Step-by-Step Guide: Sending WhatsApp Messages Without Saving Contacts

It’s almost a reflex right? When you get a WhatsApp message from a new number, you immediately save it.

Whether it’s the electrician, the local pharmacy, or the delivery driver, we tend to save these numbers for ‘just in case’. But this habit clutters our address books, turning them into a chaotic list of temporary contacts.

This guide will show you the easy ways to send WhatsApp messages without saving contacts. Sending WhatsApp messages directly will save you the time you’d otherwise spend scrolling through a messy contact list.

So the next time you need to text “Ella Florist” or “Gary Electrician,” you can skip the hassle of saving their details first and get straight to the conversation. Let’s dive in!

Why Should You Send WhatsApp Messages Without Saving Contacts?

Today’s customers expect instant answers. In fact, a study reveals that 57% of customers regularly prefer communicating with brands on WhatsApp for more personalized service. Asking them to save your number first creates unnecessary friction that can cost you a sale.

Image source: YCloud

By enabling direct WhatsApp chats, you make it effortless for them to connect. Here’s why that’s a winning strategy:

• Convert More Leads, Faster: When customers can reach you instantly, your team can respond just as quickly. This immediate engagement shortens the sales cycle and helps you close deals before competitors even have a chance to reply.
• Boost Customer Experience Instantly: A single click to chat makes an excellent first impression. It shows customers you value their time and makes your brand feel accessible and easy to do business with.
• Build Trust by Respecting Privacy: Not forcing a contact save is a small gesture that shows you respect your customer’s digital space. This simple act of consideration builds significant brand trust and goodwill.
• Strengthen Your Brand Image: Offering seamless, modern communication positions your brand as efficient, tech-savvy, and completely focused on the customer’s needs.

Also read: Learn the best way to use WhatsApp Business Web to provide a seamless check-in and checkout product experience to your consumers pre- and post onboarding, and elevate brand reputation.

What Are the Easiest Ways to Send a WhatsApp Message to an Unsaved Number?

You can use the following techniques to meticulously punch quick WhatsApp messages without going into the rabbit hole of saving numbers. Here are a couple of techniques you can try.

Method 1: Using WhatsApp’s Click to Chat

This is the official, most reliable method provided by WhatsApp itself. “Click to chat” uses a special “wa.me” link to instantly start a conversation with any active WhatsApp account.

Here is a simple three step process:

• Copy link: You can start by copying this link: https://wa.me/phone-number. Have the phone number you want to message ready.
• Open a Web Browser: Use a browser like Google Chrome on your phone or computer.
• Edit the Link: Paste the copied link into the browser’s URL bar. Replace ‘phone number’ with the full number, including the country code. For example, for an Indian number 9988776655, the link becomes https://wa.me/919988776655.
• Navigate to the Link: Press enter and wait for the page to load.
• Continue to Chat: Click the ‘Continue to Chat’ button on the WhatsApp page.
• Start Messaging: The chat window for that number will open in WhatsApp, letting you message without saving the contact.

Want to create these links in a flash? Try Wati’s Free WhatsApp Chat Link Generator!

Method 2: Message yourself

This is a clever and incredibly quick workaround that many people overlook. It’s perfect for when you need to send a fast message on the go.

• Open WhatsApp and find your own contact in your chat list (it should be labeled “You”).
• Type or paste the full phone number (with country code) you want to message into the chat and hit send.
• The number will appear as a blue, clickable link.
• Tap on the number. WhatsApp will show you a small menu with the option to “Chat with [phone number]”.
• Select it, and a new conversation window will open. You’re all set!

Method 3: Using WhatsApp QR Codes

QR Codes are a brilliant way to bridge your offline and online presence. A customer can scan a QR code on your product packaging, business card, or storefront to instantly start a WhatsApp chat, removing the need to manually type or save your number.

How to Get Your WhatsApp QR Code:

• Generate the code, download it, and add it to your marketing materials!
• Use a free and reliable QR code generator, like the one offered by Wati.
• Enter your WhatsApp Business number and a default welcome message to greet your customers.

Learn more about leveraging QR codes for your business in our guide to WhatsApp Marketing.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

Some apps, such as Truecaller, can identify a number and provide a direct shortcut to message it on WhatsApp. While convenient, it’s wise to proceed with caution. 

Always use reputable, well-reviewed apps and be mindful of the permissions you grant them to protect your privacy and data security.

Here’s how you can use Truecaller to send WhatsApp messages without saving a number. 

• For starters, ensure that Truecaller is installed on your device.
• Launch Truecaller and use its search function to locate the number you wish to message.
• When the number appears, you’ll see various interaction options. Find and select the WhatsApp icon.
• This will direct you to WhatsApp. The unsaved number will open a chat window, allowing you to start messaging immediately.

Method 5: Find the Contact Number in WhatsApp Groups 

This method will not work for anyone. It’s still pretty solid. In order to send a WhatsApp message without saving a number, here is what you need to do.

• Open the WhatsApp group chat where the person is a member.
• Scroll through the list of group members and locate the desired number.
• Tap on the number to bring up a pop-up window.
• Inside the pop-up window, choose the “Message” option.
• This action will open a chat window with that person, allowing you to message them directly without saving their phone number beforehand.

How Can Businesses Send Bulk WhatsApp Messages Without Saving Contacts?

The methods above are perfect for one-on-one chats. But what if your business needs to send updates or promotions to hundreds, or even thousands, of customers at once?

In fact, a study shows that WhatsApp enjoys the highest conversion rates, around 45-60%. Which means, out of every 100 users who receive a message, 45 to 60 click to convert into customers. 

With WhatsApp marketing, you can even recover up to 70% of shopping carts, thus effectively re-engaging customers. And that’s where WhatsApp Business API tools like Wati come in.

Designed for businesses looking to scale their communication, the WhatsApp Business API enables you to send personalized bulk messages to an entire list of customers without having a single number, deploy chatbots to automate conversations, integrate WhatsApp with your existing CRM, and use a shared team inbox to track progress effectively.

Using a WhatsApp Business API is a safe and compliant way to manage large-scale business communication on WhatsApp.

Why Choose Wati as Your WhatsApp API Provider?

With the WATI API, you can manage large volumes of customer conversations securely and effectively in bulk. Wati is an official Meta Business Partner that provides a powerful and easy-to-use platform for growth.

Here is what sets it apart: 

• Send Broadcasts at Scale: You can reach thousands of unsaved contacts with personalized marketing campaigns, promotions, and automated updates without cluttering your address book.
• Automate with No-Code Chatbots: You can easily build and deploy intelligent chatbots with our drag-and-drop builder to handle FAQs, qualify leads, and provide 24/7 customer support.
• List with catalogue management: With Wati, you can build product catalogues at scale and lead users through meaningful product journeys. Building product catalogues results in improved customer attention span, direct action, faster checkouts and brand visibility. 
• Custom notifications: Wati provides customized notification to trigger frequent updates and drive sales forward. Teams can stay updated on customer conversions and engagement to streamline their sales strategy and monitor revenue securely and efficiently. 
• Collaborate in a Shared Team Inbox: It helps sales teams manage all customer chats from a single WhatsApp number. Assign conversations to team members and ensure fast, consistent responses.
• Integrate Your Key Business Tools: It blends with the existing tech stack. You can connect Wati with Shopify, Zoho, HubSpot, Google Sheets, and more to automate workflows and sync your customer data.
• Measure Performance with Advanced Analytics: Our platform offers advanced reporting features to track delivery, read, and reply rates on a detailed dashboard, enabling you to make data-driven decisions and maximize your campaign ROI.

Streamline your communication today

Consumers do not want to fiddle through several saved contacts just to find you. Having a cluttered approach to WhatsApp marketing may give off a negative brand experience. Whether you are an individual needing a quick chat or a business aiming to enhance customer engagement, sending messages without saving contacts helps build brand loyalty.

By using simple methods like “Click to Chat” or powerful tools like the WhatsApp Business API, you can save time, protect your privacy, and create a smoother, more professional experience for everyone you interact with.

Ready to unlock the full potential of WhatsApp Business API? Sign up for a 7-day free trial and get started today! You can also choose to book a demo to get a better sense of our offerings.

Sending WhatsApp Messages Without Saving Contacts: Frequently Asked Questions: