I use two devices for communication. A phone in my pocket, mainly used for voice calls and SMS, the other is a tablet that sits in the home office. This tablet has no SIM, It doesn't need it for Instagram etc , but I also use it for WhatsApp (because display is larger and better for my eyes compared to the phone.

The WhatsApp is mainly installed on the phone (with the SIM), but the tablet is used as a linked device.

It used to work real great until last week, the WhatsApp account was hacked, and I later got it back. So, I re-installed WhatsApp on the main device (phone), and linked the tablet. It is working now, but in a limbing way

The problem is that when the two devices were linked, the tablet imported WhatsApp AND the phone's list of contacts. The contact numbers are not exactly the same on the two devices. Even some common numbers (like family members) has slight spelling differences here and there. And I noticed that WhatsApp on the tablet only recognizes contact numbers from the phone, but not from the tablet.

A relative of mine, for example, chats with me almost daily, and he sent me something but all I can see is his phone number not his name, as if he is not in the contact list. Also, I wanted to write something to another relative who just got out of hospital but there was no way to write his number for a chat. Even when I added his name and number to the tablet contact list, it didn't appear in the WhatsApp list of contacts

Does someone know a way to let the App recognize the local contact list on the tablet ?

Thanks

Even when I view the contact list on the tablet, they do not show the WhatsApp symbol. As if these numbers are only for phone calls.

I tried a solution suggested by a Google search to go to
Settings / Apps / Contacts / Permissions.
And it was off for WhatsApp. I switched them ON, but nothing changed.

Hmmm...I've never used that app, hopefully someone else will chime in!

Try going to the WhatsApp settings, go to Account (or could be Accounts) and click on Sync Contacts (or Contacts Sync). If that doesn’t work, kill all your apps, reboot your tablet, and check again.

More troubleshooting steps at https://www.carlcare.com/ng/tips-detail/what-causes-whatsapp-not-to-show-contact-names/ .

I don't use WhatsApp.

But the day you posted, almost all of Meta/Facebook was having problems globally. Might have been related.

Thanks everyone.

My daughter helped me and I will explain the solution just in case someone faces the same problem.

Actually, very few people will ever face this problem because most people use one phone for everything ( phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp ..etc.) and will therefore utilize the same contact list. My problem started because I am using phone just like te old days (phone calls only) , and use a stationary Tablet for WhatsApp and other social media (mainly because larger screen ). A simpler straight forward option is to have two separate SIMS for the two gadgets, but the option to use one SIM is available , if you know how.

My WRONG way to use the tablet to display WhatsApp, was to install the App on tablet and follow the installation instructions, which lead the tablet to be a mere screen display for the phone WhatsApp. Linking the two gadgets makes the tablet nothing but a bigger screen for the phone when you are using WhatsApp

The CORRECT way, when you install the App on the tablet , and start it, since it has no SIM and no number , it asks to link to the phone with SIM. Do not link. Rather follow the 'fine print' , I mean the other option at the bottom of the page, which leads you to input the country and phone number, Then choose the option of sending new WhatsApp code via SMS on that phone number. In this case, the tablet only gets the code to utilize that phone's WhatsApp contents and the code to access them. Since this option does not include the contact list , it will ask your permission to use the local (tablet) contact list and media, which I gladly clicked .

Problem solved, and the phone's WhatsApp chats were transferred to the tablet, while using the contact list of the tablet itself.

I hope my mumbo jumbo is clear enough , LOL.