Hack of the day: Use WhatsApp without sharing your phone number publicly
The Times of India’ brings you ‘Hack of the Day’—a new weekday series of quick, practical solutions to everyday hassles. Each hack is designed to save you time, money or stress, using tools and features within your reach—from government websites to everyday apps. In simple terms, it’s simple fixes for smarter living.WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world, but it comes with a catch: your account is tied to your phone number. That means anyone you chat with can see it, which isn’t ideal if you want to keep your number private. The good news is that there are smart ways to use WhatsApp without exposing your personal digits to everyone.
What this hack solves
* Keeps your personal phone number private while still letting you use WhatsApp.* Protects against spam, unwanted calls, and privacy risks.* Lets you separate personal and professional communication.
Ways to Use WhatsApp Without Sharing Your Number
Use a secondary number* Get a second SIM card or a virtual number (via services like Google Voice or other VoIP providers).* Register WhatsApp with this number instead of your primary one.* Share only this secondary number with contacts, keeping your personal number hidden.WhatsApp business app* Download WhatsApp Business, which allows you to register with a different number.* You can use your business or alternate number here, while keeping your personal WhatsApp separate.* Customize your profile with business details instead of exposing your personal information.Hide your number in groups* In WhatsApp groups, your number is visible by default.* To minimize exposure, use a secondary number for group participation.* Alternatively, create a business account where your brand name is more prominent than your number.Link WhatsApp to a landline * During setup, choose “Call me” verification instead of SMS.* WhatsApp will call your landline with a verification code.* This way, you can run WhatsApp without tying it to your mobile number.
