WhatsApp to soon let you message people who don't even have the app

WhatsApp is developing a new feature that could allow users to chat with people who do not have the app installed.

The feature, called “guest chat,” was first reported by WABetaInfo and is currently under development.

According to early details, the feature will enable WhatsApp users to initiate one-on-one conversations with non-users by sending them a unique link. The recipient can then open the link in a web browser to chat, no account creation or app installation required.

Screenshots suggest the functionality will operate via a lightweight web-based interface, similar to WhatsApp Web. However, the guest chat feature will come with limitations: it won’t support the sharing of media files such as photos, videos, or voice notes.

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Voice and video calling, as well as group messaging, are also not expected to be available in guest mode.

Despite these restrictions, guest chats will reportedly be protected with end-to-end encryption, maintaining WhatsApp’s core privacy standard by ensuring that only the two participants in the conversation can read the messages.

The feature was spotted in the Android beta version 2.25.22.13, with no official release date announced.

WhatsApp is expected to begin broader testing in upcoming beta releases before a wider rollout.