Change a WhatsApp number easily: simple steps

You change the mobile service provider and get a new SIM card. This is a problem in the case of WhatsApp, because the messenger is bound to the phone number. Whilst many other services run through your email address, WhatsApp verifies its users with a valid mobile phone number — and you’ll need to update that to continue using Messenger. Our guide explains step by step how to change a WhatsApp number easily and what to look for.

Before you start: important information

If you move to a new number with WhatsApp but continue to use the same smartphone, the following things happen:

• You take your account information with you to the new number, including all profile information, settings, chats and groups.
• Your old account, linked to the old number, will be deleted. Other users can no longer find him in their contacts.

Notify new number in WhatsApp: Broadcast doesn’t work

With WhatsApp Broadcast, you will not reach anyone with your new number, because broadcasts will only reach those who have your current number stored – and you’ve just got a new one. Accordingly, you should better announce your new mobile number in individual chats or groups. Alternatively, you let your contacts know via Facebook or email that you have a new number.

Even if all your WhatsApp chats are still there: You should still alert your contacts about your new number.  Although WhatsApp has its own service for this (see instructions in the following sections), some of the recipients may miss the hint sent thereon.

Before you change your WhatsApp number, you have two things left to do. First make sure that your old mobile number is still stored in WhatsApp. You will find them like this:

iOS :

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the bottom right settings .
2. Touch your name or profile picture.
3. Under phone number you can see your currently deposited number.

Android :

1. Start WhatsApp and open the three-point menu on the top right.
2. Go to Settings .
3. Touch your profile picture or name.
4. Under Phone you can review your current stored number.

Then you make sure that your new number is active on the smartphone and can receive text messages. In addition, the device must have a data connection – whether via WLAN or via the mobile network, does not matter.

Change WhatsApp number: step by step on iOS

Now you can start and change your number on WhatsApp. On an iPhone, do the following:

Enter numbers in the correct format

Your old and new number you have to specify in the so-called international format. This means that your mobile number begins with a plus sign, followed by the country code , and then the rest of the phone number (also without zero in front). 

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the bottom right settings .
2. Touch Account .
3. In the new window you go to Edit number and then tapping on Next .
4. Give into the fields old phone number and new number one, the corresponding figures.
5. Tap Next .
6. Choose the next step from, who should be notified about your new number:  All Contacts , only contacts with active chats or Custom contacts of your choice.
7. Tap Done .
8. Tap Yes if the new number is displayed correctly.
9. Finally, do you verify your new number .

Change WhatsApp number: Step by step on Android

Changing your WhatsApp number on Android is also fast. Perform the following steps:

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Tap the three-point button and select the menu settings .
3. Go to Account and then change to number .

Here you enter your old and your new number at WhatsApp. 

4. Enter your previous number in the upper field.

5. Enter your new number in the field below.

6. Tap Next and select the next window, who should be notified about your new phone number: All Contacts , contacts with active chats , or Custom , the people of your choice.

7. Tap Done .

8. Finally, verify your number as described in the following section.

Verify new number in WhatsApp

If you’ve linked WhatsApp to your new mobile number, you’ll need to verify it. That’s easy: After you set up your new number as described above , WhatsApp will send you a text message . In it you will find a six-digit verification code. Enter this in the appropriate field in WhatsApp – done!

If the verification does not work

Normally you should receive the SMS with the code of WhatsApp within a few minutes. If that does not work, there is another possibility: Verification by phone. In doing so, you proceed as follows:

How to verify your number on WhatsApp by phone:

1. Make sure your phone is ready to receive.
2. Check your number in WhatsApp and if it’s entered correctly and completely in international format.
3. Try opening a webpage with your smartphone’s browser to make sure you have an internet connection.
4. Check your smartphone’s settings to see if the automatic time setting is enabled.
5. Restart your phone by turning it off and on again.
6. Make sure that you can receive text messages and calls with your smartphone – for example, by sending you a test message or calling you.
7. Open WhatsApp and navigate to the verification menu. The note that you have been sent an SMS with the verification code should still be there. He is provided with a multi-minute countdown.
8. Wait the countdown, and then tap the option Mich calls .
9. You will receive a call, where the code will be announced to you.

If the number in WhatsApp can not be changed

You can not change your number in WhatsApp? This can have different causes, which UPDATED explains below.

The old number was not verified

Make sure the number you entered in the field for the old phone number is verified. Open the WhatsApp settings and see which phone number you have stored there.

If this number has not yet been verified on WhatsApp, you must first complete this step. So lay your old SIM card back into the smartphone and verify your old number as described above . Then you can try the number change again.

The SIM of the new number does not work

Make sure the SIM card with your new phone number is correctly inserted in the smartphone and is active. Try calling from another phone and let a friend send you an SMS to the new number to check if you receive text messages. Only with a functioning SIM you can set a new number in WhatsApp.

The internet connection is unstable

Make sure your smartphone has a stable and working Internet connection. Open a website or watch a video on the net right now to check it out. If the Internet connection is down or not available, you should first solve this problem before you continue with WhatsApp.

There is a lack of local storage space on the smartphone

Finally, the smartphone needs enough local memory to work with WhatsApp. Check the free space in your smartphone’s settings. You may need to create some space to make sure the mistake is not here.

Even with a new smartphone: keep WhatsApp chats

If you keep your smartphone and only get a new mobile number, your previous chats will remain in WhatsApp. If you also create a new device, you will need to transfer your chat history to the new smartphone. 

Easily move to a new number with WhatsApp

WhatsApp has a built-in feature to change your phone number. As a rule, nothing can go wrong: enter old and new number, verify new number – WhatsApp can start with your new phone number. If you keep your smartphone, all your chat history and settings are preserved. If you add a new smartphone to the new number, you should create a back-up before the move from WhatsApp to import chats etc on the new device .

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