Changing WhatsApp Number: What You Need to Know

Have you decided to change your phone number and are wondering what will happen to your WhatsApp account? Changing your number on WhatsApp is a simple procedure, but it is essential to fully understand the implications to avoid losing important data or creating confusion among your contacts. In this article, we will guide you step by step through the process of changing your WhatsApp number, explaining what happens to your data, chats, groups, and contacts. You will discover how to best prepare for this transition, what actions to take before, during, and after the number change, and how to resolve any issues. If you are thinking of changing your phone number and use WhatsApp, this complete guide is for you. Continue reading to discover all the secrets of the WhatsApp number change and ensure a smooth transition.

Preparing for the WhatsApp Number Change: Backup is Crucial

Before proceeding with the number change on WhatsApp, it is essential to perform a complete backup of your chats. This step will ensure that you do not lose any important conversations and can restore them easily on your new number.

Local Backup vs. Cloud Backup: Which to Choose?

WhatsApp offers two main options for chat backup: local backup and cloud backup.

• Local Backup: Local backup saves your data directly to your phone’s memory. It is a quick and reliable solution, but it has the disadvantage of being tied to the device. In case of loss or damage to the phone, you could lose the backup.
• Cloud Backup: Cloud backup, on the other hand, saves your data to external services like Google Drive (for Android) or iCloud (for iPhone). This option offers greater security and flexibility, as the backup is accessible from any device connected to your cloud account.

The choice between local backup and cloud backup depends on your personal preferences and needs. However, for greater peace of mind and data security, cloud backup is generally recommended.

How to Back Up WhatsApp Chats on Android

If you use an Android device, follow these simple steps to back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the icon with the three vertical dots in the top right corner.
2. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Tap “Chats”.
4. Select “Chat backup”.
5. Tap “Back up to Google Drive” and choose the desired backup frequency (e.g., “Only when I tap ‘Back up’”, “Daily”, “Weekly”, “Monthly”).
6. Select the Google account where you want to save the backup. If you don’t have a Google account configured yet, follow the instructions to add one.
7. Tap “Back up” to start the backup immediately.

Make sure you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network during the backup process, especially if you have many chats and media files to save.

How to Back Up WhatsApp Chats on iPhone

If you use an iPhone, follow these steps to back up your WhatsApp chats to iCloud:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap “Settings” in the bottom right.
2. Tap “Chats”.
3. Select “Chat Backup”.
4. Tap “Back Up Now” to start the backup immediately.
5. Check that the “Auto Backup” option is active and choose the desired frequency.

In this case too, it is advisable to perform the backup over a Wi-Fi network to avoid excessive mobile data consumption and speed up the process.

The WhatsApp Number Change Procedure: Step by Step

Once you have backed up your chats, you are ready to proceed with the WhatsApp number change. The procedure is intuitive and guided by the app itself.

Starting the “Change Number” Function

To start the number change process, follow these steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the icon with the three vertical dots (Android) or “Settings” (iPhone).
2. Select “Settings”.
3. Tap “Account”.
4. Select “Change Number”.

WhatsApp will present an information screen explaining what the number change entails. Read the information carefully and tap “Next” to proceed.

Enter the Old and New Phone Number

On the next screen, you will need to enter your old phone number in the first field and your new phone number in the second field.

• Make sure to enter both numbers in international format, including the country code (+39 for Italy, +1 for US, etc.).
• Carefully verify that you have entered the numbers correctly to avoid errors during the verification procedure.

After entering the numbers, tap “Next”.

Notifying Contacts of the Number Change or Not

WhatsApp offers you the possibility to notify your contacts of your number change. This option is optional, but it can be useful to inform your friends and family of your new number.

• Notify Contacts: If you choose to notify contacts, you can select from different options:
  • “All contacts”: All your WhatsApp contacts will receive a notification of your number change.
  • “Contacts I have chats with”: Only contacts with whom you have had recent conversations will receive the notification.
  • “Custom”: You can manually select the contacts to notify.
• Do Not Notify Contacts: If you choose not to notify contacts, no one will receive an automatic notification of your number change.

The choice of whether or not to notify contacts depends on your personal preferences and the scope of your number change. If you are changing your main number, it might be useful to notify all contacts. If, on the other hand, you are changing a secondary number or one used for specific purposes, you might opt not to send notifications.

After choosing whether to notify contacts, tap “Done”.

Verification of the New Number via SMS Code

As with the initial registration, WhatsApp will verify your new phone number by sending you a verification code via SMS.

1. Enter the verification code received via SMS in the appropriate field.
2. If you do not receive the SMS code within a few minutes, you can request a new code or opt for verification via voice call.

Once the new number is verified, the WhatsApp number change process will be complete.

What Happens to Your Data and Chats After the Number Change

After completing the number change procedure, it is important to understand what happens to your data, your chats, and your WhatsApp account.

Account and Data Migration

Changing your WhatsApp number does not create a new account, but migrates your existing account to your new phone number. This means that:

• Your profile name, profile photo, “about” info, and account settings will remain unchanged.
• Your individual chats and group chats will be transferred to your new number.
• Your chat history will be preserved and available on your new number.
• Your media files (photos, videos, audio, documents) will be migrated along with the chats.

Essentially, changing your WhatsApp number is a digital move of your account, not a WhatsApp profile change, allowing you to maintain your WhatsApp identity and conversation history even with a new phone number.

What Happens to Your Contacts

Changing your WhatsApp number has various implications for your contacts, depending on whether or not you chose to notify them:

• If you notified contacts:
  • The contacts you chose to notify will receive a message from WhatsApp informing them of your number change.
  • In their chat list, your name will appear with the notice “Changed their phone number”.
  • They will be able to update your contact with your new number directly from WhatsApp.
• If you did not notify contacts:
  • Your contacts will not receive any automatic notification of your number change.
  • If they write to your old number, you will not receive the messages on WhatsApp.
  • You will have to manually inform your contacts of your new number if you want them to contact you on WhatsApp.

It is important to carefully consider your needs and decide whether it is more appropriate to notify your contacts of the number change or not.

Staying in WhatsApp Groups

A fundamental aspect of changing your WhatsApp number is that you will automatically remain in all WhatsApp groups you are part of. This means that:

• You won’t have to re-invite your contacts to groups.
• You can continue to participate in group conversations without interruption.
• Other group members will see your new phone number in the group.

Automatic retention in WhatsApp groups is a great advantage of changing your number, as it greatly simplifies the transition and saves you from having to recreate or repopulate your groups.

After the WhatsApp Number Change: Recommended Actions

After completing the WhatsApp number change, there are some recommended actions to ensure everything is working correctly and to inform your contacts of your new number.

Verify WhatsApp is Working Correctly

After changing your number, it is always good practice to verify that WhatsApp is working correctly with your new number.

• Send and receive messages: Try sending messages to a few contacts and ask them to send you messages to verify reception.
• Check groups: Verify that you are still present in your WhatsApp groups and can participate in conversations.
• Restore backup (if necessary): If you encountered problems during the number change or if you wish to restore a more recent backup, you can do so from WhatsApp settings.

If you encounter problems or anomalies after changing your number, consult the “Troubleshooting” section of this article or contact WhatsApp support.

Inform Contacts Not Automatically Notified

If you chose not to notify your contacts automatically of the number change, you will need to inform them manually of your new number if you want them to contact you on WhatsApp.

• Broadcast message: You can use the WhatsApp “Broadcast” feature to send a message to multiple contacts at once, informing them of your new number.
• Individual message: You can send individual messages to the most important contacts or those you communicate with most frequently on WhatsApp.
• Other channels: You can use other communication channels (e.g., SMS, email, social media) to inform your contacts of your new WhatsApp number.

Be clear and concise in your message, indicating your new phone number and specifying that it is your new WhatsApp number.

Update WhatsApp Number in Other Services and Apps

If you use your WhatsApp phone number to access other services or apps (e.g., two-factor authentication, password recovery, etc.), it is crucial to update your number in these services as well.

• Check security settings: Check the security settings of the services and apps you use and see if there is an option to update the phone number associated with your account.
• Follow update procedures: Follow the specific procedures of each service or app to update your phone number. Usually, you need to verify the new number via an SMS code or email.

Updating your WhatsApp number in other services and apps is crucial to maintain the security of your accounts and to avoid access or password recovery problems in the future.

Troubleshooting Common Problems During WhatsApp Number Change

Although the WhatsApp number change procedure is generally simple and straightforward, problems or errors may occur during the process. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Failure to Receive SMS Verification Code

One of the most frequent problems is the failure to receive the SMS verification code during the number change procedure. If you do not receive the SMS code within a few minutes:

• Check network connection: Make sure you have a good mobile network connection and are not in an area with poor coverage.
• Check the entered number: Carefully verify that you have entered your new phone number correctly, in international format and without typos.
• Request a new SMS code: Wait a few minutes and tap the option “Resend SMS” to request a new code.
• Verification via voice call: If you still do not receive the SMS code, you can opt for verification via voice call. Tap the “Call me” option and WhatsApp will call you to communicate the verification code verbally.
• Restart the phone: In some cases, restarting the phone can resolve temporary SMS reception problems.
• Contact the mobile operator: If the problem persists, contact your mobile operator to check if there are problems with SMS reception on your line.

Problems with Chat Backup and Restore

In rare cases, problems may occur during the backup or restore of WhatsApp chats.

• Incomplete backup: If the backup stops or does not complete correctly, check your Wi-Fi connection, the available space on your cloud account (Google Drive or iCloud), and try backing up again.
• Restore failed: If the backup restore fails, verify that you are logged in with the same Google Drive or iCloud account used for the backup, that you have enough space on the device, and try restoring the backup again.
• Corrupt backup: In exceptional cases, the backup file might be corrupt. In this situation, you might not be able to restore the chats. It is always advisable to perform regular backups to reduce the risk of data loss.

If you continue to encounter problems with chat backup or restore, consult the WhatsApp help or contact support for assistance.

Difficulty Notifying Contacts

If you chose to notify contacts of the number change, but encounter difficulties or errors during the notification procedure:

• Check network connection: Make sure you have a good network connection to send notifications to your contacts.
• Retry notification: If the notification is not sent correctly on the first attempt, try performing the number change procedure again and selecting the notification option.
• Manual notification: If the automatic notification continues not to work, you can manually inform your contacts of your new number via broadcast message or individual message.

Generally, automatic contact notification works without problems, but in case of difficulties, manual notification is always a valid alternative.

Comparison Table: Change Number vs. New WhatsApp Account

Feature	Change WhatsApp Number	New WhatsApp Account
Account	Existing account migrated to the new number	New account created with the new number
Profile Data	Maintained (name, photo, about, settings)	To be configured from scratch
Individual Chats	Transferred to the new number	No previous chats
Group Chats	You remain in existing groups	You must be re-invited to groups
Chat History	Preserved and available on the new number	No previous chat history
Media Files	Migrated along with chats	No previous media files
Contact Notification	Optional (automatic or manual)	Not applicable
Complexity	Simple and guided procedure	Standard registration procedure
Data Loss	Minimal (if backup performed)	No data loss (new account)
Advantages	Maintenance of chat history, continuity in groups	Clean account, ideal for separating private/work life
Disadvantages	Possible confusion for non-notified contacts	Loss of chat history, need for re-invitation to groups
Recommended for	Those who want to keep their account and history	Those who want a completely new WhatsApp account

Conclusions

The WhatsApp number change is an operation that, if performed correctly, does not involve data loss or significant inconvenience. The key to a smooth transition is preparation. Performing a complete chat backup is the first fundamental step to protect your conversations. Fully understanding the number change procedure and the implications for your contacts will allow you to manage this step in the best way. The choice of whether or not to notify contacts is a personal decision that depends on your needs and the scope of your number change. If you are changing your main number, notification is recommended to avoid confusion and keep contacts updated. If, on the other hand, you are changing a secondary number, you might opt not to send notifications and manually inform only the interested contacts. In any case, WhatsApp offers an intuitive and well-documented procedure for changing numbers, making this operation accessible to all users. Always remember to verify the correct functioning of WhatsApp after the number change and to update your number in other services and apps as well to ensure the security of your accounts. With this complete guide, you are now ready to face the WhatsApp number change with awareness and peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions