[na4ma4]

On Android I just rejected access to contacts.

Then to add a contact enter their phone number specifically and it works for me.

[paranoidrobot]

I reinstalled the app just now to re-check.

Click the green 'Add chat' icon.

It prompts: "To help you connect with friends and family, allow WhatsApp access to your contacts" with options for Not now, and Continue.

Not Now closes the dialogue, and returns you to the main chat list.

Continue launches the Android prompt for "Allow WhatsApp to your contacts", clicking Don't Allow returns you to the main chat list.

So, unless there's something else you need to do...

e:

Make a Call works the same way.

I can create a community and a group chat in that, and even send messages to the group.

I can't add anyone to the group though, same "Give us your contacts" thing.

[na4ma4]

I blocked whatsapp from contacts, so it doesn't popup the prompt anymore, but I don't even get the "to help you connect ..." prompt either.

when I go to the green "add chat" icon, I just get a list with my whatsapp contacts (not system contacts) and if I add a phone number I can talk to them directly (and/or add them to the whatsapp contacts instead of system contacts).

  WhatsApp Messenger
  Version 2.24.24.77

[paranoidrobot]

Maybe if you already have some contacts it will let you see your contacts list and add them manually.

But I have none, and so it doesn't.

I don't know the version number, but my check above was from the version on Google Play store. The attempt I initially made was several months ago.