TechSoftwareAppsWhatsApp’s latest free update could be its most useful and significant yetUpdate coming to WhatsApp brings a new feature that’s been long awaitedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechSoftwareAppsWhatsApp’s latest free update could be its most useful and significant yetUpdate coming to WhatsApp brings a new feature that’s been long awaitedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Update coming to WhatsApp brings a new feature that’s been long awaited
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Quick SummaryWhatsApp is adding the ability to store contacts exclusively in the app without syncing them to your phone.The chat service will, in the future, let you store contacts under usernames with no phone number.
WhatsApp is adding the ability to store contacts exclusively in the app without syncing them to your phone.The chat service will, in the future, let you store contacts under usernames with no phone number.
WhatsApp is adding the ability to store contacts exclusively in the app without syncing them to your phone.The chat service will, in the future, let you store contacts under usernames with no phone number.
WhatsApp is adding the ability to store contacts exclusively in the app without syncing them to your phone.
The chat service will, in the future, let you store contacts under usernames with no phone number.
The latest addition could be one of its most significant, however.
In recent months, we’ve seen the addition ofnew stickers to WhatsAppas well asnew backgrounds for videos, but those minor updates may pale into insignificance. WhatsApp has announced that it is shaking up how contacts are managed, so they’re not dependent on your phone.
Until now, if you wanted to add a contact to WhatsApp, that person had to be added to your phone’s address book. That would mean that person was added to your contacts list synced to your account, then appearing on all your other devices. Now, WhatsApp has made it possible to have contacts that are only on WhatsApp.
This means that you don’t have to have that person in your main contacts list, which boosts your privacy. Contacts that you save in the app will sync across places that you’re using WhatsApp, but won’t venture out of the service unless you tell it to sync with your phone.
A privacy boost, but the potential for confusion
Currently any contact you add on WhatsApp is synced to your phone meaning that everything is in one place. That might cause problems for people using a work WhatsApp account, for example, if any business contacts are synced to your personal contacts list. Saving them just in WhatsApp would keep them private.
However, for many users, there’s the chance that the change will bring confusion, especially if you use more than one messaging app – or just like making phone calls. If you add someone from WhatsApp and they aren’t in your phone, you couldn’t move that conversation over to iMessage, or phone them, because you won’t be able to find that contact.
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