How to Add a Contact on WhatsApp (iPhone and Android)

To add a contact on WhatsApp, open Chats, tap the new-chat button, choose New contact, and enter the person’s name and phone number. Finish with Done on iPhone or Save on Android. You can also save a number directly from an existing conversation or group.

Make sure the number belongs to the person’s WhatsApp account. For an international contact, enter the country code along with the number. The screens and labels may vary slightly by app version.

How to add a WhatsApp contact on iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Chats. Tap the new-chat icon near the upper-right corner.

2. Choose New contact. Look for it near the top of the new-chat screen, above your existing contacts.

3. Enter the contact’s details. Add a recognizable name and the correct phone number. If available, turn on Sync contact to phone to add the contact to your iPhone’s address book too.

4. Tap Done to finish. Find the saved name in WhatsApp and open the chat if the number is registered on the service.

If you prefer to use the iPhone Contacts app, you can save the name and number there first. WhatsApp needs the appropriate contacts permission to read and display that phone-book entry.

How to add a WhatsApp contact on Android

1. Open WhatsApp and select Chats. Tap the new-chat button, generally near the bottom of the screen.

2. Tap New contact. It appears above the list of people you can message.

3. Fill in the name and number. Check the country code. If you see a Save to menu, choose Phone to sync with your Android address book; other available locations may keep the contact within WhatsApp.
4. Tap Save. Return to Chats and search for the saved name to begin a conversation.

Add a number from a chat or group

If you already have a conversation with an unsaved number, there’s no need to retype it. On iPhone, open the chat, tap the number at the top, then choose Create new contact and tap Done. On Android, open the chat, tap Add where offered, complete the details, and tap Save. Depending on the screen, you may first need to open the number’s contact information.

To save someone from a group, open the group, tap the person’s profile photo next to a message, and use the add-or-save contact option. WhatsApp also supports saving group members through the group’s contact-management controls on supported versions.

You can also add someone using their WhatsApp contact QR code. The official QR code instructions explain how to scan it and select Add to Contacts.

Should you save the contact to WhatsApp or your phone?

WhatsApp supports contacts stored in your WhatsApp account without requiring every new entry to appear in your phone’s address book. The Sync contact to phone control, or the corresponding Android save-location choice, determines whether the contact is also stored on your device. This is different from the older assumption that every contact created inside WhatsApp automatically becomes a device contact.

WhatsApp-only contacts can be available across linked devices and restored to your WhatsApp account. If you need that person in your phone dialer or another contacts app, turn on syncing or save the entry to your phone. See WhatsApp’s explanation of contact upload and storage.

What if the new contact doesn’t appear?

• Double-check the number. Include the correct international dialing code. If the person registered WhatsApp with another number, saving the wrong one will not find their account.
• Check access on iPhone. Open Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Contacts. Limited Access can prevent WhatsApp from seeing an entry saved in the iPhone address book; select the relevant contact or Full Access as appropriate. WhatsApp explains the options in its contacts permissions guide.
• Check access on Android. In your phone’s Settings, open Apps > WhatsApp > Permissions > Contacts and allow access if you want WhatsApp to read device contacts. Android menu names depend on the phone manufacturer.
• Consider whether the person uses WhatsApp. If their number has no WhatsApp account, you may see an invitation option instead of an available chat. You can save a phone number even if that person hasn’t joined WhatsApp.

For device-specific steps, refer to the official WhatsApp contact guide for iPhone and WhatsApp contact guide for Android. You don’t need to grant access to your entire address book just to save a WhatsApp-only contact, but you do need the appropriate permission for contacts saved in the phone’s address book to show up in WhatsApp.