How to Know if Someone Has Your Number on WhatsApp

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: March 31, 2024 Fact Checked

Wondering if someone has your phone number saved in WhatsApp? Even though there's no official option in WhatsApp, there's still a trick you can use to find out who among your contacts has your number. We'll show you how to use the "Broadcast" feature to find which of your WhatsApp contacts has added your phone number. Keep in mind that it is possible for someone to message you on WhatsApp without having your phone number stored in their contacts.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

On iPhone

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1
Open WhatsApp. Tap the WhatsApp app icon, which resembles a white phone receiver and speech bubble icon on a green background.
- If you aren't signed into WhatsApp on your current phone, you'll have to follow the on-screen setup instructions before continuing.
2
Tap Chats. It's a speech bubble-shaped tab at the bottom of the screen.
- If WhatsApp opens to a conversation, first tap the "Back" arrow in the top-left corner of the screen.
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You'll find this blue link in the upper-left corner of the screen. Doing so opens a list of your current broadcasts.^{[1]
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Research source}
It's at the bottom of the screen. A list of contacts will open.^{[2]
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Research source}
You'll need at least one person whom you know has your number in your broadcast.
This should be the contact who you want to check to see if they have your number.^{[3]
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Research source}
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. This will create your broadcast and open the chat page for it.
Tap the text box at the bottom of the screen, type in a brief message (e.g., test), and tap the "Send"
arrow to the right of the text field. Your message will be sent to the group.^{[4]
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Research source}
This will depend on the time of day at which you sent your message, but it's normally best to wait for an hour or two before proceeding, as doing so will give all broadcast list participants who are in your contacts a chance to view the message.
10
Open the info menu for the message that you sent. To do so:
- Open WhatsApp's Chats page, tap Broadcast Lists, and select your broadcast list to open it.
- Tap and hold the message until a pop-up menu appears.
- Tap ► on the right side of the pop-up menu.
- Tap Info
11
Check the "READ BY" heading. Anyone who is able to read your message has your number in their contacts, so you should see the name of the contact whom you know has your phone number here.
- If you see the name of the person whom you wanted to check here, they have your phone number.
- Keep in mind that a contact who has your phone number but rarely uses WhatsApp will not show up in the "READ BY" section until the next time they use WhatsApp.
12
Check the "DELIVERED TO" heading. Anyone who doesn't have your phone number in their contacts won't receive the broadcast message as a chat, so their name will only show up below the "DELIVERED TO" heading.^{[5]
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Research source}
- If you see the name of the contact whom you wanted to check here, they most likely don't have your phone number.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

On Android

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1
Open WhatsApp. Tap the WhatsApp app icon, which resembles a white phone receiver and speech bubble icon on a green background.
- If you aren't signed into WhatsApp on your current phone, you'll have to follow the on-screen setup instructions before continuing.
2
Tap CHATS. This tab is at the top of the screen.
- If WhatsApp opens to a chat, first tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen.
This button is in the top-right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
It's in the drop-down menu. A list of your contacts will open.^{[6]
X
Research source}
You'll need at least one person whom you know has your number in your broadcast.^{[7]
X
Research source}
This should be the contact who you want to check to see if they have your number.
It's on a green background in the lower-right corner of the screen. This will create your broadcast group and open its chat page.
Tap the text box at the bottom of the screen, type in a brief message (e.g., test), and tap the "Send"
arrow to the right of the text field. Your message will be sent to the group.^{[8]
X
Research source}
This will depend on the time of day at which you sent your message, but it's normally best to wait for an hour or two before proceeding, as doing so will give all broadcast list participants who are in your contacts a chance to view the message.
10
Open the info menu for the message that you sent. To do so:
- Long-press the message until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
- Tap ⓘ at the top of the screen.
11
Check the "Read" heading. Anyone who is able to read your message has your number in their contacts, so you should see the name of the contact whom you know has your phone number here.
- If you see the name of the person whom you wanted to check here, they have your phone number.
- Keep in mind that a contact who has your phone number but rarely uses WhatsApp will not show up in the "Read" section until the next time they use WhatsApp.
12
Check the "Delivered" heading. Anyone who doesn't have your phone number in their contacts won't receive the broadcast message as a chat, so their name will only show up below the "DELIVERED TO" heading.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- If you see the name of the contact whom you wanted to check here, they most likely don't have your phone number.

Community Q&A

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Question

Why does someone's picture disappear on WhatsApp?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

This is probably because some privacy settings have been changed recently. Your contact changed their settings to "Nobody" or "My Contacts" and you are not listed as a contact or they may have blocked you. You may have changed your own last seen privacy setting to "nobody" or the contact may not have set a profile photo or there are some temporary connection problems.

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Can you see someone typing to someone else on WhatsApp?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

No, you will only see the "..." that shows someone is typing when they are typing in a message to you.

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Why is their DP and status not being shown?

Community Answer

It could be because you are blocked, or because they changed their settings so that their DP and status are not visible to their contacts.

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You don't need to send a Broadcast message to your contacts to confirm whether or not they have your number.

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Warnings

If someone has your number saved without a country prefix, they may not show up on the New Broadcast page even though they technically have your number.

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