Does WhatsApp Show Your Phone Number? What You Need to Know
Thomas Fine - June 22, 2025
WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging platforms in the world. In fact, back in March of 2025, the platform had more than three billion active users. While it’s not as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, it’s quickly becoming a common platform to use when chatting with friends or when communicating with people from other countries.
While WhatsApp is a great platform, you may be curious about how it handles your private information, like your phone number, name, or address. So, does WhatsApp show your phone number, name, or additional information? Read on to find out everything you need to know.
What Exactly Is WhatsApp?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what WhatsApp is and how it works. WhatsApp is a voice-over-IP (VoIP) service, an instant messaging app, and even a little bit of a social media platform. It connects users using their phone numbers, contacts, and even social media accounts.
This makes it one of the easiest platforms to get started with. In fact, you don’t even need a phone to use WhatsApp because it works on laptops, tablets, and other smart devices. That said, you’ll need cellular service and a phone number to use the platform; VoIPs with other companies, like Google, are also viable options. The service was released back in 2009, and it’s owned and operated by Meta Platforms Inc., which used to be Facebook.
Meta Platforms is a massive company that was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, and while it began as Facebook, the company now owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and even develops technology like the Meta Quest.
Does WhatsApp Show Your Phone Number?
Yes, WhatsApp shows your phone number. This is due to the fact that a phone number is required to sign up for the app and to communicate with others. For this reason, other people who view your profile or communicate with you can see your phone number.
While there are some settings that allow you to hide your number or keep it private unless someone has connected with you, once you start a conversation, your phone number will become visible. WhatsApp needs to show this number for security reasons, and it makes the platform safer for you and other users.
Does WhatsApp Show Your Name?
Yes, WhatsApp shows your name. When someone visits your profile and starts a chat with you, they’ll be able to see the name you used to create your profile. If you used a name other than your own, or you have a business account, your full name may be more private.
Therefore, it comes down to the name you used to create the account. People can also see your name in group conversations you’ve been added to, so make sure you keep an eye on your messages.
Does WhatsApp Show Your Address?
No, WhatsApp does not show your address. The platform doesn’t share your physical location with anyone unless you decide to display it somewhere on your profile. You can also choose who you share the information with, which gives you another layer of control over the process.
If you plan on sharing your location with anyone, make sure you’re careful, or you can end up on the other end of a phone scam.
Can You Hide Your Phone Number on WhatsApp?
No, you can’t hide your phone number on WhatsApp. This is because the platform needs your phone number information to enable you to speak with other users. While you can’t hide your phone number on the app, that doesn’t mean you can’t be anonymous on the platform.
To do this, you’ll have to get another phone number or sign up with a voice-over-IP provider like Google. When you make the VOIP phone number, it doesn’t have to be associated with your normal phone number. For this reason, you can retain some semblance of privacy.
While you can make a phone number with another company, going with a VOIP is often the best option as it offers more privacy.
How to Protect Yourself When Using WhatsApp
While you can’t hide your number when using WhatsApp, that doesn’t mean you can’t protect yourself when using the platform. For example, you can use tools to learn more about who you’re speaking with and restrict what information people can see when they view your profile.
Whether you want to protect your data or find out more about who you’re speaking with, we have you covered. Learn more about how to protect yourself when using WhatsApp below.
Restrict Who Can See Your Information
The best thing you can do for yourself is restrict the information that people can see on the platform. You can do this by going into your privacy settings and preventing people who aren’t in your contact list from seeing your profile.
This can help you hide your phone number and profile picture from people who may want to see it without connecting with you first. It’s important to note that your phone number may still be accessible because you have to agree to share it with the platform.
Reverse Phone Lookup Tools
When you’re speaking with someone on the platform, their phone number is available, but that doesn’t mean they are who they claim to be. For example, some people may use a VOIP provider to shield their identity, and others may just lie about their name and other personal details.
The good news is that tools like Information.com can help you learn more about who you’re speaking with. All you need to do is navigate to our reverse phone lookup tool and enter the phone number you have. Then, you can begin the search. We’ll reveal their name and some location information, if it’s available, along with additional contact details. This can help you spot a catfish and help you protect yourself from scammers.
While we can provide you with basic information, the comprehensive full report is where you’ll learn the most about someone. The report will provide you with all available public records and online activity. This can include:
- Criminal records.
- Sex offender status.
- Additional phone numbers.
- Social media accounts.
- Email addresses.
- Marriage and divorce records.
- Civil court records.
- Websites.
- Business information.
- Current and previous addresses.
- Death records.
- Some financial records.
- Full name.
- Relatives and other associates.
In fact, you’ll find that this is only the start of the information that you can find when you run a reverse phone lookup on someone. Before you meet anyone or share information we always recommend screening them with one of our people search tools before to stay safe.
Don’t Disclose Personal Information to Strangers
This might sound obvious but you should never share personal information with strangers. Whether it’s someone offering you a job or a person claiming to need financial assistance, it’s important to avoid disclosing this information.
Doing this will prevent someone from stealing your identity, or worse, robbing you blind. In most cases, people won’t ask for this information through text on the platform, so it’s something we recommend against doing regardless of the situation. That said, if you know the person it might be okay.
Turn on Two-Factor Authentication
One of the best things you can do for any account that you have is enable two-factor authentication. This is important because even if someone has your password they won’t be able to access the account unless you manually approve them.
Ultimately, it’s another layer of protection that will keep you safe online. To make this even more effective, we recommend using a strong password and changing it frequently for the best results.
Does WhatsApp Show Your Phone Number? Our Final Thoughts
Ultimately, WhatsApp does show your phone number to other users. If you plan on messaging someone your phone number and the name you used to create an account will become visible. This helps keep the platform secure because if you know someone’s name or phone number you can learn more about them or at least trace them back to that information. Plus, our reverse phone lookup tool can help you verify someone’s identity even further and help you avoid the latest phone scams.
There are also ways to hide your identity on the platform if you don’t want people to contact you or discover your personal information. For example, you can make a business account and use a business name or use a different name for your account. Still, people can always find information because your phone number remains visible, so make sure you’re careful with who you connect with on WhatsApp.
