How to hide your phone number in WhatsApp from certain people?

How to hide your phone number in WhatsApp from certain people - briefly?

To hide your phone number in WhatsApp from certain people, you can adjust your privacy settings. Go to the app's Settings, select Account, then Privacy, and choose who can see your phone number under "Phone Number."

How to hide your phone number in WhatsApp from certain people - in detail?

Hiding your phone number in WhatsApp can be crucial for maintaining privacy, especially when you don't want certain contacts to see it. Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

1. Understanding Privacy Settings: WhatsApp offers various privacy settings that allow you to control who can see your profile picture, status, and last seen timestamp. However, hiding your phone number specifically is not a built-in feature, as it goes against the app's design philosophy of connecting users via their phone numbers.

2. Using Third-Party Services: Since WhatsApp does not provide an option to hide your phone number directly, you might need to use third-party services. These services can help mask your actual number with a virtual one when sending messages or making calls. Some popular options include:

   • TextNow or Google Voice: These services allow you to obtain a virtual number that you can use for WhatsApp. This way, the people you communicate with will see the virtual number instead of your real phone number.

3. Creating a Second WhatsApp Account: Another method involves creating a second WhatsApp account using a different SIM card or a virtual number service. Here’s how you can do it:

   • Obtain a secondary SIM card or use a virtual number app like Hushed or TextNow.
   • Install WhatsApp on your device and set up the new account using the secondary number.
   • Use this second account for communicating with people from whom you want to hide your primary phone number.

4. Blocking Contacts: If you only need to hide your number from a few specific contacts, consider blocking them. When you block someone on WhatsApp:

   • They won’t be able to see your last seen status or online status.
   • They can still call you, but the calls will not go through unless they use another contact method.
   • They won’t be able to add you to groups without your permission.

5. Using WhatsApp Business: For business purposes, WhatsApp Business offers more control over visibility settings. If applicable, consider using this version of the app:

   • You can set up a landline or toll-free number for business communications.
   • This approach keeps your personal number hidden while allowing you to communicate professionally.

6. Privacy Modes on Devices: Some devices offer additional privacy settings that might help in hiding your phone number:

   • iOS: Use the “Show My Caller ID” feature in Settings to hide your number when making calls.
   • Android: Similar features are available under the Phone app settings, allowing you to hide your caller ID for specific contacts.

Remember that while these methods can help maintain a level of privacy, they might not be foolproof, especially if the person you’re trying to hide from is technically savvy. Always stay informed about the latest updates and features in WhatsApp and other communication platforms.