Contact names missing

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If numbers are shown instead of your contact's names, or if some contacts are missing, there are a few things you can try:

Reset your contacts

On Android:
  1. Open your phone's Settings, then tap Accounts and Backups > Manage accounts > WhatsApp.
  2. Tap Remove account > Remove account.
  3. Open WhatsApp.
  4. Start a new chat, then tap
    more options
    > Refresh.
Note: Tapping Remove account might generate a notification saying that your WhatsApp messages, contacts, and other data will be deleted from your phone. This is not the case.
On iPhone:
  1. Go to iPhone Settings > Privacy & Security.
  2. Tap Contacts.
  3. Make sure WhatsApp is turned on.
If WhatsApp is grayed out, make sure you don't have any restrictions in your phone's settings. Go to your iPhone Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If Content & Privacy Restrictions is turned on, tap Contacts and turn WhatsApp on.
If WhatsApp is still grayed out or missing, you might need to restore your phone. Visit the Apple Support website for more information.

Search your contacts

  1. Go to the Chats or Calls tab and tap the search bar. You might need to drag down on the chats tab to show the search bar.
  2. Type a contact's name or phone number.

Check your phone's permissions

Ensure WhatsApp permissions are turned on in your phone’s settings.
On Android,
  1. Open your phone's Settings, then tap Apps > WhatsApp > Permissions.
  2. Tap Contacts > Allow.
On iPhone,
  1. Open your device’s Settings, then tap WhatsApp.
  2. Turn Contacts on.
You can use your phone's search feature to find your permissions settings. Contact your phone's manufacturer for specific instructions.
If you deny WhatsApp permissions to access to your phone's contacts, you can still:
  • Create contacts on WhatsApp that don’t sync to your phone.
  • Receive messages from other WhatsApp users and groups.
  • Change WhatsApp settings.

Missing international or Exchange contacts

If you still can’t see some of your contacts on WhatsApp, try the following:
  • For international contacts, make sure you've added the correct phone number in full international format.
  • If the missing contacts are stored in an Exchange account, your account administrator might not be allowing WhatsApp or other apps to access your contacts. Try copying your Exchange contacts into your phone’s address book or iCloud, or ask your IT administrator to make WhatsApp a managed app on your iPhone.
Note: Exchange accounts are likely to be work accounts.

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