WhatsApp is working on a 'guest chat' feature to chat with people without an account on the app: here's how to access it.
WhatsApp, the messaging service owned by Meta, is working on a new feature called "guest chats," which aims to facilitate communication between app users and people who don't have an active account on the platform.
This tool was recently identified in beta version 2.25.22.13 of WhatsApp for Android, according to the specialized site WaBetaInfo.
The new feature is part of a series of initiatives driven by WhatsApp to expand its interoperability with other services and communication modes, adapting to the requirements of European legislation on digital services and advancing its strategy of controlled ecosystem openness.
The guest will access the chat from their browser, without installing the app. Photo: iStock
Unlike third-party app integrations, which require external development to connect with WhatsApp, the guest chat feature will be managed entirely by the platform itself . This option will allow a user with an active account to start a direct conversation with someone who doesn't use the app, without that person having to create an account or install WhatsApp on their device.
To access this type of conversation, the user must generate an invitation link, which can be shared through various channels such as text messages (SMS), email, alternative messaging apps, or social media.
The recipient will be able to open the link in their web browser and access a chat interface similar to WhatsApp Web , allowing them to respond and maintain a conversation in real time.
It will allow you to chat with people who don't have a WhatsApp account. Photo: iStock
While the tool offers a practical solution for communicating with people outside of WhatsApp, it has some important limitations:
- Only allows individual conversations: it is not possible to include the invited person in groups or create new group conversations with them.
- No media sharing: Images, videos, GIFs, documents, or any other file types are not allowed in these types of chats.
- Voice and video features are not available: Voice messages, video calls, and audio calls will also not be supported in guest chats.
These restrictions aim to keep the experience simple, secure, and focused on basic text messaging.
Security through end-to-end encryption Despite being a browser-based feature that doesn't require installation, WhatsApp has confirmed that guest chats will be protected with end-to-end encryption, the same security technology used in conversations between registered users.
This means that only chat participants will be able to access the content of the messages, and they cannot be read by third parties, including WhatsApp or Meta's own servers. This protection is implemented because the guest session is managed through web resources that create an encrypted and private connection.
The addition of guest chats adds to other recent WhatsApp advancements to improve interoperability with external services.
With this new tool, WhatsApp takes another step toward a more open messaging platform, albeit under controlled conditions and with high security standards, expanding the ways users can interact without requiring the recipient to register.
For now, the feature is only in early testing on Android, and no official release date or possible arrival on iOS has been announced.
More news in EL TIEMPO *This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from Europa Press, and reviewed by the journalist and an editor.
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