Their whatsapp User ID
Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 10:12 am
Retrieves Publicly Available Data: If the phone number is indeed registered with Whatsapp and the user has not set their privacy to "Nobody" for "Who can find me by my number" or "Who can see my phone number," the tool may return:
Their Whatsapp Username
Their Name (First and Last, as set on Whatsapp )
(a unique numeric identifier for their account)
Their profile picture (if publicly visible)
Crucially, the tool's own documentation on GitHub (which Bellingcat frequently updates and references, as recently as March 2024 news) clearly states:
'ERROR: no response, the user does not south korea whatsapp number data exist or has blocked contact adding.': There can be several reasons for this response. Either the phone number has not been used to create a Whatsapp account. Or: The phone number is connected to a Whatsapp account but the user has restricted the option to find him/her via the phone number.
Why It Won't "Unhide" a Number (Especially for Android Users)
For Android users hoping to find a hidden number, this is the critical takeaway:
Whatsapp 's Privacy Reigns Supreme: Whatsapp 's core design prioritizes user privacy. If an Android user (or any Whatsapp user) sets their "Phone number" privacy to "Nobody," or "Who can find me by my number" to "My Contacts" (and you're not in their contacts), the Whatsapp API will not provide that number to anyone, including tools like Bellingcat's checker. The checker simply reports that the user cannot be found via that number under those privacy settings.
No Backdoors or Exploits: Bellingcat's tools are designed for ethical OSINT, working within the boundaries of publicly available information and API capabilities. They do not employ illegal hacks or exploits to bypass Whatsapp 's security measures. Any tool claiming to do so is highly suspect.
Android's Security Layer: While Android's open nature can sometimes lead to more malware, the Whatsapp app itself on Android (like on iOS) enforces these privacy settings at the server level. No local Android app or trick can force the Whatsapp servers to reveal data that the user has chosen to hide.
Their Whatsapp Username
Their Name (First and Last, as set on Whatsapp )
(a unique numeric identifier for their account)
Their profile picture (if publicly visible)
Crucially, the tool's own documentation on GitHub (which Bellingcat frequently updates and references, as recently as March 2024 news) clearly states:
'ERROR: no response, the user does not south korea whatsapp number data exist or has blocked contact adding.': There can be several reasons for this response. Either the phone number has not been used to create a Whatsapp account. Or: The phone number is connected to a Whatsapp account but the user has restricted the option to find him/her via the phone number.
Why It Won't "Unhide" a Number (Especially for Android Users)
For Android users hoping to find a hidden number, this is the critical takeaway:
Whatsapp 's Privacy Reigns Supreme: Whatsapp 's core design prioritizes user privacy. If an Android user (or any Whatsapp user) sets their "Phone number" privacy to "Nobody," or "Who can find me by my number" to "My Contacts" (and you're not in their contacts), the Whatsapp API will not provide that number to anyone, including tools like Bellingcat's checker. The checker simply reports that the user cannot be found via that number under those privacy settings.
No Backdoors or Exploits: Bellingcat's tools are designed for ethical OSINT, working within the boundaries of publicly available information and API capabilities. They do not employ illegal hacks or exploits to bypass Whatsapp 's security measures. Any tool claiming to do so is highly suspect.
Android's Security Layer: While Android's open nature can sometimes lead to more malware, the Whatsapp app itself on Android (like on iOS) enforces these privacy settings at the server level. No local Android app or trick can force the Whatsapp servers to reveal data that the user has chosen to hide.