A new feature being tested by WhatsApp may soon allow users to send messages to people who do not have a WhatsApp account. The feature is designed to make communication easier by allowing non-users to join a conversation without creating an account.
According to a report by feature tracker WABetaInfo, the feature is called Guest Chats. It allows non-WhatsApp users to join a conversation through a secure web link, removing the need to sign up for an account.
Guest Chats are designed to use a unique identifier to generate an encryption key. This ensures that conversations maintain the same end-to-end encryption used in regular WhatsApp chats.
According to the report, several Android and iOS users can currently access the feature through the latest WhatsApp Beta update. Instead of requiring a full account, the system creates a temporary guest session that allows basic messaging.
Users can invite a guest through a shared link or invitation. Once the recipient opens the link, they can join the chat and send or receive messages without signing up for WhatsApp. Chats with such users will display a Guest label, making it clear that the participant does not have a registered account.
As per WABetaInfo, users can generate the invite link from the Invite a friend section or from the bottom of the contacts list inside the app. The link can be sent through SMS or copied and shared through email or other messaging platforms. Recipients can open the link using a mobile device or a desktop browser.
The feature tracker also mentioned that Guest Chats are meant to be a temporary messaging option and therefore support only a limited set of features. These conversations do not support group chats, media sharing or attachments such as photos, videos, documents, GIFs, stickers and voice messages. Voice and video calls are also not available.
Guests can still be blocked in the same way as regular WhatsApp accounts. WABetaInfo reported that guest chats maintain the platform’s end-to-end encryption protection. When a guest joins the chat, WhatsApp Web generates a unique identifier which is used to create the encryption key for that conversation.
According to the report, Guest Chats automatically expire after 10 days of inactivity. If the chat expires, the person who created the invitation must generate a new link to continue messaging with the same user.
The feature was first reported to be in development in October 2025. At that time, it was not available even to beta testers. WABetaInfo now says that select Android and iOS WhatsApp Beta users can access it, though the feature is still under development and may become publicly available in a future version of the app.
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