Your first-day checklist

What it's for

WhatsApp is for keeping in touch through personal messages, shared media, voice messages, and voice or video calls. On a new phone, it gives you a phone-number-based way to reach contacts who use WhatsApp, with personal messages and calls protected by end-to-end encryption.

Get the app

After it installs: three settings

1. 01Choose who sees Status

   Your Status audience can include all contacts or selected people. Reviewing that choice helps keep everyday pictures and personal updates with their intended audience.

   Look in the app's Settings for Status privacy
2. 02Review location sharing choices

   Location can be shared with an individual chat or a group, and stopped whenever you choose. Review active sharing when your meeting or journey ends.

   Look in the app's Settings for location sharing
3. 03Find the support route

   Knowing where to ask for help is useful before you need it. WhatsApp provides an in-app contact route for feedback and questions about the service.

   WhatsApp > Settings > Help > Contact Us

Path as given in the developer's help pages; menu names can differ slightly between versions and phones.

Common problem

Having trouble getting started? First check your internet connection and confirm that you entered the phone number you intend to use. WhatsApp relies on that number, and SMS verification applies in some regions. If the difficulty continues, use Settings > Help > Contact Us when you can access the app.