WhatsApp introduces guest chat feature for non-users

California  (Web Desk): WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows individuals who do not have a WhatsApp account to join chats temporarily. The feature, called Guest Chat, is currently available to a limited number of beta users.

With Guest Chat, existing WhatsApp users can generate a shareable invite link, which recipients can open on their phone or desktop browser to join the chat temporarily. Guest users will have a “Guest” label displayed on their profile to indicate that they are not registered WhatsApp users.

WhatsApp has confirmed that all chats will remain end-to-end encrypted, ensuring privacy. However, because guest users do not have a WhatsApp account, their identity cannot be verified in the same way as regular users.

The feature comes with some limitations for guest users: they cannot join groups, share media files, stickers, or make voice or video calls. Guest Chat is designed primarily for temporary communication, and the invite link will automatically expire if there is no activity for 10 days.

Currently, the feature is available only to a limited beta audience, and WhatsApp has not announced when it will be rolled out to all users.