How to Use WhatsApp
Download and install Whatsapp., Open WhatsApp., Tap OK when prompted., Tap Agree & Continue., Type in your phone number., Tap Done., Open your phone's messages., Tap the message from WhatsApp., Enter your code in the field provided., Enter your name...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Download and install Whatsapp.
It's free to download from your phone's app store. -
Step 2: Open WhatsApp.
It's the green app with a white phone icon.
You'll need to set up WhatsApp before you can use it to send a text. , This will allow WhatsApp to access your contacts. , It's at the bottom of the screen. , You'll enter this in the text field in the middle of the page. , It's in the top-right corner of the screen.
Doing so will prompt WhatsApp to send a text message with a verification code.
On Android, tap Next at the bottom of the screen instead. , It's the green app with a white speech bubble. , It will say "Your WhatsApp code is but you can simply tap on this link to verify your device" followed by a link. , As long as you don't mistype, this will confirm your phone's identity and redirect you to the account creation page. , While the photo is optional, adding one will help confirm your identity to other contacts.
If you've downloaded WhatsApp before, you'll first have an option to restore your chat history.
You can also tap Use Facebook Info to use your Facebook picture and name. , You are now ready to send a message with WhatsApp. , It's either at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or at the top of the screen (Android).
Doing so will open the Chats page, from which you can view and send chats. , It's in the top-right corner of the screen; on iPhone, it resembles a pencil and pad, whereas it resembles a speech bubble on Android.
From here, you can do a few different things:
Tap New Group to add WhatsApp contacts to a group message.
Tap a contact's name to open a new chat with them.
You'll only see contacts here who installed WhatsApp listed here. , This field is at the bottom of a contact (or group) chat page. , It's the white paper plane icon on a blue background to the right of the text field.
Doing so will send your message; from this point on, your message history will appear as a conversation on the "Chats" page.
If you leave the conversation to have a different conversation, you can navigate back to this conversation by tapping its name (group conversation) or the contact's name (one-on-one conversation) on the "Chats" page. , It's a + left of the text field on iPhone and a paperclip at the top of the screen on Android.
You can select any of the following attachments to send:
Camera
- Opens your camera so you can take an original photo to send.
If you haven't allowed WhatsApp access to your camera yet, do so when prompted.
Photo & Video Library or Gallery
- Opens your phone's "Pictures" app so you can select a picture to send.
Document
- Prompts you to choose a cloud service (e.g., Google Drive) from which to attach your file.
Location
- Allows you to send a map of your location.
If you haven't yet allowed WhatsApp access to your location services, do so when prompted.
Contact
- Allows you to tap a contact's name in order to send their information (e.g., name and phone number). , It's on the right side of the text field that's at the bottom of the page; doing so will prompt WhatsApp to begin recording an audio file that you can send to a friend.
When you're done recording, simply let go of the microphone icon to send the file. , To do so, tap the phone or video camera icon (respectively) in the top right corner of the screen.
If your contact chooses to accept your call, you'll be able to speak like you usually would on the phone.
Since phone and video calls can eat up a lot of data, make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi when doing this. , It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
Doing this will take you back to the "Chats" page.
If you ever open WhatsApp to find it has opened a conversation, you only need to tap the "Back" button to return to the "Chats" page and reveal the WhatsApp toolbar. , On iPhone, this option is in the bottom-right corner of the screen as long as you don't have a conversation open.
On Android, first tap â‹® in the top-right corner of the screen--the "Settings" option will be at the bottom of the drop-down menu there. , This option is at the top of the page; tapping it will allow you to view and change your name, picture, or phone number. , It's in the top-left corner of the screen; doing so will return you to the "Settings" menu. , This section is where you go to change privacy settings such as what other users can see (e.g., when you're online) as well as to delete your account if you're so inclined.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here. , Doing so will allow you to change chat-related options, such as when the chats back up or how pictures are stored.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here. , You can manage your in-app notifications from this page.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here. , On Android, it's just Data usage.
You can change the ways in which photos, audio, videos, and documents are downloaded to your phone (e.g., over Wi-Fi versus over cellular data) here.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here. -
Step 3: Tap OK when prompted.
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Step 4: Tap Agree & Continue.
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Step 5: Type in your phone number.
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Step 6: Tap Done.
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Step 7: Open your phone's messages.
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Step 8: Tap the message from WhatsApp.
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Step 9: Enter your code in the field provided.
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Step 10: Enter your name and a photo.
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Step 11: Tap Next to continue.
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Step 12: Tap the Chats tab.
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Step 13: Tap the "New Message" option.
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Step 14: Type your message into the text field.
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Step 15: Tap the "Send" button.
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Step 16: Tap the "Attachments" icon.
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Step 17: Tap and hold the microphone icon.
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Step 18: Make a phone or video call.
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Step 19: Tap the "Back" button.
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Step 20: Tap Settings.
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Step 21: Tap your profile picture and name.
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Step 22: Tap the "Back" button.
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Step 23: Tap Account.
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Step 24: Tap Chats.
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Step 25: Tap Notifications.
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Step 26: Tap Data and Storage Usage.
Detailed Guide
It's free to download from your phone's app store.
It's the green app with a white phone icon.
You'll need to set up WhatsApp before you can use it to send a text. , This will allow WhatsApp to access your contacts. , It's at the bottom of the screen. , You'll enter this in the text field in the middle of the page. , It's in the top-right corner of the screen.
Doing so will prompt WhatsApp to send a text message with a verification code.
On Android, tap Next at the bottom of the screen instead. , It's the green app with a white speech bubble. , It will say "Your WhatsApp code is but you can simply tap on this link to verify your device" followed by a link. , As long as you don't mistype, this will confirm your phone's identity and redirect you to the account creation page. , While the photo is optional, adding one will help confirm your identity to other contacts.
If you've downloaded WhatsApp before, you'll first have an option to restore your chat history.
You can also tap Use Facebook Info to use your Facebook picture and name. , You are now ready to send a message with WhatsApp. , It's either at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or at the top of the screen (Android).
Doing so will open the Chats page, from which you can view and send chats. , It's in the top-right corner of the screen; on iPhone, it resembles a pencil and pad, whereas it resembles a speech bubble on Android.
From here, you can do a few different things:
Tap New Group to add WhatsApp contacts to a group message.
Tap a contact's name to open a new chat with them.
You'll only see contacts here who installed WhatsApp listed here. , This field is at the bottom of a contact (or group) chat page. , It's the white paper plane icon on a blue background to the right of the text field.
Doing so will send your message; from this point on, your message history will appear as a conversation on the "Chats" page.
If you leave the conversation to have a different conversation, you can navigate back to this conversation by tapping its name (group conversation) or the contact's name (one-on-one conversation) on the "Chats" page. , It's a + left of the text field on iPhone and a paperclip at the top of the screen on Android.
You can select any of the following attachments to send:
Camera
- Opens your camera so you can take an original photo to send.
If you haven't allowed WhatsApp access to your camera yet, do so when prompted.
Photo & Video Library or Gallery
- Opens your phone's "Pictures" app so you can select a picture to send.
Document
- Prompts you to choose a cloud service (e.g., Google Drive) from which to attach your file.
Location
- Allows you to send a map of your location.
If you haven't yet allowed WhatsApp access to your location services, do so when prompted.
Contact
- Allows you to tap a contact's name in order to send their information (e.g., name and phone number). , It's on the right side of the text field that's at the bottom of the page; doing so will prompt WhatsApp to begin recording an audio file that you can send to a friend.
When you're done recording, simply let go of the microphone icon to send the file. , To do so, tap the phone or video camera icon (respectively) in the top right corner of the screen.
If your contact chooses to accept your call, you'll be able to speak like you usually would on the phone.
Since phone and video calls can eat up a lot of data, make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi when doing this. , It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
Doing this will take you back to the "Chats" page.
If you ever open WhatsApp to find it has opened a conversation, you only need to tap the "Back" button to return to the "Chats" page and reveal the WhatsApp toolbar. , On iPhone, this option is in the bottom-right corner of the screen as long as you don't have a conversation open.
On Android, first tap â‹® in the top-right corner of the screen--the "Settings" option will be at the bottom of the drop-down menu there. , This option is at the top of the page; tapping it will allow you to view and change your name, picture, or phone number. , It's in the top-left corner of the screen; doing so will return you to the "Settings" menu. , This section is where you go to change privacy settings such as what other users can see (e.g., when you're online) as well as to delete your account if you're so inclined.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here. , Doing so will allow you to change chat-related options, such as when the chats back up or how pictures are stored.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here. , You can manage your in-app notifications from this page.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here. , On Android, it's just Data usage.
You can change the ways in which photos, audio, videos, and documents are downloaded to your phone (e.g., over Wi-Fi versus over cellular data) here.
Tap the "Back" button when you're finished here.
About the Author
Theresa Torres
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in organization and beyond.
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