Changing a phone number on WhatsApp may look like a simple task, but users moving to a new number and phone need to follow the right sequence. Skipping an important step can create problems when trying to restore an old chat history.
WhatsApp provides a dedicated Change Number feature that allows users to move their existing account to a different phone number. Before starting, the new number must be capable of receiving calls or SMS messages. The old number must also already be registered with the WhatsApp account.
Users can check their registered number by opening WhatsApp, going to Settings and tapping their profile information. It is also important to make sure that the new number is supported by WhatsApp.
Not every type of telephone number can be registered with a standard WhatsApp account. Numbers such as VoIP, toll free numbers, premium paid numbers, universal access numbers, personal numbers and landline numbers are generally not supported. Landline numbers can be used with WhatsApp Business in supported circumstances.
One important point concerns chat backups. A cloud backup is associated with the phone number used when that backup was created. Because of this, users should not assume that a backup made under the old number will automatically be available for restoration after switching to a new number.
WhatsApp users who are changing both their number and phone should therefore update their account on the old phone first. Once the number has been changed successfully, they should create a fresh backup using the new number before moving to the new device.
The number change itself must be completed on the primary phone. WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop do not provide the option to change the account phone number.
To begin the process on the old phone, users need to open WhatsApp and go to Settings. They should then select Account, choose Change Number and tap Next. The old number needs to be entered in the first field, followed by the new number in the second field. Both numbers should be entered in the international format.
WhatsApp also provides an option to notify contacts about the number change. Users can choose to inform all contacts, contacts with whom they have chatted or selected contacts through the custom option. If custom notification is selected, individual contacts can be chosen from the list.
Group chats work differently. WhatsApp groups will receive a notification about the number change even when the user does not select the option to notify contacts. After reviewing the details, the user can complete the process and register the new number.
Users planning to move to a new phone should pay particular attention to the backup process. After changing the number on the old device, they should make a new backup linked to the new number. This provides a current backup that can be used during the setup of WhatsApp on the new phone.
Once the new backup has been created, WhatsApp can be installed on the new phone. The user should register the new phone number and then follow the available backup restoration process.
The order of these steps matters because an older backup linked to the previous number may not be suitable for restoring the account after the number has been changed. Creating a fresh backup after the change is therefore an important precaution.
Users should also remember that changing their number does not automatically remove contacts they have blocked. Those blocked contacts remain blocked when the same WhatsApp account is moved to the new number, and they do not receive a notification about the new number.
For anyone changing both their SIM and smartphone, spending a few extra minutes checking the number, creating a fresh backup and completing the transfer in the correct order can help prevent unnecessary trouble with WhatsApp chats and account data.
