How to Find Someone on WhatsApp

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: April 24, 2021 Tested

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

On iPhone or iPad

1
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.
2
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.
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3
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.
4
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.
5
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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

On Android

1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I find someone on WhatsApp if I don't know their phone number?

Community Answer

Unfortunately, you can't. WhatsApp uses the phone number, not any other service.
Question

Can I search for someone on Whatsapp without their number?

Community Answer

No, you need to have a phone number to find that person on WhatsApp.
Question

How can I see someone's name on WhatsApp while the name is not on the contact list?

Community Answer

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.