How to Change Your WhatsApp Number Without Losing Your Account

When you get a new phone number, the worst way to handle WhatsApp is to start a fresh account and leave the old one behind. WhatsApp's built-in Change number feature transfers your account to the new number so you keep your profile, groups and settings, and it can tell your contacts automatically. This guide walks through the steps, explains what moves and what doesn't, covers changing your number and phone at the same time, and explains why your WhatsApp number should always be one you keep.

What does Change number do?

Change number moves your WhatsApp account from your old number to a new one. Your account information, including your profile photo, name and about, along with your groups and settings, move to the new number. Your chat history stays on the phone you're using. Groups you're in are notified of the change, and you can choose to notify your individual contacts too.

After the change, WhatsApp deletes the account associated with the old number, so contacts won't see the old number as you on WhatsApp anymore.

What do you need before you start?

Have both numbers ready. The new number must have active service and be able to receive an SMS or call for verification. The old number must be the one currently verified in WhatsApp on your phone. If you're getting a new SIM, you can put it in your phone first; WhatsApp still knows your old number from the account.

It's wise to back up your chats first: Google Drive on Android, iCloud on iPhone. You don't strictly need it if you're staying on the same phone, but it protects you if anything goes wrong.

• New number with active service that can receive SMS or calls.
• Old number currently verified in WhatsApp on this phone.
• A recent chat backup, especially if you're also changing phones.

Changing your number and phone at the same time

If you're also switching to a new phone, change the number first on your old phone, then back up chats and restore them on the new phone. Doing it in that order means the backup is tied to the new number. Restoring a backup across different number and phone combinations is where people most often lose chat history.

Moving between Android and iPhone has its own transfer tools; follow WhatsApp's current instructions for your devices.

Step by step

1. Back up your chatsRun a backup to Google Drive or iCloud, especially if you're also changing phones.
2. Open Change numberIn WhatsApp, go to Settings > Account > Change number and tap Next.
3. Enter both numbersEnter your old number and your new number in international format.
4. Choose who to notifyPick whether to notify all contacts, those you've chatted with, or custom contacts.
5. Verify the new numberEnter the code sent by SMS or call to the new number.
6. Turn on two-step verificationSet a PIN and add an email under Settings > Account.

Why not move WhatsApp to a temporary number?

WhatsApp accounts belong to the phone number. Whenever WhatsApp needs to re-verify, for example when you reinstall the app, get a new phone or WhatsApp asks for verification again, it sends a code to that number. A temporary number is reserved for a short time and later recycled by the provider, so you won't receive those future codes. The account could become unrecoverable, and someone else holding that number later could try to register WhatsApp with it.

Temporary numbers, such as those from Noir SMS, are for verifying your own new accounts once. They receive SMS only, can't take calls, and aren't a long-term home for anything. If you used one to set up WhatsApp initially, Change number is how you move that account to a number you'll keep.

Protecting the account after the change

Once you're on the new number, turn on two-step verification under Settings > Account > Two-step verification, set a PIN and add an email address. That stops anyone from registering your number on another phone even if they get an SMS code. Set up a passkey too, if your phone supports it.

Update the number with your carrier account and any services that use it for recovery. And as always, never share a WhatsApp verification code with anyone; that's how most account takeovers start.