How to Hide Your Phone Number on WhatsApp: Tips & Tricks

With over 2.7 billion active users globally, WhatsApp is a go-to messaging app for most—but that also means your number is more exposed than you might like.

Whether you’re trying to keep your personal number private from work contacts, avoid unwanted messages, or just maintain a bit of digital anonymity, there are ways to stay connected without giving away too much.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple tricks on how to hide your phone number on WhatsApp, so you can chat with confidence—no unsolicited calls or surprise “who’s this?” messages needed.

Things You Should Know About WhatsApp Privacy Settings

Understanding WhatsApp’s privacy settings is essential to safeguarding your personal information. By using various strategies, you can limit how your number is shared and ensure your privacy.

1. What You Can Do?

• Adjust Profile Privacy Settings – WhatsApp allows you to control who can see your profile photo, about info, and last seen status.
• Use a Secondary or Virtual Number – This is the most effective way to keep your primary phone number hidden through secondary platforms like Google Voice App or Dialaxy.
• Block Unwanted Contacts – Blocking prevents others from viewing your profile or messaging you.
• Restrict Group Invitations – Prevent strangers from adding you to groups where your number could be exposed.
• Turn Off Read Receipts – This helps maintain anonymity in conversations

2. What You Can’t Do?

• Completely Hide Your Phone Number in WhatsApp  – WhatsApp requires a phone number for registration and authentication.
• Use WhatsApp Without a Number – You must provide a valid phone number to create an account.
• Hide Your Number from Saved Contacts – If someone has your number saved, they will see it.

How to Hide Phone Number on WhatsApp

A. Using a Secondary or a Virtual Phone Number

One of the most effective ways to protect your identity on WhatsApp is by changing your old phone number and switching to a new one. Using a virtual phone number is an excellent choice for maintaining anonymity while ensuring seamless communication. Virtual numbers allow you to keep your personal number private, making them ideal for both personal and professional use.

You can use virtual number services like Google Voice( for Google virtual numbers), TextNow, or Dialaxy to create a separate number and use it separately for WhatsApp.

I) How to Change Your WhatsApp Phone Number on iPhone?

Switching to a new WhatsApp number can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re worried about losing your chats. If you’re an iPhone user and want to change your WhatsApp number, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re updating your account with a new SIM card or switching to a virtual number, the process is straightforward, secure, and hassle-free. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1 ➡️Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.

Step 2 ➡️Tap on the Settings option at the bottom right corner.

Step 3 ➡️Select Account from the menu.

Step 4.➡️Tap on the Change Number option.

Step 5 ➡️Enter your old phone number.

Step 6 ➡️Input your new phone number (this can be a virtual number or a new SIM-based number).

Step 7 ➡️Tap Done to proceed.

Step 8 ➡️You will receive a verification code to confirm the new number.

Once verified, your WhatsApp account will be updated with the new number, and your chat history will remain intact.

II) How to Change Your WhatsApp Phone Number on Android?

Android users can also change their WhatsApp number to maintain the privacy or switch to a virtual number. This method ensures that your personal number stays hidden while allowing you to continue using WhatsApp seamlessly. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1 ➡️ Open WhatsApp on your Android device.

Step 2 ➡️ Tap the three vertical dots (…) in the top right corner.

Step 3 ➡️ Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Step 4 ➡️ Go to Account under Settings.

Step 5 ➡️ Tap on Change Number.

Step 6 ➡️ Select Next to proceed with the number change.

Step 7 ➡️ Enter your old phone number along with the country code.

Step 8 ➡️ Input your new phone number (virtual or SIM-based) with the country code.

Step 9 ➡️ Tap Done to confirm the change.

Step 10➡️ You will receive a verification code to complete the process.

Once verified, your WhatsApp web account will be updated, and your chats will remain unaffected.

B. Sign up with Landline using WhatsApp Business

Another effective way to hide your personal phone number on WhatsApp is by signing up for a WhatsApp Business account using a landline number. This approach allows you to handle professional communications without revealing your actual mobile number.

The process is simple and easy to follow. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Download WhatsApp Business

• For Android, go to the Google Play Store.
• For iPhone, visit the App Store.
• Download and install the WhatsApp Business app.

Step 2: Open the App and Agree to Terms

• Launch WhatsApp Business and accept the terms and conditions.

Step 3: Select Your Country Code

• Choose your country code from the dropdown list.

Step 4: Enter Your Landline Number

• Input your landline number in the provided field.

Step 5:Verify Your Number

• Tap Next and select Call Me to receive a verification call.
• WhatsApp will call your landline and provide a verification code.

Step 6: Enter the Verification Code

• Input the code to verify your landline number.

Step 7: Set Up Your Business Profile

• Add your business name, select a category, and provide any relevant details.

Step 8: Customize Your Profile

• Upload a profile picture, add a description, and include other business information to complete your profile.

How to Hide Phone Number on WhatsApp with Dialaxy?

Dialaxy is a reliable platform that provides virtual numbers, making it easy to set up a WhatsApp account without using your personal phone number.

I) How to Get a Virtual Number For WhatsApp from Dialaxy?

Step 1: Sign Up for Dialaxy

• Visit the Dialaxy website (www.dialaxy.com).
• Create an account by providing your email address and setting up a password.

Step 2: Choose a Virtual Number

• Once logged in, browse through the available virtual numbers.
• Select a number that suits your needs. Dialaxy offers numbers from various countries, so choose one with the desired country code.

Step 3: Complete the Payment Process

• Virtual numbers on Dialaxy are usually paid services.
• Choose a subscription plan and complete the payment process to activate your selected number.

Step 4: Verify the Number on WhatsApp

• Open WhatsApp on your device and begin the registration process.
• Enter the virtual number you obtained from Dialaxy.
• WhatsApp will send a verification code via SMS or call to the virtual number.

Step 5: Retrieve the Verification Code

• Log in to your Dialaxy account and check the inbox or call logs for the verification code.
• Enter the code in WhatsApp to complete the verification process.

Step 6: Set Up Your WhatsApp Account

• Once verified, customize your WhatsApp profile by adding a name and profile picture.
• You’re now ready to use WhatsApp with your virtual number!

II) Why Use Dialaxy or a Virtual Number?

✔️Privacy Protection: Keep your personal number hidden.

✔️Global Reach: Choose numbers from multiple countries.

✔️Easy Setup: Simple and user-friendly process.

✔️Reliable Service: Dialaxy ensures secure and stable virtual numbers.

Alternatives Ways For Protecting Your Privacy

Even if you can’t fully hide your phone number, there are other ways to safeguard your privacy.

A. Adjust Profile Privacy Settings

WhatsApp allows you to control who can see your personal details:

• Go to Settings > Privacy
• Adjust your profile photo, about info, and last seen visibility to “My Contacts” or “Nobody”.
• Restrict who can see your WhatsApp status updates.
• Disable read receipts so others don’t know when you’ve seen their messages.
• Enable two-step verification for added security.

B. Block Unwanted Contacts

Blocking someone on WhatsApp prevents them from messaging or calling you. Moreover, it’s not easy to know who blocked you on WhatsApp.

• Go to Settings > Privacy > Blocked Contacts
• Tap Add New and select the contacts you want to block.
• Once blocked, they won’t be able to view your last seen, profile picture, or send you messages.

C. Use Group Invitation Links (Limit Sharing Personal Information)

While implementing WhatsApp marketing strategies, instead of sharing your number directly, create an invitation link:

• Open a WhatsApp group chat.
• Tap Group Settings > Invite via Link.
• Share the link instead of adding members manually.
• You can also revoke links to limit unwanted users from joining.

By limiting direct access to your phone number, you reduce the risk of spam and unwanted messages.

D. Consider Using Alternative Accounts

Having separate WhatsApp accounts for personal and business allows you to hide your main number and prevent unwanted exposure to your main number.

• Use WhatsApp Business for work-related conversations.
• Keep a secondary account for social interactions.
• Use a virtual number or temporary number for added privacy.

Upcoming Whatsapp Features Enhancing Privacy

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a username feature that could significantly enhance user privacy. This feature, similar to what platforms like Telegram offer, would allow users to create a unique WhatsApp username instead of sharing their phone number for messaging.

How This Can Allow Hiding Your WhatsApp Number

• No Need to Share Your Phone Number – Users can connect with others simply by sharing their usernames.
• Better Privacy Control – Your phone number stays hidden, reducing the risk of spam and unwanted messages.
• Increased Security – Scammers and unknown contacts won’t have direct access to your number.

According to The Sun, this feature is expected to reduce reliance on phone numbers, making WhatsApp a safer and more private communication platform. While it hasn’t been officially rolled out, it could be a game-changer for users looking to hide their WhatsApp number effectively.

…but for now, you’ll have to stick to the workarounds like using a secondary number or privacy settings to keep your number hidden.

Ready to protect your personal WhatsApp number? Start applying these tricks and enjoy a more secure WhatsApp experience!

FAQs

Can I use WhatsApp without a phone number?

WhatsApp requires a phone number for account verification; however, it doesn’t have to be your personal mobile number. You can use a landline or a virtual number to register.

Can I hide my number from specific contacts?

WhatsApp doesn’t offer a feature to hide your phone number from specific contacts. Your number is visible to anyone you message or who has your contact saved. To maintain privacy, consider using a secondary or virtual number for WhatsApp communications.

What happens if I delete my WhatsApp account?

Deleting your WhatsApp account is a permanent action that results in:

• Removal from all WhatsApp groups.
• Deletion of your message history and backups.
• Disassociation of your phone number from WhatsApp.

If you decide to use WhatsApp again, you’ll need to create a new account, and personal WhatsApp data of the previous account won’t be recoverable.

Is it legal to use a virtual number for WhatsApp?

Yes, using a virtual number for WhatsApp is legal and commonly practiced, especially by businesses, for customer service and marketing purposes. Virtual numbers are legitimate using a secondary number or a Google account linked to a virtual number can help keep your personal information secure.

However, ensure that using a virtual number complies with WhatsApp’s terms of service and local regulations.

How to check if someone has my number on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp doesn’t notify you if someone adds your number. However, one way to infer this is by observing your status views:

• Post a status update.
• After some time, check the viewers of your status.

If a contact who isn’t in your address book views your status, it’s likely they have your number saved.

How to hide your phone number on WhatsApp using Google Voice?

To hide your phone number on WhatsApp using Google Voice:

1. Sign up for a Google Voice account and get a new number.
2. Install WhatsApp and choose to either sign up or change your number.
3. Enter your Google Voice number during setup.
4. Verify the number using the code sent to your Google Voice.
5. Complete the setup, and your WhatsApp will be linked to your Google Voice number.

This way, your personal phone number stays private