WhatsApp may have changed how conveniently most of the world messages each other, but for some reason, they had decided to keep the process a bit inconvenient. Until recently, if you wanted to send a WhatsApp message to someone, you needed to save their number to your contacts first. And if you decided that you didn't want to save their number, you had to rely on elaborate workarounds or third-party apps.

But that's all in the past now. WhatsApp now doesn't need you to jump through hoops and lets you text anyone directly without having to save them as a contact. Not only is the new method more convenient and less time-consuming (as it should have been from the start), but it also helps you avoid privacy risks associated with third-party apps.

Here's what you need to do.

  1. First, copy the phone number to which you want to send the message or keep it handy.
  2. Now, open WhatsApp on your phone or the web and tap on the '+' icon to start a new chat.
  3. In the 'Search name or number' search bar, type/ paste the number to which you want to send the message.
  1. If the number is not in your contacts but has a WhatsApp account, it'll appear at the top. You'll also have other options like saving it to your contacts right from WhatsApp or sharing an invite link. Tap on the 'Chat' button next to it to start a new chat.
  2. A new chat with the number will start.

That's how simple it should have been from the start. The best part is that it works for both iOS and Android devices (though, unfortunately, not all Android devices, it seems) and even on WhatsApp Web.

There are plenty of situations where you need to send a WhatsApp number to an unsaved number, such as sharing your location with a delivery person or providing information about your product or service to a potential client. For these one-off messages, it hardly seemed fair that you needed to go through so much hassle. Fortunately, WhatsApp seems to have recognized the error of its ways too.