How to send SMS messages in WhatsApp - briefly?
To send an SMS message via WhatsApp, open the chat of the contact you wish to message and tap on the three dots (⋮) at the top right corner. Select "Message" from the dropdown menu, enter your text, and hit send.
How to send SMS messages in WhatsApp - in detail?
Sending SMS messages through WhatsApp is a convenient way to communicate with contacts who may not have the app installed on their devices. While WhatsApp primarily functions as an instant messaging platform, it does offer the capability to send SMS messages to non-WhatsApp users. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do so:
- Open WhatsApp: First, ensure that you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your device. Launch the application by tapping on its icon from your home screen or app drawer.
- Access Chat Settings: Once inside the app, navigate to the chat settings where you can manage various options related to your conversations. To do this, tap on the three dots (⋮) located in the top-right corner of the screen to open the menu.
- Select SMS Permissions: From the dropdown menu, choose "Settings". In the settings menu, look for an option labeled "Chats" and select it. Within this section, you will find a subcategory called "SMS". Tap on this to access your SMS permissions.
- Enable SMS Feature: If the SMS feature is not already enabled, you will need to turn it on. This typically involves toggling a switch or checking a box that says something like “Use WhatsApp for SMS”. Be aware that enabling this feature might require you to grant WhatsApp certain permissions to access your contacts and send messages on your behalf.
- Compose an SMS Message: With the SMS feature activated, you can now compose a new message. To do this, return to the main chat screen and tap on the "New Chat" icon, usually represented by a pencil or a plus sign (+). From the list of options that appear, select “SMS”.
- Choose Recipient: You will be prompted to enter the phone number of the recipient. Ensure you include the correct country code at the beginning of the number (e.g., +1 for the United States). Alternatively, if the contact is already saved in your device’s address book, you can select them directly from your contacts list.
- Type Your Message: Once you have selected or entered the recipient's phone number, a new message window will open. Here, you can type your SMS message just as you would with any other text message. Keep in mind that standard SMS character limits apply (typically 160 characters per message).
- Send the Message: After composing your message, tap on the “Send” button to dispatch it. The message will be sent via SMS to the recipient’s phone number, regardless of whether they have WhatsApp installed or not.
- Monitor Delivery Status: Similar to regular WhatsApp messages, you can monitor the delivery status of your SMS. Look for checkmarks next to your message: one checkmark indicates that the message has been sent, and two checkmarks mean it has been delivered.
By following these steps, you can effectively send SMS messages through WhatsApp, making it easy to communicate with contacts who are not on the platform. This feature enhances the versatility of WhatsApp and ensures seamless communication across different types of devices and services.