WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide. Its ease of use and ability to message anyone makes it convenient for connecting with friends, family, co-workers, and more. However, this also means it’s easy for random strangers to message you if they get your phone number.
Getting unwanted messages from unknown numbers can be annoying, creepy, or even dangerous. Fortunately, WhatsApp provides several ways to stop random people from messaging you if you only want to hear from your contacts.
Understanding WhatsApp’s features for blocking unwanted messages
WhatsApp has two main privacy settings to limit who can send you messages:
- Registration Blocking – Prevents new people from registering your phone number on WhatsApp.
- Privacy Settings – Let’s you control which of your contacts, if any, can see your profile photo, status, etc.
Enabling these can go a long way towards cutting down on unwanted messages. However, you may also need to block specific numbers manually to stop people who already have you as a contact.
Block contacts and numbers
Blocking contacts or numbers prevents them from calling you or sending any messages on WhatsApp. There are a couple ways to block someone:
- Open the chat with the contact/number you want to block.
- Tap the name/number at the top of the screen to open their contact info.
- Tap “Block contact” or “Block” to confirm.
This will immediately stop any messages or calls from that person reaching you. To block multiple people at once:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Tap “Blocked contacts.”
- Tap “Add New” and select all the contacts you want to block.
Enable registration blocking
Registration blocking prevents new people from registering your phone number on WhatsApp. This means random people can’t message you if they don’t already have your number registered. To enable it:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Tap “Registration block” and toggle it on.
With this enabled, if someone you don’t know tries to register your number, they will see a message that registration isn’t allowed. This provides an extra layer of protection against unwanted messages.
Limit visibility with privacy settings
WhatsApp’s privacy settings determine what profile photo, status, and other info is visible to your contacts. Setting these appropriately can further prevent random people from contacting you.
To update your privacy settings:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Tap each setting to determine who can view it:
- Profile photo – Who can see your profile picture
- About – Who can see your profile “About” text
- Status – Who can view your status updates
- For each, select an option:
- Everyone – Public to all WhatsApp users
- My Contacts – Limited to people in your contacts only
- My Contacts Except… – Limited to contacts except specific people
- Nobody – Completely private and invisible to all
Setting these to “My Contacts” or stricter ensures random strangers can’t see any of your info. This provides an additional deterrent against them messaging you.
Turn off “Read Receipts”
WhatsApp’s read receipts allow people to see when you’ve read their messages. If you disable this feature, random strangers won’t get the satisfaction of knowing if you saw their message, which may discourage them from continuing to message you.
To disable read receipts:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings.
- Tap Account > Privacy.
- Tap Read Receipts and toggle off.
Now people will no longer see “Read” receipts from you, including random unwanted contacts who message you.
Be Proactive About Reporting Spam
If you receive unwanted messages, be sure to report the sender as spam directly within WhatsApp:
- Open the conversation with the unwanted sender.
- Tap their name/number at the top.
- Scroll down and tap “Report Spam.”
WhatsApp reviews all spam reports to identify and block accounts sending unwanted messages. By reporting spammers, you’re helping improve the app for yourself and everyone else.
Conclusion
Unwanted messages from random numbers on WhatsApp can be frustrating and concerning. Thankfully, features like blocking, registration blocking, privacy settings, and disabling read receipts make it possible to control who can contact you.
Combining these options provides powerful protection against random messaging. Take a few minutes to update your settings, block anyone necessary, and be diligent about reporting spammers. This can go a long way towards keeping your WhatsApp messaging limited to the friends, family, and contacts you actually want to hear from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get in trouble for blocking someone on WhatsApp?
No, you cannot get in trouble for blocking someone on WhatsApp. The app allows you to block any contacts you want for any reason. Blocking someone simply prevents them from messaging you further or seeing your profile information. It does not otherwise affect their account or ability to use WhatsApp.
What happens when you block someone on WhatsApp?
When you block someone on WhatsApp:
- They can no longer send you messages or call you.
- Any messages they send will not go through.
- They won’t see your profile photo, status, or other profile details.
- You won’t be notified of any changes to their profile or status updates.
- Any previous messages remain in your chat history but they can’t see them.
Essentially, blocking completely cuts off contact in both directions.
Can someone still message me if I don’t have their number saved?
Yes, anyone can message you on WhatsApp if they have your phone number registered on the app, even if you don’t have them saved in your contacts. That’s why blocking specific numbers and enabling registration blocking is important to prevent unwanted messages from random people. As long as they have your number registered, they can try to message you, saved contact or not.
Can strangers see my WhatsApp status if I don’t share it with them?
No, strangers cannot see your WhatsApp status if you limit sharing to only your contacts. WhatsApp allows you to choose exactly who can view your status updates in the app’s privacy settings. The options include:
- My Contacts – Status visible only to your contacts
- My Contacts Except – Status visible to contacts except specific people
- Only Share With – Status visible only to specific contacts you pick
As long as you don’t choose the “Everyone” option, random people who are not your contacts will not be able to view your status updates.
Should I delete messages in WhatsApp from unknown numbers?
It’s generally recommended not to delete messages in WhatsApp from unknown numbers, even if they are unwanted spam. Instead, you should report the message as spam which will submit it to WhatsApp for review. Deleting the message removes the evidence that could help identify and block the spam account. Reporting is the best way to get unwanted messages addressed systemically.
Can someone with my phone number see my WhatsApp profile?
No, someone cannot see your WhatsApp profile simply by having your phone number. In order for someone to access your profile information like your profile photo, status, etc., they need to have your phone number registered in their WhatsApp contacts. If they are not a contact in your WhatsApp account, they will not be able to see any details about your profile or status activity.
Is there a way to see who views your WhatsApp status?
Unlike other social media apps, WhatsApp does not have a built-in feature for seeing who views your status updates. The app is designed to be private messaging focused rather than a broadcast social network. While you can limit status visibility in your privacy settings, there is no way to get analytics on who opens or views your status updates.
Summary of Key Points
- Block unwanted numbers directly in chat or through Privacy settings
- Enable Registration Blocking to prevent new people adding you
- Limit profile and status visibility to My Contacts or stricter
- Disable Read Receipts so strangers don’t know if you’ve read their messages
- Report spammers and unwanted messages within the app
- Blocking someone cuts off all messaging and profile viewing between you
- Strangers can’t see your status if visibility is limited to contacts only
- Don’t delete spam/unwanted messages, report them so WhatsApp can review
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways for controlling who can message you on WhatsApp include:
- Use blocking and privacy settings to limit contacts
- Registration blocking prevents new people adding you
- Disable read receipts and limit profile visibility for more control
- Always report unwanted messages – don’t just delete them
- Combining limiting options provides strongest protection
- You have full control over who contacts you – use it!
Following these tips will help you take back control of your WhatsApp messaging so you only hear from the contacts you want to.