Does Whatsapp Give You a Phone Number?

Mel Hawthorne Comments (32)
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The simple answer is NO. WhatsApp doesn’t give you a new phone number at all, nor does it hide yours from your contacts the way Kik can (if you use it with an email address rather than a number).

Instead, the app is linked to your existing phone number. Each copy of WhatsApp can be bound only to one number, though it is possible on some phones to install multiple copies of the same app, thus linking to multiple numbers, but always in separate instances of the app.

In order to start new chats, you need to add contacts – doing so means that you need to save their number on your WhatsApp or phone contact list. When that’s done, you can send them a message. If they don’t have it already, this will show them your phone number along with the message you sent.

The main difference between WhatsApp and your regular texts is that instead of using your text allowance (which many providers restrict) you can send as many messages as you like via your Internet connection instead. You can also make voice and video calls without having to use your minutes. This will consume your data allowance at a fairly slow rate unless you are connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot.

A quick summary: No, WhatsApp does not give you a new phone number. It’s tied to an existing one and uses data services in order to send messages and make calls.

Author Mel Hawthorne

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Comments

  1. I’m afraid this article is not accurate. WhatsApp uses your phone number for phone calls, which goes through your carrier for the call to be processed, regardless if you’re on Wi-Fi or cellular data. It’s essentially just doing Wi-Fi calling and your carrier still charges you as if you placed the calls through the dialer on your phone…..just like when you’re using Wi-Fi calling. If you look around you’ll see people get charged for the international calls that are placed through WhatsApp just like they normally would. I work in billing for a communications company and see this everyday.

  9. I heard it is a scammers paradise, and is not safe cause they pay ur info on to others hackers , and scammers in Nigeria

  11. My phone number has been banned….please help I don’t want to loose my number.
    Please assist me . This problem has been repeating itself and it is causing me much inconveniences

  12. I hate how it doesn’t give u a new number. Was going to use this for business. I don’t want clients seeing and using my personal phone number. I want it hidden it app is now garbage.

  13. My phone number has been banned….please help I don’t want to loose my number

  14. Hi can you tell me why when I WhatsApp my partner a different number comes up than my mobile number

  15. I need yourhelp my acc is already banned ,how can i get my acc back

  18. How i can Unbanned Whatsapp Account My Friend WhatsApp is Banned So How i can Unbanned it Again please guide me.

  22. Hi pls I need your help I lost my friend phone number he lives in kuwait. Pls help me find me his. Number

  23. I need help somebody is going into my mind WhatsApp and Dave made into a business account or don’t want a business account I want a personal account

  24. Someone stole my family pictures on what’s app when working with Lincoln heritage insurance. How can I retrieve them back on my phone ? I am not with the company now.

  26. No, I spent a lot of money in China and all dealing were on what’s up. The seller deleted all chats and now I have no proof of business. I know my big mistake but how can I find these chats

  29. Mr. Ji, my WhatsApp number has been closed for the last several days, which has gone terribly wrong, I was not given any information at all. Please be pleased to restart this number. You will be very pleased.

  32. Yes, can the people i give my number too do anything with my phone number like steal my information? This is my work and PERSONAL cell number?

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