WhatsApp could make it a little easier to start chats with unsaved numbers

WhatsApp is the communications app of choice for loads of people around the world, delivering a host of features alongside standard text chats. But one weird limitation is that you can’t easily start a chat with numbers not saved in your contacts list.

Fortunately, frequent leaker WABetaInfo has delved into version 2.22.8.11 of the Android beta app, finding that the company is working on a solution of sorts. More specifically, tapping on an unsaved phone number in a chat bubble will now open an in-app menu that allows you to chat with the person if they’re on WhatsApp.

The in-app menu also lets you call them or save their number to your contact list. We can confirm seeing the menu in the beta version we’re running. Check out our screenshot below.

This is a major change from the current behavior. Right now, tapping an unsaved number in a chat thread opens your Android phone’s dialer app instead.

This solution isn’t perfect though, as it requires someone to either send the number to you or for you to send the unsaved number to another contact. So hopefully we see more work in this regard to improve sending messages to unsaved contacts.

There are several workarounds, however, such as using WhatsApp’s short links system. You can take a look at the various solutions for chatting with an unsaved number at the link.