WhatsApp allows messaging unsaved contacts, here is how.
WhatsApp has rolled out another major update for users. WhatsApp is introducing a user-friendly feature that improves communication with unknown numbers, eliminating the hassle of saving contacts beforehand.
According to India Today, in the current setup, texting an unknown number on WhatsApp requires saving it in your phone’s contacts, but the messaging platform is simplifying this process by doing away with the need to save contacts first.
The latest feature is already being rolled out and is expected to be accessible to users with the latest versions of WhatsApp on iOS and Android, as confirmed by WABetaInfo.
The functionality is straightforward: you can now initiate a chat directly with an unknown number without the inconvenience of adding them to your contacts first.
How to message unknown users on WhatsApp without saving number
To use this new feature on WhatsApp for iOS or Android, simply open the app and tap on the “start new chat” button. In the search bar, enter the unknown number you wish to connect with, and WhatsApp will search your contacts to find a match.
Previously, if WhatsApp couldn’t find the contact, you would have to save it in your contacts before starting a chat. However, with the introduction of this new feature, you can now begin a chat directly with that specific number without the need to save it first.
What to keep in mind
While WhatsApp hasn’t made an official announcement regarding the feature’s widespread availability, you can still try it out by updating your WhatsApp to the latest version from either the App Store or Google Play Store. After updating, follow the steps mentioned above to check if you have received the feature. If not immediately available to all users, it is likely to be a phased rollout, so keep an eye on your phone as it should become available soon.
“The feature to quickly open a chat with unknown contacts by searching for their phone numbers is not a beta feature as it is also available to users that install the latest stable updates of the app. Specifically, it is available to users that install the latest WhatsApp for Android update from the Google Play Store and WhatsApp for iOS from the App Store and the TestFlight app,” WaBetaInfo said in a blogpost.