This article shows you how to set up and use the WhatsApp app on iPhone and Android smartphones. WhatsApp is a free instant messaging application that allows you to communicate with all users of the platform, both with messages and with calls and video calls, using the device's data or Wi-Fi connection.
Steps
Part 1 of 8: Setting up the WhatsApp App
Step 1. Install Whatsapp
The download is completely free and can be done using the device's app store.
Step 2. Start WhatsApp
Push the button You open placed within the store's WhatsApp page or tap the green and white icon of the application.
Step 3. Press the OK button when prompted
In this way WhatsApp will be authorized to access the device's contacts directory.
- You may also need to authorize WhatsApp to send notifications by pressing the button Allow.
- If you are using an Android device, press the button ALLOW.
Step 4. Tap the Accept and Continue link
It is located at the bottom of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, press the button ACCEPT AND CONTINUE.
Step 5. Enter your mobile number
Enter it in the text field in the center of the appeared screen.
Step 6. Press the Finish button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, press the button COME ON located at the bottom of the screen.
Step 7. Press the OK button when prompted
In this way WhatsApp will be able to verify the mobile number provided by sending a code via SMS.
Step 8. Log in to the device app that handles text messages
This is the application you use to send and receive SMS.
Step 9. Select the message you received from WhatsApp
The content should be a message similar to "Your WhatsApp code is [# ## - ###], but to verify the device you can simply use this link", followed by the link to select.
Step 10. Enter the numeric code you received in the text field that appeared
If the code is correct, the verification of the phone number will be complete and you will be redirected to the screen for creating a new WhatsApp account.
Step 11. Enter your name and set a profile photo
Although selecting an image is an optional step, doing so will confirm your identity to all other people you contact via WhatsApp.
- If you have already installed WhatsApp before, you will have the option to restore all chats using the backup on your device.
- If you wish, you can choose the option Use your Facebook information so that WhatsApp uses the same name and profile picture as the Facebook account.
Step 12. Press the Finish button to continue
At this point the initial configuration of WhatsApp is complete and you can use it to chat with your friends or with anyone with an account.
Part 2 of 8: Send a Message
Step 1. Go to the Chat tab
It is located at the bottom of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, go to the tab Chat located at the top of the screen.
Step 2. Press the button to create a new chat featuring the icon
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, tap the white and green cartoon icon in the lower right corner of the screen
Step 3. Select a contact
Tap the name of the person you want to write a message to. The conversation window with the chosen contact will be displayed.
Step 4. Tap the text field to enter your message
It is located at the bottom of the screen.
Step 5. Enter the message text
Type it using the virtual keyboard of the device.
To insert emojis into the message, you can use the "Emoji" keyboard built into the device
Step 6. Send the message
Press the "Send" key, characterized by the icon
located on the right of the text field. The message you just sent should appear on the right side of the page for the current conversation.
Part 3 of 8: Attach Files and Format the Message Text
Step 1. Go to a conversation page
If you're not currently chatting with any contacts, select an existing conversation or create one.
Step 2. Send a photo
If you want to share an image (already existing in the device gallery or still to be captured) with the person you are chatting with, follow these instructions:
- Tap the camera icon on the right of the text field;
- Push the button OK or Allow, two or three times, when required;
- Select an existing photo or take one now;
- If necessary, add a text description by tapping the "Add a caption …" field;
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Press the "Send" button with the icon
Step 3. Press the ＋ button
It is located in the lower left corner of the screen. A pop-up window will appear.
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If you are using an Android device, you will need to press the button
located on the right side of the box relating to the chat in progress.
Step 4. Select the type of file to share
You will have the option to choose one of the following options:
- Document - allows you to select one of the documents stored in the device as a PDF file;
- Position - allows you to share the coordinates of your current geographical position;
- Contact - allows you to send the information of one or more contacts in the device address book;
- Audio (only for Android users) - allows you to send an audio file.
Step 5. Send the selected document, location or contact
Depending on the nature of the data you chose to share in the previous step, the submission process varies slightly. Follow these instructions:
- Document - go to the folder where the document you want to send is stored, tap it to select it and press the button Send;
- Location - authorize WhatsApp to access any resource on the device, then choose the option Submit your current location;
- Contact - choose the contact to share, review their information and press the button Send;
- Audio - select the audio file to send and press the button OK.
Step 6. Format the message text
To format the text with different styles (for example bold) you can use simple tags. Follow these instructions:
- Bold - enclose the text you want to bold in between two asterisks (for example, * Hello * will look like this: Hello);
- Italic - enclose the text you want to italicize between two underscores. (for example, the text _Arrivederci_ will be displayed Goodbye);
- Strikethrough - enclose the text you want to display strikethrough between two tildes (for example, ~ tomorrow won't be a good day ~);
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Monospaced - to format text with this graphic style enclose it in grave accents (three on one side and three on the other). For example, `` I'm a robot '' will look like this:
I am a robot
Part 4 of 8: Using Voice Calls or Video Calls
Step 1. Go to the "Chat" tab
If necessary, press the "Back" button.
Step 2. Tap the "New Chat" icon
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, you will need to tap on the white and green icon located in the lower right corner of the screen
Step 3. Select the person to call
Tap the name of the contact you want to call so that a new conversation is created.
It is not possible to call or video call more than one contact at the same time
Step 4. Tap the "Call" icon
It features a telephone handset and is positioned at the top right of the screen. In this case you can make a voice call with the chosen person using WhatsApp directly.
Step 5. Switch from a voice call to a video call
When the recipient of your call answers the phone, you can also activate video by tapping the "Video call" icon at the top of the screen.
If you wish, you can instantly make a video call by tapping the "Video Call" icon instead of the "Call" icon shaped like a telephone handset
Part 5 of 8: Adding a Contact
Step 1. Go to the "Chat" tab
If necessary, press the "Back" button.
Step 2. Tap the "New Chat" icon
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, you will need to tap on the white and green icon located in the lower right corner of the screen
Step 3. Press the New Contact button
It is located at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Enter the contact name
Tap the "Name" text field, then type the name of the person you want to add to the WhatsApp address book.
- If you are using an Android device, you should always use the "Name" text field.
- If you wish, you can also enter the surname and name of the company you work for, but just the name is sufficient.
Step 5. Tap add phone
It is visible in the center of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, tap the text field Phone.
Step 6. Enter the phone number of the new contact
Type it in the selected text field, remembering to add the international prefix as well.
The phone number must match the one that the person in question used to install the application and create the WhatsApp account
Step 7. Press the Finish button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, press the button Save and skip the next step.
Step 8. Press the Finish button again
It is located at the top left of the screen. In this way the new contact will be added to the WhatsApp address book.
Step 9. Invite a friend to join the WhatsApp community
If you want to add a person who does not yet use WhatsApp to your contacts directory, you can invite him to register on the platform by following these instructions:
- Access the "New chat" page;
- Scroll down to the bottom of the list, then choose the option Invite friends to use WhatsApp (if you are using an Android device tap on the item Invite friends);
- Select the method to use to send the invitation (for example Message);
- Enter the contact information of the person you want to invite;
- Send the invitation.
Part 6 of 8: Creating a Group Chat
Step 1. Go to the "Chat" tab
If necessary, press the "Back" button.
Step 2. Choose the New Group option
It is located at the top of the "Chat" tab. The WhatsApp contact list will be displayed.
If you are using an Android device, press the button ⋮ located in the upper right corner of the screen, then choose the option New group from the drop-down menu that will appear.
Step 3. Select the people to add to the group
Tap all the contact names to add to the group one at a time.
Each created group can have a maximum of 256 participants
Step 4. Press the Next button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, press the right arrow button in the lower right corner of the screen
Step 5. Name the group
Type in the name you want to give the new group chat.
- You have a maximum of 25 characters to create the group name.
- If you wish, you can also assign an image to the group by tapping the camera icon, choosing the image type and selecting or taking a photo.
Step 6. Press the Create button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The group will be created and the chat page will be displayed.
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If you are using an Android device, you will need to press the button
Step 7. Use the group chat as you normally do with individual chats
After creating the group, you can send messages, files, images or emojis to all chat participants, just like you normally do in any other conversation.
Unfortunately, voice and video calls are not supported by group chats
Part 7 of 8: Create a Status on WhatsApp
Step 1. Go to the "Chat" tab
If necessary, press the "Back" button.
Step 2. Press the Status button
It is located at the bottom left of the screen.
If you are using an Android device, go to the tab State located at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Tap the camera icon
It is located to the right of the header State visible at the top of the page.
- If you need to create a status consisting of a text message, tap the pencil icon.
- If you are using an Android device, the camera icon is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 4. Change your status
Point the device's camera at the subject you want to capture, then press the circular shutter button.
If you are updating the status with a text message only, type the content using the virtual keyboard of the device. In this case you can tap the color palette icon to change the background color or the one in the shape of T. to change the font.
Step 5. Press the "Send" button with the icon
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
You may need to confirm your choice. In this case, press the button again Enter.
Part 8 of 8: Using the WhatsApp Camera
Step 1. Go to the Camera tab
It is located at the bottom center of the screen. The image captured by the main camera of the device will be displayed.
If you are using an Android device, to access the tab Camera tap the camera icon located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Take a picture
Point the device at the subject you want to capture, then press the circular shutter button at the bottom of the screen.
Alternatively, you can use one of the images stored in the device's media gallery
Step 3. Rotate the image
Press the "Rotate" button, featuring a square icon, located at the top of the screen, then repeatedly select the arrow icon at the bottom of the screen until the image is oriented the way you want. Push the button end to save the changes.
Step 4. Add an emoji to a photo
Push the button
located at the top of the screen, then select the emoji you want to use from the menu that appears.
After adding the emoji to the photo you can drag it across the screen to position it where you want
Step 5. Add text to an image
Tap the icon in the shape of T. located in the upper right corner of the screen, choose a color for the text using the appropriate vertical slider on the right side of the page, then type the word or phrase you want to add.
Step 6. Draw on the chosen photo
Touch the pencil icon in the upper right corner of the screen, choose the stroke color using the vertical slider on the right side of the page, then use your finger to draw on the screen.
Step 7. Press the "Send" button with the icon
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
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If you are using an Android device, you will need to press the button
Step 8. Select a location
You can send your chosen image by selecting the name of one of the chats or person visible in the "Recent Chats" section. Alternatively you can use it as a state by pressing the button My status located at the top of the page.
Step 9. Press the Submit button
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen. This way the chosen image will be sent.
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If you are using an Android device, you will need to press the button
Advice
- When the WhatsApp "Chat" tab starts to get too cluttered and confusing, you can tidy up by deleting old conversations.
- If you don't want to create a group to chat with multiple people at once, you can use a "broadcast" to send a single message to multiple contacts.
Warnings
- WhatsApp is not available for tablets, however Android users who own these devices can install it manually using its APK file.
- If the data traffic included in your tariff plan is limited, using WhatsApp intensively you could run out of it and have to incur additional unforeseen costs. To avoid this, try to use the app only when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network and don't use it when the cellular data connection is active.
