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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.
You can absolutely do this
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.
What you’ll need before we start
- 📱 A smartphone — any modern Android phone or iPhone works perfectly. An older hand-me-down phone is completely fine.
- 📶 An internet connection — your home Wi-Fi is ideal and won’t cost you anything extra.
- 💬 Your own mobile phone number — the same one you already use for regular text messages.
5 Easy Steps to Get Started
Follow these in order. Feel free to put the kettle on and take each one at your own pace.
1
Install WhatsApp on your phone
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.
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Don’t worry — installing an app is free and safe. If you can’t find the store icon, ask a family member to add it to your home screen once, and you’ll always know where it is.
2
Set it up with your phone number
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!
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This code simply proves the phone belongs to you. On many phones WhatsApp fills the code in by itself, so you may not have to type anything at all.
3
Send your first message
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!
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If you make a typo, just tap the small back-arrow key on the keyboard to delete a letter — exactly like normal texting. Everyone makes typos, including the experts!
4
Share a photo with the family
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.
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Sharing a photo doesn’t remove it from your phone — your original picture stays safely where it was. You’re only sending a copy.
5
Make a free video call
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.
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Because calls travel over the internet rather than your phone plan, there are no expensive international charges — even when calling overseas.
Staying safe and private
- 🔒 Your messages and calls are private. WhatsApp scrambles them (this is called ‘end-to-end encryption’) so only you and the person you’re talking to can read or hear them.
- 🚫 Strangers cannot message you out of the blue without your number, and you can block or report anyone you don’t recognise with a couple of taps.
- 👁️🗨️ Never share verification codes, bank details, or passwords in a chat — even if a message claims to be from a family member. When in doubt, phone the person to check.
- 🛡️ You’re always in control. You can leave any group, mute notifications, or delete a chat at any time without upsetting anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tap any question below to reveal a friendly, plain-English answer.
Is WhatsApp really free to use?
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.
Will I use up my phone bill or minutes?
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.
What if I tap the wrong button — can I break something?
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.
I never received my verification code — what do I do?
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.
How do I join my family’s group chat?
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.
Can strangers see my phone number or messages?
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.
The text and icons are too small for me. Can I make them bigger?
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.
What’s the difference between a voice call and a video call?
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.