You Will Soon Text Someone On WhatsApp, Even Without Account: Here's How

If you are not part of the more than 3.14 billion users on WhatsApp as of 2025 and you want to text someone through the popular messaging platform, worry not as soon, you may be able to reach out to anyone without having to sign up.

WhatsApp is testing a new feature called Guest Chats, which will allow users to communicate with people who don’t have the app installed.

Spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android (version 2.25.22.13), the feature appears to be part of Meta’s broader effort to comply with new European Union (EU) regulations aimed at promoting interoperability between messaging platforms.

According to WABetaInfo, Guest Chats will let WhatsApp users invite non-users to chat via a special link. The recipient won’t need to download the app or create an account—they can simply open the link in a web browser and start a one-on-one text conversation. The experience will be similar to WhatsApp Web.

However, the feature comes with limitations. Guest Chats will be text-only, meaning users won’t be able to send or receive media files like photos, videos, GIFs, or voice notes.

Further, group chats and voice or video calls will also be excluded. These restrictions are designed to keep things simple and secure for temporary users.

While WhatsApp hasn’t confirmed an official release date, its presence in the beta version suggests a public rollout could be coming soon.

This update arrives shortly after WhatsApp announced plans to stop supporting older devices. From June 1, iPhones must run iOS 15.1 or later, and Android users need at least version 5.1 to continue using the app. Devices running outdated software will lose access entirely, following a delayed phase-out originally scheduled for May 5.

On June 16, WhatsApp unveiled a series of new features aimed at enhancing the Updates tab, home to both Channels and Status. The new features are designed to expand discovery, monetisation, and business engagement, without interfering with personal conversations.

According to the company, the goal is to make the Updates tab a hub for discovery while also supporting admins, organisations, and businesses in growing their presence on the platform.

The platform was to roll out three key features:

1. Channel Subscriptions: Users would have the option to subscribe to their favourite Channels for a monthly fee, gaining access to exclusive updates.

2. Promoted Channels: WhatsApp would begin recommending Channels within the directory based on user interests, offering admins a new tool to boost visibility.

3. Ads in Status: Users may start to see promotional content from businesses within the Status section, enabling seamless engagement and product discovery.

These features would remain confined to the Updates tab, ensuring that users who rely on WhatsApp purely for personal messaging will not experience any changes to their core chat experience.