WhatsApp Now Lets You Send Party Invites to People Without the App

WhatsApp now lets you send event invites to people who are not on WhatsApp. The update adds a shareable invite link to the Events feature, which has been in the app for a couple of years. Events also gets a new home in Settings, just ahead of the holiday season.

What changed

Before this update, Events mainly helped you invite people already in WhatsApp and track who was coming. Now you can also generate a link and share it with anyone, including people outside your contact list. Everything you send, receive or accept can be tracked in one Events hub inside Settings.

How to set up an event

Go to Profile (You), then Settings, then Events. Tap the plus button at the top right. You can then fill in the details.

• Event name and a short description
• A cover image, the date and time, and a reminder
• A location link and a WhatsApp call link
• Whether guests may bring a plus-one

When you are done, share the invite with your WhatsApp contacts or create a link for people outside the app.

What guests can do

People who get the invite can see the details and reply with Going, Going with guest, Maybe or Not going. They can also add the event to a calendar. As the host, you see the replies in the Events hub.

Privacy

WhatsApp says guests who are not in your contacts will not see your phone number. It also says the event address is shared only after a guest accepts the invite. That matters if you share a link widely, such as for a business event or a neighborhood gathering.

What happens next

PCMag UK's writer tested the update right away on an iPhone. WhatsApp says it will reach everyone over the following weeks, so you may not see it yet. The material does not say how the feature works on Android or what guests outside the app need to do to reply. It also does not mention any cost.