How Do I Change the Phone Number on My WhatsApp Account?
If you have WhatsApp and you also have a new phone number, you need to change your number on WhatsApp. That way, you can still have access to all your group chats. There are different procedures to follow, depending on whether you have a new phone or a new number. You can only use a number that WhatsApp supports, though.
If you have a WhatsApp account and have recently changed your phone number, then you should change the phone number on your WhatsApp account. That way, you can stay connected to all your chats with the new number. This article will teach you how to do it.
Before You Do Anything Else
Before you try changing your number, you need to make sure that it's a number that WhatsApp supports. WhatsApp does not support:
- Landlines
- Universal access numbers
- VoIP
- Toll free numbers
- Paid premium numbers
- Personal numbers
Your new number must also be capable of receiving SMS messages and have an active cellular connection.
How To Change the Number while Using the Same Phone
To change your phone number on WhatsApp while keeping your old phone, follow these instructions:
- Put the new SIM card with the new number into your phone.
- Turn on your phone.
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap on More Options.
- Tap on Settings.
- Tap on Account.
- Tap on Change Number.
- Tap on Next.
- Enter your previous phone number in the upper text field. It must be in international phone number format, with the area code and number preceded by a + and your country's code (the code for America is 1).
- Enter your new phone number in the lower text field in international phone number format.
- Tap on Next.
- If you wish to notify your WhatsApp contacts about your new phone number, tap on Notify Contacts, then choose the contacts you wish to notify. Other members of your group chats will be automatically notified, so you don't have to worry about them.
- Tap on Done. You will be prompted to verify your new phone number.
- Select your country from the drop-down list.
- Enter your new number.
- Tap on Next. You will be sent a security code by SMS.
- Enter the code.
How To Change the Number When You Get a New Phone
If you are changing the number because you got a new phone, follow these instructions before you get rid of the old phone:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap on More Options.
- Tap on Settings.
- Tap on Chats.
- Tap on Chat Backup.
- Select a Google account to save the chats to.
- Tap on Back Up.
- Install WhatsApp on your new phone. You will be prompted to verify your phone number.
- Choose your country from the list.
- Enter your new number.
- Tap on Next. You will be sent a code via SMS.
- Enter the code to complete the verification process.
- Tap on Restore to restore your chats from the backup you made.
Contacting WhatsApp
Contact a WhatsApp customer service representative if you have any questions or need help. You can only reach one on the WhatsApp help forum. There is no phone contact nor any other online contact option.
Further questions?
Solutions to similar problems
Help from Real People
Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for WhatsApp Problems?
GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like WhatsApp in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our How Do I Change the Phone Number on My WhatsApp Account? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.