How to Use WeChat

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: August 27, 2021 References

WeChat is a free messaging alternative to cellular text messages^{[1]
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Research source} and supports sending text, photos, videos, and more. It is available through the App Store and Google Play Store for iOS 9 and above as well as Android 4.4 and above. This wikiHow will teach you how to use WeChat; however, many of the features available only work in China.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Registering an Account

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The app icon looks like two chat bubbles with eyes on a green background that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
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Tap to sign up via your phone number or a Facebook account. If you sign up with "Mobile," enter your name, select your region, enter your phone number, and create a password. Tap Next to continue.
- If you sign up with "Facebook," the app will redirect you to your Facebook account that WeChat is trying to connect with. Tap Continue to allow the connection, then choose your region, enter your phone number, then tap Next.^{[2]
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- If you get an error with Automatic Registration and you're required to have another WeChat user help you register, follow the on-screen instructions to have them scan the QR code. If you don't know any WeChat users, you have to ask for help outside WeChat (like Reddit) for anyone who can help. Make sure their WeChat account meets the conditions listed on your screen (either a 1-month old account if they are international or 6-months if they are a user from Mainland China; hasn't completed a "Help a Friend Register" for other users in the last month; hasn't been blocked in the last month; has activated WeChat Pay if they are a user in Mainland China), then have them go to WeChat > WeChat Team > Account > Help Register Friend.^{[3]
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- Due to laws in India, WeChat is not available in that region.^{[4]
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- The region of Tunisia is also unable to register new accounts with WeChat.^{[5]
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3
Verify the account. WeChat will send you a text message with a four-digit verification code. In the "Enter code" field, type the verification code, and then tap Submit.
- If you didn’t get a verification code, tap No verification code received?, and then tap Resend to get another text message. Alternatively, tap Phone Call to get an automated phone call with the verification code instead of a text.
- According to the WeChat Terms of Service, you need to be at least 13 years old or have your parents' permission to use WeChat.
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Set Up a WeChat Profile. On the Setup Profile screen, in the "Full Name" field, type a name.
- On this screen, you can also choose a photo for your account. This is optional.
- You can type whatever name you want to use in the Full Name field.
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Find your friends on WeChat. On the Find Friends screen, WeChat will ask you if you want to Find WeChat Friends. If you agree to this, WeChat will upload the names, phone numbers, and email addresses in your phone to the WeChat servers in order to find your friends using WeChat.^{[6]
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- Tap Learn more to learn more about how WeChat will use your friends’ contact information.
- If you choose not to do this now, you can always do it later. If you choose not to do this, you can add friends manually.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Adding Friends

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This plus sign is in the top right corner and will let you enter phone numbers to add friends manually.
This will take you to an "Add Contacts" screen with multiple ways to add friends.
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Type the phone number of a friend who you know has WeChat. Enter this in the search field at the top of the page. You can also search by WeChat ID if you know it.
- To find your WeChat ID, go to Me > tap your profile picture > WeChat ID.^{[7]
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- Tap Friend Radar to find friends that are around you so you don't have to find their phone number or WeChat ID.^{[8]
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- Tap Mobile Contacts to let WeChat access your contact list and see who's using WeChat. After WeChat checks your contacts list, tap Add next to the contact to add them to your WeChat contacts.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using WeChat

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1
Send a message. Tap the Contacts tab at the bottom of your screen, tap a friend’s name, and then tap Messages to open a chat. Type a message in the message field, and then tap Send.
- If typing a message isn't for you, tap the voice icon in the lower-left corner of the screen. You can then talk while you press the "Hold to talk" button at the bottom of your screen to send a voice message that lasts up to 60 seconds.^{[9]
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Type your message, and then tap the smiley face button to open a panel of emoticons and stickers. Tap an emoticon to choose it.
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Send a photo or video. To the right of the message field, tap +, and then tap Images to send an image. If you’ve given WeChat access to your camera roll, you’ll see your photos and videos. Tap a photo to add it to your message. If you want, you can type a message with your photo.
- On iOS, the first time you try to send a photo or video from your camera roll, it will ask you if it can access your photos. You can change this setting in your iOS Settings app by scrolling down to the WeChat settings and then changing the Privacy settings.
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Take a photo or video to send. To the right of the message field, tap +, and then tap the Camera button to take a photo or video. Take a photo or record some video, and then tap Use Photo. WeChat will send the photo or video.
- Be careful when sending video because those files can get quite large.
- On iOS, the first time you try to take a photo or video using WeChat, it will ask you if it can access the Camera app. You can change this setting in your iOS Settings app by scrolling down to the WeChat settings and then changing the Privacy settings.
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Make a voice or video call. In addition to sending text messages, images, and videos, you can also use WeChat to make voice or video calls. Tap +, and then tap Voice Call or Video Call.
- If the person you’re trying to call has not added you as a friend, you won’t be able to make a voice or video call.
- If you’re not on a Wi-Fi network, voice and video calls will use your cell phone data plan. A video call, especially, could quickly use up your data plan.^{[10]
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- To un-send a message before anyone sees it (it's too late to recall your message if someone sees it or if the message has been sent longer than 2 minutes ago), long-tap a message, then tap Recall.

Community Q&A

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Question

How can I see people's comments?

Community Answer

You can only see the comments between your friends. For example, if your friend replies to a comment from someone who is not your friend, you won't be able to see it. If your friends comment between each other, you'll see their comments.

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Question

Do I have to use my phone number or can I use a fake one?

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You will receive a confirmation code on your phone when you sign up, so it would be hard to use a fake number.

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How do I save a photo in WeChat?

Community Answer

It depends on where you want to save a photo from (i.e. from message, moment or some page). For photos in messages, open the picture and long press the photo and some options will pop up. You can either save the pic on phone or forward to the chat. Another option is the three dots on upper right corner.

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