WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users globally. It allows you to send messages, photos, videos and make voice and video calls for free over the internet. Signing up for WhatsApp is quick and easy. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to sign up for WhatsApp on both iPhone and Android devices.
Requirements for Signing Up
Before signing up for WhatsApp, you need to make sure you meet the following requirements:
- A smartphone – WhatsApp is available for smartphones only, not for regular mobile phones or tablets.
- An active phone number – You need an active mobile or landline phone number to verify your account.
- An internet connection – As WhatsApp uses the internet to send messages, you’ll need a WiFi or mobile data connection.
Downloading the App
The first step is to download the WhatsApp app on your device. Here’s how to download WhatsApp:
On iPhone
1. Open the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Search for “WhatsApp Messenger”. The app is published by WhatsApp Inc.
3. Tap on the WhatsApp app icon.
4. Tap on “Get” to download the app for free.
On Android
1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone.
2. Search for “WhatsApp”. Look for the app published by WhatsApp Inc.
3. Tap on “Install” next to the WhatsApp app.
4. The app will begin downloading and installing automatically.
Setting up Your Account
Once you’ve downloaded WhatsApp, you can set up your account by following these steps:
On iPhone
1. Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
2. Tap “Agree and Continue” to accept the Terms of Service.
3. On the next screen, enter your mobile phone number in full international format. For example, if you live in the US enter your number as +1XXXXXXXXXX.
4. Tap “Next”. WhatsApp will send a verification code via SMS to your phone.
5. Once received, enter the 6-digit verification code on the next WhatsApp screen.
6. Tap “Next”. You may be prompted to allow WhatsApp access to your contacts.
7. Tap “Allow” to enable features like seeing who’s on WhatsApp and contacting friends.
8. On the next screen, enter your name as you’d like it to appear in WhatsApp.
9. Tap “Done” and your WhatsApp account will be created.
On Android
1. Open the WhatsApp app on your Android phone.
2. Read and accept the Terms of Service.
3. Enter your full mobile number including country code and tap “Agree and continue”.
4. WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code to your phone via SMS.
5. Enter the code and tap “Verify”.
6. Allow WhatsApp access to your contacts if prompted.
7. Enter your name and tap “Next”. Your account will be verified.
8. Tap “Done” to start using WhatsApp.
Verifying Your Number
Verifying your phone number is an important part of setting up your WhatsApp account. Here are some key facts about verifying your number on WhatsApp:
- You must enter the 6-digit code sent via SMS to verify your number.
- The verification code is unique and can only be used once.
- If you don’t receive the code within a few minutes, tap on “Resend SMS”.
- You can’t reuse old verification codes to verify your number.
- If someone else signs up with your number, WhatsApp will automatically unregister your number.
Verifying your number confirms your identity and links your account securely to your phone. It also eliminates spam and abuse, making WhatsApp more private and reliable.
Choosing Profile Photo and Settings
After creating your WhatsApp account, here are some optional steps to personalize your profile:
Profile Photo
1. Tap on the default profile icon at the top right of the Chats screen.
2. Tap on the default photo icon.
3. Choose a new photo from your phone’s gallery or take a photo directly using the camera.
4. Crop and select the portion of the photo you want to use.
5. Tap on “Done” to set your new profile photo.
Notification Settings
1. Go to WhatsApp Settings.
2. Tap on “Notifications”.
3. Toggle notification settings on or off as per your preference.
4. You can enable or disable sound, pop-up preview, vibration, light etc.
Privacy Settings
1. Go to WhatsApp Settings.
2. Tap on “Account” then “Privacy”.
3. Choose who can see your Read Receipts, About info, Profile Photo, Last Seen etc.
4. Select from Everyone, My Contacts, or Nobody based on your preferences.
Adding Contacts in WhatsApp
WhatsApp syncs automatically with your phone’s existing contact list. To start chatting with friends and family on WhatsApp, simply add them as WhatsApp contacts using their mobile numbers:
On iPhone
1. Open your phone’s Contacts app and select the contact you want to add.
2. Tap on “Share Contact” and select WhatsApp.
3. The contact’s phone number will be shared with WhatsApp automatically.
On Android
1. Open WhatsApp and tap on the 3-dot Menu button.
2. Select “New contact” and enter the phone number.
3. Tap on “Add to contacts” to save the new contact.
You can now start chatting with your contact on WhatsApp!
Using WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp also offers a web version that mirrors chats and messages from your phone. To use WhatsApp Web:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your phone and tap “Settings”.
- Select “WhatsApp Web/Desktop”.
- Point your phone’s camera at the QR code on the WhatsApp Web screen.
- Your WhatsApp on the web will sync with your mobile app.
WhatsApp Web allows you to seamlessly message from your computer as well as continue chats while switching devices.
Useful WhatsApp Features
Once set up, here are some of the most useful WhatsApp features to try:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Groups | Create and join groups to message up to 256 people at once. |
| WhatsApp Calls | Make free voice and video calls over WhatsApp. |
| Voice Messages | Send voice messages by holding the mic icon when typing. |
| Media Sharing | Share photos, videos, GIFs, documents and location. |
| WhatsApp Pay | Send and receive money securely using WhatsApp Payments. |
| Broadcast Lists | Create broadcast lists to send messages to up to 256 people at once. |
| Statuses | Share text, photos, videos as your status that disappears after 24 hrs. |
Backing up Chats
It’s important to regularly back up your WhatsApp chats and data. Here are the steps to back up WhatsApp on iOS and Android:
On iPhone
1. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
2. Tap on “Back Up Now” to manually back up chats to iCloud.
3. Enable auto-backup by toggling “Backup” on. This will backup chats daily when phone is charging and connected to WiFi.
On Android
1. Open WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
2. Tap on “Back Up” to manually backup your chats to Google Drive.
3. Enable auto-backup by toggling “Back Up to Google Drive” on. Frequency can be set to daily, weekly or monthly.
Regular backups ensure you never lose your chat history even if changing devices.
Restoring Chats on New Device
If switching to a new device, you can transfer and restore your chats and data by importing your backup:
On iPhone
1. Install WhatsApp on your new iPhone.
2. On the “Restore Chat History” screen, tap “Restore” to restore chats from iCloud.
On Android
1. Install WhatsApp on your new Android phone.
2. WhatsApp will prompt you to restore chats and media from Google Drive backup.
3. Tap on “Restore” to import your chat history and settings.
This will restore all your old chats so you can pick up right where you left off!
Conclusion
Signing up for WhatsApp is quick and straightforward on both iPhones and Android phones. By verifying your number, customizing settings, backing up chats, and adding contacts, you’ll be set up to enjoy secure messaging in no time.
WhatsApp has become a daily communication app for over 2 billion people worldwide thanks to its convenience, encryption, and variety of messaging features. We hope this guide covered everything you need to easily set up WhatsApp and start messaging with your friends, family and contacts across the globe.
Here is a quick recap of the key steps to sign up for WhatsApp:
- Download and install the app on your phone
- Agree to Terms of Service
- Enter and verify your phone number
- Set profile name and photo
- Allow access to contacts
- Add contacts
- Adjust notification settings
- Set up backup and security
- Explore features like messaging, calling, groups, and more
With over 1 billion daily users, WhatsApp is the most convenient way to stay connected with friends and family across the globe. We hope this guide was helpful in getting you set up on WhatsApp quickly and easily.