WhatsApp is reportedly testing a feature that could allow users to message people who do not have a WhatsApp account. According to a report by WABetaInfo, the feature called Guest Chats is currently being tested with a limited number of beta users on Android, iPhones, and the web version of the messaging app.
Guest Chats will allow WhatsApp users to generate a secure invite link that lets non-users join a conversation directly through a web browser without installing the app. The feature is still under development and has not yet been released to all users, the report noted.
WhatsApp guest chats: How the feature may work and how it can help
With Guest Chats, users can create a chat invitation link from the section or from the bottom of the contacts list. The link can be shared via SMS, email or other messaging platforms.
When the recipient opens the link, they are given two options: download WhatsApp or continue as a guest. If they choose to continue as a guest, the conversation opens in the WhatsApp Web on desktop or mobile.
Once the guest joins the conversation, the platform generates a unique identifier that serves as the chat’s encryption key. This means messages sent in guest chats are protected with end-to-end encryption, ensuring only the participants can read them.
Users can verify the encryption through a QR code or by comparing security codes.
To begin chatting, the guest must enter a name, which can be a pseudonym. WhatsApp recommends using a recognisable name to avoid confusion between participants.
However, guests are not verified by WhatsApp. This means there is no guarantee that the person opening the invite link is the intended recipient. Intercepting the invite link or compromising the recipient’s account could allow another person to join the conversation.
WhatsApp also displays the label “Guest” at the top of the chat interface so users can easily identify that the person they are messaging does not have a registered WhatsApp account.
Guest chats are designed for temporary conversations and therefore support only basic messaging functions. Features such as group chats, media sharing, stickers, voice messages, photos, videos, documents, GIFs, and voice or video calls are not available.
Guest chats also automatically expire after 10 days of inactivity. If the conversation expires, the inviter must generate a new link to continue messaging the same guest. Guests might miss notifications for new messages, so they must manually check the chat in their browser.
Users who invite guests still have control over the conversation and can block a guest using the same process used to block regular WhatsApp accounts.
Guest chats currently rely on WhatsApp Web, but they are incompatible with Code Verify, a browser extension that adds an extra security layer to encrypted web conversations.
The feature is currently available to a limited number of beta testers who have installed the latest WhatsApp updates. The company has not announced when Guest Chats will be released to all users.
