Change your number directly in WhatsApp settings
WhatsApp lets you change the phone number linked to your account without losing your chat history, contact list, or groups. The process takes a few minutes and works the same way on iPhone and Android phones. You do not need to delete the app or create a new account.
Open WhatsApp and go to Settings (the gear icon on iPhone, the three dots on Android). Tap Account, then Change Number. Enter your old number first, then your new number. WhatsApp will send a verification code to your new number — enter that code to confirm the change. Your account transfers immediately to the new number, and all your existing chats stay with you.
The entire process happens on one phone. You do not need to switch devices or use your old phone again. If you no longer have access to your old phone, you can still change the number — just skip the verification step and WhatsApp will complete the change after a short delay.
Key Takeaways
- Use the Change Number option in Settings > Account to move your WhatsApp account to a new phone number without losing chats or groups.
- WhatsApp sends a verification code to your new number to confirm the change — you must have the new phone to complete this step.
- All your existing conversations, media, and group memberships transfer automatically to your new number.
- If you no longer have access to your old phone, WhatsApp will still complete the change after waiting a set period.
- Your contacts see your new number in their chat list once the change is complete, but old messages do not show a "number changed" notification.
What happens to your chats and groups
Your entire chat history moves with you when you change your number. Every message, photo, video, and voice note you sent or received stays in the same conversation thread. Groups you belong to do not kick you out — you remain a member with the same permissions you had before.
Your contacts will see your new number in their chat list, but they will not receive a notification that you changed it. If someone has your old number saved in their phone, they may not immediately know it is you. You may want to send a message to close contacts letting them know you have a new number.
Changing your number on a new phone
If you are switching to a new phone at the same time, install WhatsApp on the new device first. When you open it, WhatsApp will ask you to verify a phone number — enter your new number. Then go to Settings > Account > Change Number and follow the same steps as above. This ensures your account moves cleanly to the new phone without creating a duplicate account.
If you already set up WhatsApp on your new phone with a different number by mistake, you can still change it to your intended number using the Change Number feature. You do not need to reinstall the app.
When you cannot receive the verification code
WhatsApp sends the verification code as an SMS text message to your new number. If you do not receive it within a few minutes, check that you entered the number correctly — include the country code (for example, +1 for the United States). Make sure your new phone has an active cellular plan or is connected to WiFi, since WhatsApp can sometimes deliver the code through internet connection if SMS fails.
If you still do not receive the code after waiting several minutes, tap Didn't get the code? and WhatsApp will offer to call your new number instead. Answer the call and listen for the code, which will be read aloud. If that does not work either, you can proceed without the code — WhatsApp will complete the change after a waiting period, usually 24 to 48 hours.
Keeping your old number active during the change
You do not need to cancel your old phone number before changing it in WhatsApp. In fact, keeping it active for a few days after the change is helpful — if someone tries to reach you on the old number, they will still get through to your phone, and you can let them know about the new one.
Once you are sure everyone has your new number and you no longer need the old one, you can cancel that phone plan. WhatsApp will not stop working on your new number just because you cancelled the old one.
Changing your number without losing two-factor authentication
If you turned on two-factor authentication in WhatsApp (Settings > Account > Two-step verification), you will need your PIN to complete the number change. Enter your PIN when WhatsApp asks for it during the change process. If you forgot your PIN, you can disable two-factor authentication first, change your number, and then turn it back on.
Two-factor authentication is separate from the verification code WhatsApp sends to your new number. Both are security steps, but they happen at different points in the process.
Troubleshooting a stuck or failed number change
If the change process stops or shows an error, close WhatsApp completely and reopen it. Go back to Settings > Account > Change Number and try again. Make sure you have a strong internet connection — WhatsApp needs either WiFi or cellular data to process the change, not just the ability to receive SMS.
If you see a message saying your account is not may be able to access to change numbers, you may have changed your number too recently. WhatsApp limits how often you can change numbers — typically you must wait 30 days between changes. If you changed your number within the last month, wait until that period passes and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my contacts know I changed my number?
Your contacts will see your new number in their chat list, but WhatsApp does not send them a notification. You may want to message close contacts directly to let them know. If someone has your old number saved, they might not immediately realize the new number is you.
Can I change my number if I do not have the old phone anymore?
Yes. You can still change your number in WhatsApp settings on your current phone. If you cannot receive the verification code on your new number, WhatsApp will complete the change after a waiting period — usually 24 to 48 hours — without requiring the old phone.
What if I change my number by mistake?
You can change it back the same way. Go to Settings > Account > Change Number again and enter your original number as the new one. WhatsApp will send a verification code to that number. You can switch back and forth between numbers as long as you wait the required time between changes.
Do I lose my backup if I change my number?
No. Your chat backups stay with your WhatsApp account, not your phone number. When you change your number, your backup remains linked to your account and your chats will restore from it if you reinstall WhatsApp later.
Can I use the same number on two phones at once?
No. WhatsApp only works on one phone per number at a time. If you try to set up the same number on a second phone, WhatsApp will log you out on the first phone. You must change your number in WhatsApp settings to move your account to a different phone.