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This wikiHow teaches you how to find WhatsApp users in your smartphone's contacts. In order to find a WhatsApp user, the user in question must be in your phone's contacts; you cannot search for WhatsApp users who aren't already in your contacts.
Open WhatsApp. Tap the WhatsApp app icon, which resembles a white speech bubble and phone receiver on a green background.
If you're not automatically logged in, follow instructions to register your phone number.
You cannot use WhatsApp to search for a contact whose phone number is not already in your contacts.
Tap Chats. It's the speech bubble-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen.
If WhatsApp opens to a conversation, first tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen.
Tap the "New Chat" button . It's the square, blue icon with a pencil in it in the upper-right corner of the screen. This will open the Contacts page.
You'll see every contact who uses WhatsApp listed on this page.
Search for a contact. Scroll down through the list of people on this page until you find the person with whom you want to talk.
You can also just type a contact's name in the search field at the top of the screen.
If a contact is not on WhatsApp, you can invite them to use WhatsApp: scroll to the bottom of the list and tap Invite Friends to WhatsApp, select how you'd like to send the invitation, tap the contacts you'd like to invite, and tap Done at the bottom of the screen.
Select a contact. Tap the name of a contact with whom you want to chat, voice call, or video call. This will open a chat with them, allowing you to initiate a conversation.
You can't search for people who aren't already in your contacts.
You can add a contact if you know their mobile phone number.
On Android
Open WhatsApp. Tap the WhatsApp app icon, which resembles a white speech bubble and phone receiver on a green background.
If you're not automatically logged in, follow instructions to register your phone number.
You cannot use WhatsApp to search for a contact whose phone number is not already in your contacts.
Tap CHATS. It's near the the top of the screen. This will open the CHATS page.
If WhatsApp opens to a conversation, first tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen.
Tap the "New Chat" button. It's the round, green, speech bubble-shaped icon in the lower-right corner of the screen. This will bring up a list of contacts.
All of your contacts who are on WhatsApp will be listed on the contacts page.
Search for a contact. Scroll down through the list of people on this page until you find the person with whom you want to talk.
You can also just type a contact's name in the search field at the top of the screen.
If a contact is not on WhatsApp, scroll to the bottom of the list and tap Invite Friends to WhatsApp, select how you'd like to send the invitation, tap the contacts you'd like to invite, and tap Done at the bottom of the screen.
Select a contact. Tap the name of a contact with whom you want to chat, voice call, or video call. This will open a chat with them, allowing you to initiate a conversation.
You can't search for people who aren't already in your contacts.
You can add a contact if you know their mobile phone number.
Add New Question
Can I find someone on WhatsApp if I don't know their phone number?
Unfortunately, you can't. WhatsApp uses the phone number, not any other service.
Can I search for someone on Whatsapp without their number?
No, you need to have a phone number to find that person on WhatsApp.
How can I see someone's name on WhatsApp while the name is not on the contact list?
If the name is not in your contacts, then the name will be available to be searched on WhatsApp because he/she added his/her name when he/she signed up.
What do I do if someone used my phone number and has a verification code, but I don't have WhatsApp?
Install WhatsApp, get a new verification number. WhatsApp will work on a single phone, but can be installed on a computer too, so make sure you set a proper password for it.
Can you use WhatsApp locally (USA)?
You can use WhatsApp anywhere in the world. Contacts are added to WhatsApp by adding phone numbers to your device's address book.
How can I find out whether someone has blocked me in WhatsApp?
If someone has blocked you, whenever you send them a message, it will never be delivered to them -- you'll see just one tick. That trick would only work if you're sure they're using WhatsApp at the time, though...
Why is there just one grey tick when I text someone?
They may be offline. As soon as they are online, you should see double ticks.
How do I find a WhatApp phone number in my phone if it was already deleted?
WhatsApp uses the same numbers in your phone's contact list, so you'll just need to add your friend's phone number back to your device.
Can I search and chat with someone without knowing their phone number if all I know is their username?
No. Only those names will appear whose number you have saved in your contacts.
How can we see the username of someone?
The name that appears for contacts in WhatsApp is the name that they have picked to be displayed.
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To add a WhatsApp user to your WhatsApp contacts list, you'll have to add the person's phone number to your iPhone's or Android's Contacts app.
You cannot contact someone on WhatsApp if you don't have their phone number in your Contacts list.
About this article
Article SummaryX
1. Open WhatsApp 2. Tap the Chats tab. 3. Tap the New Chats icon. 4. Select a contact.
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