Happy New Year to everyone who uses WhatsApp! We’re mindful that just as we’ve celebrated the start to 2023 through private texts or calls, there are many people who continue to be denied the ability to reach their loved ones because of internet shutdowns.
To help, today we’re launching proxy support for WhatsApp users all over the world. What this means is we’re putting the power into people’s hands to maintain access to WhatsApp if their connection is blocked or disrupted.
Choosing a proxy enables you to connect to WhatsApp through servers set up by volunteers and organizations around the world dedicated to helping people communicate freely. If you have the ability to help others connect, you can learn how to set up a proxy here.
Connecting via proxy maintains the high level of privacy and security that WhatsApp provides. Your personal messages will still be protected by end-to-end encryption — ensuring they stay between you and the person you’re communicating with and are not visible to anyone in between, not the proxy servers, WhatsApp, or Meta.
Our wish for 2023 is that these internet shutdowns never occur. Disruptions like we’ve seen in Iran for months on end deny people’s human rights and cut people off from receiving urgent help. Though in case these shutdowns continue, we hope this solution helps people wherever there is a need for secure and reliable communication.
This option is now available in the settings menu for everyone running the latest version of our app. More information about how to use this feature is here.
How to set up a proxy server to connect to WhatsApp
When people around the world are blocked from using WhatsApp, volunteers and organizations can create proxy servers that help people re-establish connection to WhatsApp and communicate freely and securely.
To help people reconnect to WhatsApp, you can set up a proxy using a server with ports 80, 443 or 5222 available and a domain name (or subdomain) that points to the server’s IP address. Detailed documentation and source code are available on GitHub here.
Consider sharing these addresses privately with users who are unable to connect directly to WhatsApp.
How to access WhatsApp by proxy
When connecting to WhatsApp directly isn’t possible, you have the option via the app to connect through a proxy server set up by volunteers and organizations dedicated to helping people communicate securely and freely.
Using a proxy doesn’t change the high level of privacy and security that WhatsApp provides to all users. Your personal messages and calls will still be protected by end-to-end encryption. This means they stay between you and the person you’re communicating with, and won’t be visible to anyone in between, not even the proxy servers, WhatsApp, or Meta.
Find a proxy to use
If you have internet access, you can search through social media or search engines for trusted sources that have created a proxy.
Connect to a proxy
1
Make sure you are using the most current version of WhatsApp.
2
In the Chats tab, tap More options
> Settings.
> Settings.3
Tap Storage and Data > Proxy.
4
Tap Use Proxy.
5
Tap Set Proxy and enter the proxy address.
6
Tap Save.
7
A check mark 
will show if the connection is successful.
will show if the connection is successful.8
If you are still unable to send or receive WhatsApp messages using a proxy, that proxy may have been blocked. You can long press the blocked proxy address to delete it, then enter a new proxy address to try again.
Note: Use of a third-party proxy will share your IP address with the proxy provider. Third-party proxies aren't provided by WhatsApp.
If you'd like to help people re-establish their connection to WhatsApp, you can learn how to set up a proxy server.
We continue to fight for your right to communicate freely and privately.
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) January 5, 2023
Now, when connecting to WhatsApp directly is not possible, you can stay connected around the world through a server set up by volunteers and organizations dedicated to helping others communicate freely.
