Finally, a Way to Join the Conversation Without Signing Up In many parts of the world, especially across Asia and Latin America, WhatsApp is the go-to messaging app. It's so common that the idea of someone not using it sounds almost strange. But believe it or not, there are people out there who haven't signed up for WhatsApp—either out of preference or necessity.
And now, Meta (WhatsApp's parent company) seems to be building a way for those folks to join the conversation—without needing an account.
What's Being Tested: Guest Chats
According to a recent discovery by WABetaInfo, a new feature is being tested in WhatsApp's Android beta version 2.25.22.13. While it hasn't been rolled out to beta users yet, the code suggests that something called guest chats is in the works.
So what exactly is a guest chat? Simply put, it's a temporary chat session between a WhatsApp user and someone who doesn't have a WhatsApp account. All the user needs to do is generate an in
vite link and send it to their non-WhatsApp contact. The invited person just clicks the link—and boom—they're in the conversation.
What Guest Users Can't Do
Now before you start thinking of it as a full WhatsApp experience without commitment, it's worth noting that guest chats come with several limitations.
In short, guest chats are text-only and fairly limited in scope.
What's the Point Then?
Despite the limitations, the feature could be incredibly useful in certain scenarios. Think of cases where someone needs to be reached quickly but doesn't use WhatsApp—like a client, a delivery person, or even a temporary contact abroad. Rather than asking them to install the app and go through account setup, users can just send an invite link for a quick, secure chat.
Privacy Still Matters: End-to-End Encryption Included
Even though guest chats are a simplified version of WhatsApp, Meta is still taking privacy seriously. These conversations will reportedly be end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the sender and recipient can read what's being sent—just like regular WhatsApp chats.
When Is It Coming?
As of now, the feature hasn't been released to beta testers, and Meta hasn't announced a timeline for public rollout. So we'll have to wait and see if and when it becomes available. But the fact that it's in development at all suggests that WhatsApp is finally thinking beyond just its existing user base.