WhatsApp introduces guest chat for non-users

Islamabad (Web Desk)– WhatsApp is introducing a long-awaited feature that allows users to chat with people who do not have a WhatsApp account.

Called Guest Chat, the new feature is currently available to a limited number of beta users on both Android and iOS devices, according to a report by WABetaInfo.

Guest Chat allows users to create a shareable invite link from the Invite a Friend section or from their contact list to start a temporary conversation. Recipients of the link can join the chat via their phone or desktop browser. Their profile will appear as a guest, clearly showing that they are not registered WhatsApp users.

All messages in guest chats are protected with end-to-end encryption, ensuring privacy and security. However, guest users will have limited functionality. They cannot join groups, share media files such as photos, videos, documents, or stickers, and voice or video calls are not available.

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The feature is designed for temporary connectivity, and guest links automatically expire if the chat remains inactive for 10 days. Since the feature is currently in beta, it is unclear when it will be rolled out to all WhatsApp users.

Experts advise users to share guest chat links carefully, as anyone with access to the link can join the conversation.