Adding a contact who is already using WhatsApp to your contacts list is quick and easy. WhatsApp uses your phone’s contact list to build its own contact list, so if someone is already using WhatsApp with the same phone number they are listed under in your contacts, they will automatically show up in your WhatsApp contacts. There are just a few simple steps to add them to your WhatsApp chats.
Check if the Contact is on WhatsApp
The first thing you’ll want to do is confirm that the person you want to add is definitely already using WhatsApp. The easiest way to do this is to check your regular phone contacts. If you see the WhatsApp icon next to their name, that means they are registered with the app. You can also search for their name or number directly in WhatsApp to see if their contact pops up.
Open a Chat with the Contact
Once you’ve confirmed that the contact is on WhatsApp, opening a chat with them is simple. Just open your WhatsApp app and use the search bar at the top to search for their name, number, or business name. When you see them appear in the search results, just tap on their name to open up a chat screen with them.
Send them a Message
With the chat screen open, you can now send them a message! This will immediately add them to your main WhatsApp chats list for easy future messaging. Type out a quick hello and hit send. Now when you go back to your WhatsApp chats list, you will see them listed there and can continue the conversation.
Add Them to Your Contacts List
If you want to add someone to your main WhatsApp contacts list, but don’t necessarily want to message them yet, that’s easy too. Just tap on the Calls tab at the bottom of the app, then choose Contacts at the top of the screen. Tap the + icon in the top right to open your phone’s contacts. Find the contact you want to add and tap on their name. You will see a prompt to add them to your WhatsApp contacts. Tap Add and they will be added to your WhatsApp contacts list.
Things to Keep in Mind
Here are a few additional tips when adding WhatsApp contacts:
- Make sure you have the latest contact information (including the phone number) for the person you want to add.
- Double check that the contact doesn’t already exist in your WhatsApp contacts before trying to add them.
- The contact needs to have already registered with WhatsApp using that phone number in order for them to show up.
- You can only add and message contacts who are also using WhatsApp – you can’t message someone who doesn’t have a WhatsApp account.
- If you can’t find someone by searching, they may not have registered for WhatsApp yet using that number.
Adding Contacts on iPhone vs Android
The process for adding a WhatsApp contact is nearly identical on both iPhone and Android, with just a couple small differences:
On iPhone
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the Chats tab at the bottom.
- Tap on the Contact icon in the top right corner.
- Tap on the + icon to open your phone contacts.
- Select the contact you want to add.
On Android
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the 3-dot Menu button.
- Choose Contacts from the menu.
- Tap on the + icon in the top right.
- Select the contact you want to add.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are having trouble adding a WhatsApp contact, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure you have an active internet connection on your device.
- Confirm the contact you want to add has registered for WhatsApp with the same phone number.
- Check that you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed.
- Force close and restart the WhatsApp app if needed.
- Double check that the contact doesn’t already exist in your WhatsApp contacts.
- Remove the contact from your phone’s regular contacts and re-add it.
- Make sure your phone has enough storage space for the WhatsApp contact.
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp as a last resort.
Adding Contacts with a QR Code
In addition to searching for and adding contacts normally, you can also add someone on WhatsApp by scanning their QR code. Every user has a unique QR code that you can scan to instantly add them as a contact. To add by QR code:
- Have the other user open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Profile > QR code.
- Use your phone’s camera to scan their code.
- Confirm you want to add the contact when prompted.
- The user will automatically be added to your WhatsApp contacts.
Creating a Clickable WhatsApp Link
You can also create a clickable WhatsApp link to add a contact. This dynamically generates a link that will open a chat with a specific number when clicked. To create a link:
- Open WhatsApp on your device.
- Click on the 3 dot menu and choose WhatsApp Web.
- Instead of scanning the QR code, tap on the link icon in the top right.
- Enter the phone number you want to create a link for.
- A custom link will be created that you can send to someone for one-click adding.
Backing Up Your Contacts
It’s always a good idea to regularly back up your WhatsApp contacts in case you ever switch phones or need to reinstall the app. WhatsApp has a built-in backup option that saves your messages, media, and contacts to Google Drive or iCloud. To set up backups:
On iPhone
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Select Back Up Now to do a manual backup.
- Under Auto Backup, choose the frequency of automatic backups.
On Android
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Back Up to backup your chats.
- Under Google Drive backup, choose a backup frequency.
Be sure to occasionally open WhatsApp to allow any pending backups to complete. You can also verify backups under WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup to see when the last backup occurred.
Importing Backed Up Contacts
If you ever need to restore your backed up WhatsApp contacts due to switching phones or reinstalling the app, the process is quick and easy:
On iPhone
- Install and open WhatsApp on your new device.
- Enter your phone number when prompted.
- On the Backup Found screen, tap Restore to retrieve your chat history and contacts.
On Android
- Install WhatsApp on your new device.
- Confirm your number and tap Restore when prompted.
- Log into your Google account to restore your backup from Drive.
Your contacts, messages, and media will all be retrieved. Be patient as it may take some time for the full restoration to complete.
Migrating Contacts from Other Apps
If you are switching to WhatsApp from another messaging app like Kik or Viber, you may want to migrate your existing contacts over to WhatsApp. While there is no direct transfer method, you can export your contacts from the old app and import them to your phone’s contacts to then add on WhatsApp.
For example, to migrate contacts from Kik to WhatsApp:
- Open Kik and go to Settings > Contacts > Export Contacts.
- Save the .vcf file containing your contacts to internal storage.
- Open your phone’s Contacts app and import the .vcf file.
- Open WhatsApp and add the imported contacts normally.
Check the help documentation of the app you are migrating from for specific export instructions. As long as you can export to a file format like .vcf that your phone supports, you can import it to your contacts and access those contacts in WhatsApp.
Troubleshooting Contact Issues
Here are some tips for troubleshooting common contact issues in WhatsApp:
Missing Contacts
- Check if contacts are displaying in your phone’s Contacts app first.
- For missing iPhone contacts, check Settings > [your name] > iCloud to confirm contacts are syncing.
- On Android, make sure Sync Contacts is enabled in your Google account.
- Restore a WhatsApp backup to retrieve missing contacts.
Duplicate Contacts
- Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Contacts to remove duplicates.
- Merge duplicate contacts in your phone’s Contacts app.
- Turn off Sync Contacts in your Google or iCloud account settings to avoid duplicates.
Can’t Add New Contacts
- Check for app updates and install if available.
- Allow WhatsApp access to your contacts in your phone settings.
- Restart your device and check your internet connection.
- Clear the app cache and data and re-register your number.
Contacts Not Showing WhatsApp Info
- Open Contacts on your phone and make sure WhatsApp is enabled under Contact Display Options.
- Check that WhatsApp has permission to access contacts in your settings.
- Manually re-add the contact and their WhatsApp details.
Conclusion
Adding existing WhatsApp users to your contacts is a quick and easy process. Simply search for them, open a chat, or scan their QR code to get them into your contact list for seamless messaging. Be sure to occasionally back up your WhatsApp contacts so you never lose them. With just a few taps in the app, you can stay connected with all your WhatsApp contacts.