The fastest way to invite someone to WhatsApp
To invite someone to WhatsApp, you send them a message through another app — text, email, or social media — with a link they tap to download WhatsApp and add your contact. WhatsApp does not have a built-in invite feature that works across the app itself. Once they download WhatsApp and you are both in the app, you can add them to group chats or start a one-on-one conversation.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you want them in a group chat with others or just talking to you alone. Both take less than a minute once you know the steps.
Key Takeaways
- You invite someone to WhatsApp by sending them a download link through text, email, or another messaging app — WhatsApp itself has no invite button.
- Once they download WhatsApp and add your phone number to their contacts, you can start a one-on-one chat or add them to a group.
- To add someone to an existing group, open the group, tap the group name at the top, scroll to Members, and tap the plus icon to add their phone number.
- If someone is not yet in WhatsApp, you can still create a group with their phone number — they will see the group invitation once they download the app.
Inviting someone who does not have WhatsApp yet
If the person you want to invite does not yet have WhatsApp, you need to send them the download link first. On iPhone, copy the link to WhatsApp in the App Store. On Android, copy the link to WhatsApp in Google Play. Send that link to them via text message, email, or any other messaging app you both use.
Once they tap the link and install WhatsApp, they will be prompted to enter their phone number and verify it with a code sent by text. After that, they will see your contact in their WhatsApp contact list automatically — as long as you have their phone number saved in your phone's contacts and they have yours saved in theirs.
You can then start a one-on-one chat with them or add them to a group chat. There is no separate "invitation" step once they are in the app.
Adding someone to a one-on-one chat
Once someone has WhatsApp installed, starting a chat with them is straightforward. Open WhatsApp, tap the message icon (on iPhone) or the plus icon (on Android), and select their name from your contacts. Type your message and send.
If their name does not appear in your contact list, make sure their phone number is saved in your phone's contacts first. WhatsApp syncs with your phone's contact list, so adding their number there makes them appear in WhatsApp.
Adding someone to an existing group chat
To add someone to a group that already exists, open the group chat, then tap the group name at the very top of the screen. On the next screen, scroll down until you see the Members section. Tap the plus icon next to Members (on iPhone) or the add icon (on Android).
Select the person's name from your contacts. If they are not in your contacts yet, you can enter their phone number directly. Tap Add, and they will receive a notification that they have been added to the group. They will see all future messages in the group, but not the chat history from before they were added.
Creating a new group with someone not yet in WhatsApp
You can create a group and add someone's phone number even if they have not downloaded WhatsApp yet. Open WhatsApp, tap the message icon (iPhone) or plus icon (Android), and select "New Group." Add the phone numbers of everyone you want in the group, including people who do not have WhatsApp installed.
When you create the group, those people will receive a notification inviting them to join. Once they download WhatsApp and verify their number, they will see the group and can start participating. Until they download the app, they will not see any messages sent to the group.
Inviting someone via a group link
WhatsApp also lets you share a group link that anyone can tap to join without you adding them manually. Open the group chat, tap the group name at the top, then scroll down and tap "Invite via Link." You can copy the link or share it directly through another app like email or text message.
When someone taps the link, they join the group automatically. This method is useful if you want to invite multiple people at once or if you do not have everyone's phone number saved. The group creator can revoke the link at any time, which prevents new people from joining through that link.
What happens if someone blocks you or leaves the group
If someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, you will not be able to add them to a group or start a one-on-one chat. Your messages will not go through, and you will not see their status updates. If you think someone has blocked you, try sending them a message — WhatsApp will not deliver it if you are blocked.
If someone leaves a group after you add them, you can add them again using the same steps. They will not see the messages sent while they were out of the group, but they will see all new messages once they rejoin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I invite someone to WhatsApp if I do not have their phone number?
No. WhatsApp is built around phone numbers, so you need someone's phone number to add them to a chat or group. If you do not have it, you will need to get it from them through another method first — ask them in person, through social media, or through email.
Will someone know I invited them to a group?
Yes. When you add someone to a group, they receive a notification that they have been added and can see the group name and members. If you use a group link instead, they will see that they joined via a link, but not necessarily that you sent it to them.
Can I invite someone to WhatsApp without their phone number saved in my contacts?
Yes. When adding someone to a group, you can type their phone number directly instead of selecting their name from your contacts. They will still receive the invitation and can join the group.
What if the person I invited says they never got the notification?
Ask them to check their notification settings in WhatsApp — they may have turned off notifications for groups or all messages. They can also manually open WhatsApp and look for the group in their chat list. If they still do not see it, try adding them again.
Can I invite someone to WhatsApp if they have an iPhone and I have Android?
Yes. WhatsApp works the same way across iPhone and Android. Phone numbers are what matter, not the type of phone. You can chat with and add people to groups regardless of what device they use.