature of WhatsApp is the ability to easily add new contacts by obtaining their phone number. But how exactly does adding a new contact on WhatsApp work?
Getting a New Contact’s Phone Number
The first step to adding someone on WhatsApp is getting their phone number. There are a few different ways you can get someone’s number:
- Ask them directly for their number
- Get their number from a mutual friend
- Search online directories or social media profiles
- Obtain their business card with their phone number
- Look up their number in your phone’s contacts if you already have it
Typically it is easiest to just ask someone directly for their number so you can add them on WhatsApp. People are usually happy to share their number if they want to connect with you on WhatsApp.
International Phone Numbers
If the contact lives in another country, you’ll need to obtain their full international phone number, including the country code. For example, a number in the United States would be +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. Having the full international number helps ensure WhatsApp can validate and add the contact properly.
Adding a Number in WhatsApp
Once you have the phone number you want to add, open WhatsApp and go into your contacts tab. On Android, tap the 3 dot menu button in the top right and select “New contact.” On iPhone, tap the contacts tab and then tap the add button in the top right.
This will open a page to add a new contact. Enter the phone number you want to add and tap “Add.” Make sure to enter the full number including the country code if adding an international contact.
Contacts Tab
You can also add a new contact directly from the contacts tab in WhatsApp. Tap the “New Contact” button at the bottom of the contacts list and enter the phone number you want to add.
WhatsApp Verification Process
Once you enter the phone number and hit add, WhatsApp will check to see if that number is registered to an active WhatsApp account. There are two possible outcomes:
- Number is registered on WhatsApp – If the number is already registered, the contact will be immediately added to your contacts list in WhatsApp. You can now start messaging them right away.
- Number is not registered – If the number isn’t registered, WhatsApp will send an SMS message to that number with a verification code. The user has to enter that code in WhatsApp to verify they own the number. Only after they verify will the contact be added to your contacts list.
This verification process helps ensure you only add actual WhatsApp users to your contacts. It prevents people from randomly adding phone numbers that don’t use WhatsApp.
No Notification
One thing to note is that when you add someone who isn’t registered on WhatsApp yet, they do not receive a notification that you added them. The only notification they get is the SMS verification code message. So don’t worry about the other person seeing you add them before it’s verified.
Adding from Phone’s Contacts List
If you already have someone’s phone number saved in your phone’s contacts list, you can easily add them through WhatsApp’s contacts tab:
- Open the WhatsApp Contacts tab
- Tap the add button in the top right
- Tap “Choose from Contacts”
- Select the contact you want to add
This will automatically pull their phone number from your contacts list into WhatsApp. The same verification process will apply – if they aren’t registered yet it will send an SMS code to verify the number.
Syncing Contacts
You can also set WhatsApp to automatically sync your phone’s contacts list. This way anytime you add a phone number to your contacts, it will automatically check WhatsApp to see if it can be added.
To enable this:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Contacts > Sync Contacts
- Tap the toggle on to enable syncing
Any time you add a number in your contacts, it will then show up in your WhatsApp contacts list if registered.
Adding Someone Who Added You
Sometimes you may find a new contact appear in your WhatsApp contacts list before you’ve added them. This happens when someone has your phone number and adds you first on WhatsApp.
When this happens:
- The new contact appears in your contacts list
- You will receive an SMS from WhatsApp with a 6 digit confirmation code
- Enter the 6 digit code in WhatsApp to confirm the contact
The confirmation code helps verify you approve of the contact. After entering it, the contact is fully added to your WhatsApp list as well.
Adding Without Confirming
You can also choose not to confirm by tapping “Skip” when prompted for the confirmation code. This will still add the contact, but they may be restricted in sending messages or seeing certain info until you verify later.
To verify later:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Verification
- Tap on the unverified contact
- Enter the 6 digit confirmation code
Troubleshooting Issues Adding a Contact
In some cases you may run into issues trying to add a contact on WhatsApp. Here are some common problems and troubleshooting tips:
Invalid Number
If WhatsApp says the number is invalid, make sure you entered the full phone number correctly including the country code. Omitting the country code can cause errors trying to add international contacts.
Incorrect Verification Code
If your contact says the verification code you gave them is incorrect, the issue is likely that you entered the wrong code they received via SMS. Have them double check the 6 digit code on their end and re-enter it in WhatsApp.
Too Many Codes Sent
WhatsApp limits how many SMS verification codes can be sent to a number in a short period. If you request too many too fast, WhatsApp will rate limit sending further codes for a few hours. If you run into this, wait a while before trying to re-add the contact.
Contact Blocked You
If a contact has blocked your number in their phone contacts, WhatsApp will not allow you to add them. You will need to be unblocked by the user before adding them.
Banned or Suspended Account
In some cases, a user may be banned or temporarily suspended from WhatsApp, preventing you from adding them until the issues are resolved on their end.
Reach Out to WhatsApp
For any other persistent issues, you can reach out to WhatsApp directly through the app via Settings > Help > Contact Us. The WhatsApp troubleshooting team can help resolve more difficult problems adding a contact.
Adding Contacts on WhatsApp Web/Desktop
WhatsApp can also be used on the web browser or desktop application by linking your account. Contacts can be added and managed from WhatsApp Web/Desktop as well.
To add a new contact on web/desktop:
- Open the contacts list
- Click the add new contact button
- Enter the phone number and hit add
This will send a verification request and code to the user’s phone just like on mobile. You can also sync your desktop contacts list to quickly add contacts with a single click.
Syncing Desktop Contacts
On Windows and macOS you can sync your existing contacts list with WhatsApp by enabling it in settings. This lets you instantly add phone numbers that are already saved in your contacts.
To enable contact syncing on desktop:
- Open WhatsApp desktop settings
- Go to Contacts > Sync contacts from device
- Toggle “Allow syncing” on
Your desktop contacts list will then be synced with your phone’s contacts that use WhatsApp.
Adding Groups on WhatsApp
In addition to adding individual contacts, you can also add WhatsApp Groups. Groups allow you to message up to 256 people at once in the same conversation.
There are a couple ways to add groups:
- Get invited to join by a current group member
- Have an admin scan your QR code to join
- Join via group invite link
Group admins can invite you directly from the WhatsApp group settings. You’ll receive a notification that you were added, and the group will appear in your list of message conversations.
For public groups and communities, admins can generate a group invite link to join. Tap the link on mobile to be added or open it on desktop. Some groups require answering questions before joining.
Leaving Groups
If you no longer want to be part of a WhatsApp group, you can leave at any time. Open the group chat, tap the subject name, scroll down and tap Exit Group. You’ll no longer receive messages from that group.
Managing Contacts
Once you’ve added contacts, there are a few ways to manage them from the Contacts tab in WhatsApp:
- Favorite contacts appear at the top for easy access
- Search contacts by name or number
- View contact info and update details
- Delete contacts
- Block contacts
Favoriting helpful contacts is a great way to keep them easily accessible at the top. You can also create shortcuts directly to a chat on your device home screen.
Make sure to periodically review contacts and remove any stale or unwanted additions as your connections change.
Profile Pictures
To change your profile photo that shows up for your contacts, tap the profile picture icon in the top right corner. Choose Edit to pick a new photo. This will update your picture for all your WhatsApp contacts.
Backup Contacts
To make sure you don’t lose contacts if switching phones or reinstalling WhatsApp, make sure to regularly backup your chats and contacts.
You have a few backup options:
- iCloud – Backup to iCloud if using an iPhone
- Google Drive – Backup to Google Drive on Android
- Local Backup – Manually backup locally to your device storage
To enable backups:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup
- Select your preferred backup method
Be sure to occasionally verify your backups completed successfully so you don’t lose your WhatsApp contacts if switching devices.
Conclusion
Adding new contacts is a key part of getting started with WhatsApp. By obtaining someone’s phone number and adding them in the app, you can instantly message them without fees or long distance charges. The verification process ensures security by confirming contacts are valid WhatsApp users.
WhatsApp contacts can be added from your phone’s local contacts list, by QR code, or in the desktop app and synced across devices. Groups expand your connections further and can be joined by invite links. Be sure to back up your contacts regularly to avoid losing them.
With over 2 billion users worldwide, chances are your friends, family, colleagues, and other connections are already on WhatsApp. Adding contacts helps bridge connections near and far to stay in touch through free messaging and voice calls.