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304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Stay close to the people you love
Want to join the family group chat, see daily photos of your grandchildren, and make free video calls? This gentle, jargon-free guide walks you through everything — one easy step at a time.
If your family has started a WhatsApp group and you feel left out, take a deep breath — you are in exactly the right place. WhatsApp is one of the easiest ways to send messages, share photos, and make free voice and video calls to anyone in the world, even if they live overseas.
We will go slowly and explain everything in plain English. There is no rush, and you genuinely cannot ‘break’ your phone by tapping the wrong button — if something looks wrong, you can always tap the back arrow to return to where you were. Let’s get you connected.
Follow these in order. Feel free to put the kettle on and take each one at your own pace.
Find the colourful triangle icon called the Play Store (on Android) or the blue ‘A’ icon called the App Store (on iPhone). Tap it, then tap the search bar at the top and type the word ‘WhatsApp’. When you see the green speech-bubble icon, tap the ‘Install’ or ‘Get’ button next to it and wait a moment for it to download.
Open WhatsApp and agree to the terms by tapping the green button. It will ask for your phone number — type in the same number you use for normal texts. WhatsApp then sends you a free text message with a 6-digit code. Look at your usual text messages, read the code, and type those six numbers into WhatsApp. That’s it — you’re verified!
Tap the round green pencil-and-chat button (usually in the bottom corner) to start a new chat. You’ll see a list of family and friends who already use WhatsApp — tap the person you’d like to message. Tap the white box at the bottom that says ‘Type a message’, tap out a friendly hello using the on-screen keyboard, then tap the little green arrow to send. Done!
Inside any chat, look for the small paperclip or ‘+’ icon near the message box and tap it. Choose ‘Gallery’ or ‘Photos’ to see the pictures already on your phone, tap the one you’d like to share, then tap the green arrow to send it. To send a brand-new photo, tap the camera icon, point your phone, and tap the big round button to take a picture.
Open the chat with the person you’d like to see. At the top of the screen you’ll find two icons: a telephone (for a voice call) and a little camera (for a video call). Tap the camera icon to start a video call. The first time, your phone may ask permission to use the camera and microphone — tap ‘Allow’. In a few seconds you’ll be face to face with your loved ones, completely free, no matter how far away they are.
Tap any question below to reveal a friendly, plain-English answer.
Yes. WhatsApp is completely free to download and use. As long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi or have a mobile data plan, your messages, photos, voice calls, and video calls cost nothing extra — even to people in other countries.
No. WhatsApp uses your internet connection, not your call minutes or text allowance. When you’re on home Wi-Fi there is no cost at all. If you’re out and about using mobile data, calls use a small amount of data — much cheaper than a normal international call.
Not at all. You cannot damage your phone or delete your contacts by exploring WhatsApp. If a screen looks unfamiliar, simply tap the back arrow (usually a ‘<‘ or ‘←’ at the top left) to return to where you were. Feel free to look around and practise.
First, double-check you typed your phone number correctly. The code arrives as an ordinary text message, so check your usual messages. If it hasn’t arrived after a minute or two, tap ‘Resend code’. Make sure you have a signal or Wi-Fi, and the code will come through.
Usually a family member adds you to the group for you — once you’re set up, the group simply appears in your chat list. They may also send you an invite link; tapping it and choosing ‘Join’ will add you. Then you can read messages and reply just like any other chat.
Your messages are private and protected by encryption, meaning only you and the person you’re chatting with can read them. People can only message you if they have your number, and you can block or report anyone unwanted. You can also hide details like your photo in the Settings if you wish.
Yes. WhatsApp has a setting for larger chat text (look under Settings, then Chats, then Font size). You can also increase the overall text size and icon size in your phone’s own Settings under ‘Display’ or ‘Accessibility’. Don’t hesitate to ask a family member to set this up once for you.
A voice call is just like a normal phone call — you hear the other person but don’t see them (tap the telephone icon). A video call lets you see each other’s faces on screen, which is wonderful for catching up with grandchildren (tap the camera icon). Both are free over the internet.