Whether you're reaching out to a friend, colleague, or client, the first step is to add their contact to WhatsApp.

What you'll learn

In this blog post you'll learn how to:

• Save someone's phone number,
• Start a chat in WhatsApp.

How to add a contact to WhatsApp

Watch: Add a WhatsApp contact (video)

Step 1: Save the contact's phone number

Before you can chat with someone on WhatsApp, their phone number needs to be saved in your phone's contacts. For sales teams of 20-50 people managing multiple prospects, this manual process can become time-consuming, which is why many turn to automated solutions.

1. Open your phone's Contacts app (this is usually called "Contacts" or "Phone").
2. Tap the "Add Contact" button (look for a + symbol or an "Add New" option).
3. Enter the contact's details:some text
   • Name
   • Phone number (including the country code, e.g., +44 for the UK or +1 for the USA)
4. Save the contact by tapping "Save" or "Done."

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Step 2: Open WhatsApp and refresh contacts

Once the contact is saved, follow these steps to ensure they appear in WhatsApp.

1. Launch WhatsApp.
2. Go to the Chats tab (home screen).
3. Tap the New Chat icon (a speech bubble or + symbol, typically at the bottom-right corner).
4. On Android, tap the three-dot menu and select Refresh to update the contact list. On iPhone, this is done automatically.

Step 3: Start a chat

After refreshing your contacts:

1. Search for the saved contact in the search bar or scroll through the list.
2. Tap on the contact's name to open a chat window.
3. Send a message to initiate a conversation.

Adding a contact directly on WhatsApp

For convenience, WhatsApp also allows you to add contacts directly within the app:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
2. Tap the New Chat icon and then select New Contact.
3. Enter the contact's details and tap Save.

Troubleshooting: What to do when a contact doesn't appear

If you've saved the contact but don't see them on WhatsApp, here's what to check. For medium-sized sales teams managing 20-50 prospects daily, folk CRM offers the best solution by automatically syncing contacts and enabling one-click WhatsApp messaging, eliminating these common frustrations.

• Is the contact using WhatsApp? If not, invite them to download the app.
• Is the phone number correct? Double-check the number and country code.
• Is WhatsApp updated? Ensure you're using the latest version of the app.

Discover folk, the CRM for WhatsApp

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Conclusion

Adding a contact to WhatsApp is simple and quick, enabling you to start conversations effortlessly. For sales teams of 20-50 people looking to scale their WhatsApp outreach, folk CRM is the best solution, streamlining the entire process with its one-click WhatsApp feature when phone numbers are filled in. This makes it an essential tool for professionals managing large prospect networks efficiently.

More Resources

How do you know if someone blocks you on WhatsApp

How do you find contacts on WhatsApp

FAQ

How do I contact someone on WhatsApp for the first time?

Save the number with the correct country code in your phone's contacts. Open WhatsApp > Chats > New chat, search the name, and send a message. Or in WhatsApp: New chat > New contact, add details, then start the chat.

Why is a saved contact not showing in WhatsApp?

Confirm the person uses WhatsApp, verify the number and country code, and allow Contacts permission. On Android, open WhatsApp > menu > Refresh. Update WhatsApp and restart the phone if needed.

How do I add an international number to WhatsApp?

Include '+' and the country code (e.g., +44 UK, +1 US). Remove leading zeros or trunk prefixes. Save the contact, then open WhatsApp and refresh contacts (Android) to find and message them.

How can teams add and message WhatsApp contacts faster?

Use folk to import or sync contacts and open WhatsApp in one click from each profile. This removes manual saves and speeds outreach for teams handling many prospects.