WhatsApp tests guest chats letting you message people who do not have the app

WhatsApp appears to be experimenting with a new way to talk to people who have never installed the app. A feature called guest chats is now rolling out to a limited number of beta users on Android, iOS, and the web, allowing conversations with non-WhatsApp users through a secure link.

The feature was spotted in the latest beta builds by WABetaInfo and is designed to make it easier to reach someone who is not yet on the platform. Instead of asking a contact to download WhatsApp first, users can simply generate an invite link that opens a temporary chat in a browser.

Messaging on WhatsApp without an account

The system works much like sending a meeting link. From the “Invite a friend” option inside WhatsApp, users can generate a unique link and share it through SMS, email, or another messaging service.

When the recipient opens the link, they are given two options. They can either install WhatsApp or continue as a guest. Choosing the latter launches a browser-based chat powered by WhatsApp Web. Guests are asked to enter a name, which can be a pseudonym, before starting the conversation.

Despite the temporary setup, the company is still applying end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp Web generates a unique identifier and encryption key for the session, meaning messages can only be read by the people in the chat.

Inside the interface, WhatsApp clearly labels the conversation as a “Guest” chat so account holders know they are speaking with someone who is not registered on the platform.

A lightweight version of WhatsApp

Guest chats are intentionally limited. They support only basic text messaging and leave out many of the familiar WhatsApp features.

Guests cannot join group chats, send media files, stickers or voice notes, or place voice and video calls. The chat also expires automatically after ten days of inactivity, after which a new invite link must be created.

There are a few practical considerations too. Guests might not receive notifications for new messages, so conversations could require manual checking. And because the system relies on invite links, WhatsApp warns that the person opening the link may not necessarily be the intended recipient if the link is shared or intercepted.

Users still retain control over the conversation. Guests can be blocked using the same tools available for regular contacts.

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For WhatsApp, the feature serves a dual purpose. It makes quick conversations possible without forcing someone to install another app, while also giving non-users a small taste of the platform’s interface.

Guest chats are currently being tested with a limited number of beta users, and the company has not yet confirmed when the feature will roll out more broadly.