Popular messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature that could significantly change how people communicate on the app. The upcoming feature, called Guest Chats, may allow users to chat with individuals even if they do not have a WhatsApp account.

According to reports from WABetaInfo, the feature is currently under development and is being tested in beta versions of the app.

What is the Guest Chats feature?

The Guest Chats feature will allow users to start a conversation with someone who is not registered on WhatsApp. Instead of requiring the other person to create an account, users will be able to send a special invite link.

Once the link is opened, the recipient can join the chat instantly through a temporary guest session. This means they will not need to install the app or create a WhatsApp profile.

The feature is expected to make quick and temporary communication much easier, especially for people who need to connect with someone just once.

How the link-based chat will work

Reports suggest that users will be able to generate the invite link from the “Invite a Friend” section or directly from the contact area in the app.

After generating the link, it can be shared via:

• SMS

• Email

• Other messaging platforms

The recipient can open the link in a mobile or desktop browser and immediately join the chat. In the conversation window, such participants will be identified with a “Guest” label next to their name.

Some features will be limited

Since Guest Chats are designed for temporary communication, they will come with certain limitations.

Guest users will only be able to send text messages. The following features will reportedly not be supported:

• Group chats

• Photo or video sharing

• Documents

• GIFs or stickers

• Voice messages

• Voice or video calls

This means the feature is mainly intended for simple text-based conversations.

Security and automatic expiration

Despite being a temporary system, Guest Chats will still be protected by end-to-end encryption, the same security technology used by WhatsApp for regular chats.

When a guest joins the conversation, the system will create a unique identifier to generate an encryption key for that chat.

Another key detail is that these chats will not remain active forever. If there is no activity for 10 days, the guest session will automatically expire. Users will then need to create a new invite link to continue the conversation.

Feature still under testing

The Guest Chats feature is currently in beta testing, and there is no official confirmation yet about its global rollout. However, if introduced, it could make WhatsApp even more accessible for quick and temporary communication without requiring a full account setup.