How do you join whatsapp


Internet tips for older people - How to use WhatsApp

Whilst there's nothing wrong with using text messages and phone calls to keep in touch, many people now use WhatsApp to send messages and make calls. It's an easy way to stay connected with loved ones and to send and receive photos and videos.

  • Where do I get WhatsApp?
  • Is WhatsApp free?
  • How do I use WhatsApp?
  • Can I make phone calls over WhatsApp?
  • Can I make video calls over WhatsApp?
  • What’s a WhatsApp group?
  • Is WhatsApp safe?

You can download WhatsApp to your smartphone. If you have an iPhone, then you'll need to use the App Store, and if you have an Android phone or tablet then it's the Play Store. It doesn't cost anything to download WhatsApp.

Read our guide to downloading apps for more information.

You can use WhatsApp on your computer or tablet (known as WhatsApp Web), but you need to have WhatsApp on your phone first to connect it up. And you can't video or audio call on WhatsApp Web.

Download WhatsApp Web here.

WhatsApp is free to download from the App Store or Play Store. It uses your phone's internet connection and allows you to send unlimited messages, pictures and videos, so you don't need to worry about using up your allocated text or call allowances.

However, you may end up being charged extra if you go over your data allowance, so it's a good idea to connect to Wi-Fi if you're using WhatsApp for things that use a lot of data, like video calls or downloading videos.

You can check on how much data you are using through WhatsApp:

WhatsApp is simple to use once you get the hang of it. It's a messaging app, so it works in a similar way to texting. This video shows you how to get started on WhatsApp, including how to add contacts from your phone.

How to send messages on WhatsApp:

  1. Open WhatsApp on your phone.
  2. Click the chats tab.
  3. Tap the green circle with a messaging icon on the bottom right of your screen.
  4. Choose a contact from your list or click the magnifying glass icon and type the name of the person you want to message.
  5. Start chatting! The messages you send appear with a green background and once the person you’re chatting with has seen a message, two blue ticks will appear next to it.
  6. The messages you receive will have a grey background on the left-hand side of your screen.

There are extra features you can use, like sending photos:

  1. Open a conversation with the person you want to send a photo to.
  2. Send an image you've already taken by tapping on the paperclip icon, then gallery, and choosing a photo.
  3. Or you can tap on the camera icon, which lets you take a photo and send it immediately.

Sharing photos can be a great way to feel closer to people, even when you're not able to meet up.

You can also use WhatsApp to make phone calls. Using WhatsApp will mean that you don’t use up your allocated minutes in your phone contract, and because it uses the internet, you can even call people who live abroad at no extra cost.

How to make a phone call:

  1. Open WhatsApp on your phone.
  2. Click the calls tab.
  3. Press the green icon showing a phone with a plus symbol next to it.
  4. Choose a contact from your list to call or click the magnifying glass icon and type the name of the person you want to call.
  5. Click the symbol that looks like a phone next to their name to start calling.
  6. To end the call, just click the red phone icon.

Remember: Make sure you are connected to a wireless internet network (Wi-Fi) before doing a phone call, otherwise you may incur additional charges from your mobile phone network if you aren't connected to Wi-Fi.

Video calling can be a nicer way of chatting with others than just a phone call, because it lets you see the person you're talking to, and them see you.

How to make a video call on WhatsApp:

  1. Open WhatsApp on your phone.
  2. Click the calls tab.
  3. Press the icon showing a phone with a plus symbol next to it.
  4. Click the green magnifying glass icon and type the name of the person you want to call.
  5. Click the symbol that looks like a camera next to their name to start video calling.
  6. You can add up to four other people into a video call to turn it into a group chat. During the video call, click the add participant icon and search for their name to add them.
  7. To end the call, just click the red phone icon.

Remember: Make sure you are connected to a wireless internet network (Wi-Fi) before doing a video call. Video calling uses a lot of data and could result in additional charges from your mobile phone network if you aren't connected to Wi-Fi.

You can message multiple people at once in a WhatsApp group. This is really handy if you want to chat with a few family members, neighbours, or members of a club or group.

Someone you know might add you to a WhatsApp group if they have your number, or you can set up your own group:

  1. Tap the green circle with a messaging icon on the bottom right of your screen.
  2. Click new group.
  3. Choose participants from your contact list.
  4. Add a name for the group.
  5. You can even choose an image for the group by tapping on the camera icon.
  6. Start chatting! Everyone in the group will be sent the message at once.

Your messages and calls are automatically protected by something called 'end-to-end encryption'. This means that only you and the person you're chatting with can read what is sent.

But as with everything online, there are risks to be aware of, including scams, viruses and misinformation. Here are some tips for staying safe using WhatsApp:

  • Only message people you know. Anyone with your number can send you a message or add you to a WhatsApp group, so make sure that you know and trust them before chatting to them.
  • Don't click on links or download files sent from people who aren't contacts. These could contain viruses or take you to fake websites that are set up by scammers to get your personal or financial information.
  • Look out for misinformation. False claims or fake stories can spread easily online. WhatsApp has created a list of tips to limit the spread of rumours or fake news. Read the tips here.
  • Make sure you're using the most up-to-date version. Find out how to check this and download any updates to WhatsApp in our guide on downloading apps.

 

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For more information call the Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602.
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We've put together some handy sheets that you can download and print off to help you get to grips with your computer or device:

Staying safe online

Making the most of your device

Sending and receiving emails

How to get started on WhatsApp Messenger

WhatsApp

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Download and set up WhatsApp

1. Download and launch the app: Download WhatsApp Messenger for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. To open the app, tap the WhatsApp icon on your home screen.

2. Review the Terms of Service: Read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then tap Agree and Continue to accept the terms.

3. Register: Select your country from the drop-down list to add your country code, then enter your phone number in international phone number format. Tap Done or Next, then tap Ok to receive your 6-digit registration code via SMS or phone call. To complete registration, enter your 6-digit code. Learn how to register your phone number on Android, iPhone, or KaiOS.

4. Set up your profile: In your new profile, enter your name, and then tap Next. You can also add a profile photo.

5. Allow access to contacts and photos: Contacts can be added to WhatsApp from your phone’s address book. You can also allow access to your phone’s photos, videos, and files.

6. Start a chat: Tap or , then search for a contact to begin. Enter a message in the text field. To send photos or videos, tap or next to the text field. Choose Camera to take a new photo or video or Gallery or Photo and Video Library to select an existing photo or video from your phone. Then, tap or .

7. Create a group: You can create a group with up to 256 participants. Tap or , then New group. Search for or select contacts to add to the group, then tap Next. Enter a group subject and tap or Create.

Different ways you can communicate

  • Voice messages: If you don’t want to type a message, you can send an audio recording. Tap and hold or to record the message. To stop recording, let go of the microphone. Learn how to send and play voice messages on Android, iPhone, or KaiOS.
  • Voice calls: Go to the Calls tab, then tap or . Search for the contact you’d like to call. Tap or to start a voice call. Learn how to make voice calls on Android, or iPhone.
  • Video calls: Open the Calls tab, then tap or . Find the contact you’d like to call. To start a video call, tap or . Learn how to make video calls on Android, or iPhone.

Safety tips and helpful features

Customize privacy and security features
WhatsApp makes it simple to understand and customize your privacy and security. Learn more on our privacy page.

Fact-check the information you receive
Consider whether the messages you receive are true, because not everything you hear will be accurate. If you don’t know who sent the message you received, we encourage you to double-check information with trusted fact-checking organizations. Learn more about how to prevent the spread of misinformation in this article.

Forwarded messages
To help prevent the spread of misinformation, we limit how you can forward messages. You can easily identify forwarded messages because they have a Forwarded label. When a message is forwarded from one user to another user many times, it’s indicated with a double arrow icon . You can learn about forwarding limits in this article.

12 hidden features of WhatsApp | Rusbase

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messengers in the world. More and more tools and features regularly appear in it, but not all of them are well known. Here is a list of 12 WhatsApp features you may not have known about.

Daria Sidorova

Format text

WhatsApp messages can be personalized by making the font bold, italic or strikethrough. To do this, just put a couple of characters before and after the text:

  • * bold * ;
  • _italics_ ;
  • ~ strikethrough ~ .

Send disappearing messages

This feature deletes messages after a while, helping to protect valuable information. Here's how to turn it on.

  • Tap a contact's name in a chat.
  • Select the "Messages" option.
  • Activate the "Temporary Messages" function.

Add messages to Favorites

To avoid losing an important message, you can add it to Favorites. To do this, hold your finger on it, and then click on the star.

Find out when a message was read

To find out when a recipient has read a message, tap and slide your finger to the left. This data can also be found in the menu marked with three dots under Data. In both cases, you will see at what time the message was sent, received and read.

Disable media autoload

WhatsApp photos and videos often clog up your phone's memory. Luckily, you can turn off automatic downloads. Go to "Settings" and select "Chats". In this section, disable the Media Visibility option.

Hide last seen time

WhatsApp offers the option to hide the last time you logged into the app. To do this, open Settings and select Account. Then go to "‎Privacy" and disable "‎Is been". You can also keep this option enabled for multiple contacts. For security reasons, it is better to show the last visit time to at least one user. nine0003

Mark conversations as "unread"

This feature reminds you to reply to the other party. Just press and hold the chat for a couple of seconds and then select the "Mark as unread" option.

Find out your favorite contact

This tool allows you to see which contacts you interact with the most and manage your internal storage. To do this, go to "‎Settings", select "‎Data and storage" and "Manage storage". nine0003

Listen to audio before sending

This trick allows you to listen to a voice message before sending it. Start recording audio, and when you want to end it, exit the app while holding down the record button. When you return to the correspondence, you will find that the message has been saved. Now it can be listened to, sent or deleted.

Personalize notifications

This option allows you to set personalized ringtones for individual contacts. Just go to the chat with the right person and click on his name. Open the Custom Notifications section and select the desired ringtone. nine0003

Customize backgrounds

This feature allows you to set a background for each chat. These can be both images and themes for dark and light mode. To do this, simply go to "‎Settings" and then select "‎Chats". In the "‎Wallpapers" section you will find all the available images.

Join the beta test

Beta testers are among the first to try new features of the app. To join them, follow the link and follow the instructions. nine0003

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Cover photo: Temitiman / Shutterstock

WhatsApp verification code not receiving. What to do

Despite the fact that the work of WhatsApp in Russia was not restricted by anyone, after the blocking of Instagram and Facebook, the messenger increasingly began to experience problems with authorization. Users complain that they cannot log into their account because WhatsApp does not send a message with the verification code . This is how he writes:0012 Failed to send SMS to the number you specified . Why is unclear. After all, this happens today almost every second, and only a few manage to find the cause of the failure, and even more so to eliminate it. It's good that you have us and we know what to do in such situations.

Whatsapp does not send authorization code? There is a solution, and more than one

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Content

  • 1 Failed to send SMS to the number you specified
  • 2 Unable to log in to WhatsApp
  • 3 How to log into WhatsApp by phone number
  • 4 How to log into WhatsApp if the code does not come you number

    WhatsApp authorization failure , as a rule, occurs when you try to log in to your account for the first time on a new device. The user enters their phone number for verification, but the smartphone - and, judging by the reviews, this happens regardless of the platform used - gives an error, explaining in this way, why does not receive SMS from WhatsApp .

    ⚡️JOIN OUR TELEGRAM CHAT. THERE YOU WILL BE ANSWERED FOR ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IPHONES AND NOT ONLY

    No, of course, WhatsApp does not leave you completely without explanations and further instructions. The messenger writes that in an hour it will be possible to try again. However, as my personal experience has shown, if you encounter a failure, then not in an hour, not in two, or even the next day, the problem will not disappear, and WhatsApp will not send you SMS with authorization code .

    I can't log in to WhatsApp

    There are several ways to solve the problem with authorization in WhatsApp

    WhatsApp developers know that messenger users regularly experience such problems, so we have prepared several recommendations in advance that you need to follow if you do not receive a code with SMS from WhatsApp :

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    • Wrong phone number . Make sure you don't make a mistake in the number, enter the correct country code, because WhatsApp often substitutes the +1 code instead of +7, as it is necessary for Russia.
    • Invalid number of characters in number . The phone number for authorization in WhatsApp must be written in the international format. Therefore, do not use 8 at the beginning of the number, because otherwise the eight will knock out the nine, and the whole combination will go astray by one sign. nine0014
    • Update WhatsApp . It happens that an outdated version of the messenger cannot establish a connection with the servers, which is why you do not receive the authorization code . In this case, just install the update from the App Store.
    • Change device . It could also be that you are using an older device or an older version of iOS that is no longer compatible with WhatsApp. For stable operation of the messenger, the iPhone must be running iOS 13 or later. nine0014
    • Enable SMS reception . On some tariffs, SMS reception may be limited by default. Check if this feature is active in your carrier's app and turn it on if necessary.
    • Wait until the network is restored . Often, network failures occur, due to which the operator cannot deliver SMS with authorization code . In such cases, it is recommended to wait for some time (an hour or two) and try to log in again.

    How to enter WhatsApp by phone number

    However, if the recommendations described above do not help, this does not mean that the solutions to the problem have been exhausted. Actually it is not. There are at least two options that will help you log in to WhatsApp on iPhone in most cases. And, if you have Android, and you cannot log in to WhatsApp, read this article - everything is there.

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    First of all, try enabling the VPN. Strange thing: WhatsApp in Russia is not restricted by anyone, but for some unknown reason, SMS with authorization codes may not reach users if they are in the country. In such cases, it is better to use the lock bypass service. For example, I use Planet VPN.

    • Download Planet VPN on your iPhone;
    • Launch the VPN and save your VPN profile;
    • Connect to VPN and go to WhatsApp; nine0014

    Install VPN. He will probably decide everything

    • Request an authorization code via SMS - it should come instantly;
    • Enter your authorization code and sign in to your account.

    Download Planet VPN

    It doesn't matter which VPN you choose . If you need a free service, Planet VPN is the best choice. You do not need to pay anything for it, and it is also completely unlimited, although it cuts the download speed. But after all for authorization it does not play any role. However, if you don't trust this service or have your own in mind, use it. nine0003

    How to enter WhatsApp if the code

    does not arrive Few people pay attention to this, at the authorization stage WhatsApp allows not only to confirm the entry by SMS , but also by call. In this case, the bot will call you and dictate the authorization code aloud. It is a one-time use, so it does not make sense to write it down for all subsequent logins, as it will not be applicable.

    • Launch the WhatsApp app on your iPhone;
    • On the authorization screen, click the "Call me" button; nine0014

    For the life of me, I couldn't provoke this bug on iOS

    • Give the application permission to interact with calls;
    • Wait for the call, listen to the code and confirm the account login.

    If you've already signed in to WhatsApp on your iPhone before and saved your credentials to Keychain Access, you may not need to re-enter the code. Then authorization will take place automatically, without requiring additional verification.


    Learn more