How to add a new contact to WhatsApp using the Chats tab or a QR code

• You can add contacts to WhatsApp by manually entering them in Chats, or scanning the QR code from their WhatsApp profile.
• You can also import contacts from your phone to WhatsApp.
• When entering international contacts, don't forget to start their phone number with a plus sign and then add the international calling code for their country.

WhatsApp is a surprisingly popular messaging app - many people choose to use it because it's cross-compatible with both iPhone and Android, and it works over WiFi, so you don't need to use your cellular plan.

Related Article Module: What is WhatsApp? A guide to navigating the free internet-based communication platform

Want to add a new contact to your WhatsApp address book? You can do that easily in two different ways, depending on whether the other person is nearby. Here's what you need to know.

How to add a contact to WhatsApp

There are two ways to add a contact to WhatsApp - you can manually enter the contact's via the Chats tab, or if your new contact is physically nearby, you can simply scan their information via a QR code.

Via the Chats tab

1. Open the WhatsApp app and go to the Chats tab (it's at the bottom of the screen on iPhone and at the top on Android).

2. On the Chats screen, tap the New Chat button - you'll find it at the top-right on iPhone and at the bottom-right on Android.

3. Tap New Contact.

4. Fill in the New Contact form - enter the name and phone number at a minimum, though you can also enter any additional details you like. You can also scan someone's QR code from this page if you wish.

5. When you're done, tap Save.

Via QR code

On the other person's phone:

1. Open the WhatsApp app.

2. Tap Settings.

3. At the top of the Settings page, tap the QR code symbol to the right of the person's name.

On your phone:

1. Open the WhatsApp app and tap Settings.

2. At the top of the Settings page, tap the QR code symbol to the right of your name.

3. If you have an iPhone, tap Scan at the bottom of the screen. If you have an Android phone, tap Scan Code at the top of the screen.

4. Position your phone over the other phone so you can scan the QR code with the front-facing camera. Wait a moment until the phone vibrates - you've now scanned that person's contact information.

5. Tap Add to Contacts.

Adding international contacts

If you need to add a contact with an international phone number, then the process is almost identical to adding an ordinary contact. Follow all the steps in the previous section on manually adding a contact, but keep these special rules in mind:

• Start the phone number with a plus sign (+).
• Enter the appropriate international calling code for the country in question. If you need to look it up, you can find a complete list of international calling codes on the web.
• Enter the phone number immediately after the calling code.

How to use WhatsApp on your iPhone to send private or group messages, make calls, and video chat internationally20 of the best WhatsApp tips and tricks for getting the most out of the popular messaging appHow to block and unblock someone on WhatsAppHow to make and receive WhatsApp video calls