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TECH: WhatsApp, the world's most popular messaging app, offers a host of privacy-focused features, such as tools to hide a user's last seen or online activity, their profile picture and even their status. However, it requires users to interact with each other using their registered phone numbers by design. Since WhatsApp does not support usernames or any option that eliminates the need to share and save the phone number, it offers workarounds that allow users to send messages without saving the phone number.

Here are five ways to send messages on WhatsApp without saving a phone number

WhatsApp click-to-chat link

— Create the link using the ” format, replacing “phone_number” with the desired number including country code.

— Open the link by copying and pasting it into the URL box of the browser on the device.

— Start chatting with the number by directly tapping on the “Continue Chat” option.

WhatsApp QR Code

— Generate QR code from profile section.

— Scan the QR code using the phone's camera to access your WhatsApp account.

— Start chatting directly from the account.

whatsapp group

— View the number in the WhatsApp group the account is a part of.

— Open a chat by tapping a contact's name or number in a group chat.

— Start messaging when direct chat opens.

Message yourself feature

— Open a new chat by tapping the plus icon or 'New Chat'.

— Users should not select their number from the list.

— Send number in chat.

— Open the chat by tapping the number.

Third-party apps

Many third-party apps allow users to send messages without saving the number. Make sure the app only has the necessary permissions for the device it is installed on.