WhatsApp feature: Want to change phone number without losing old chats? Here's how to do it

WhatsApp feature: Facebook-owned instant messaging application WhatsApp is undoubtedly one of the most popular messaging platforms around the world with billions of users on board. Since WhatsApp works with your phone number, what if one day someone wants to change their mobile number? What happens to the old chats, data or contacts? These are some of the questions often comes in our mind before change the phone number. Well, WhatsApp allows its users the option to change their number using an in-app feature.

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With this feature, WhatsApp users do not have to worry about losing their old chats and contacts an in fact, can continue with the same but with a different number. WhatsApp offers a dedicated feature for this called ‘Change Number’ which also helps inform people in your contact list that you have updated your number, the BGR India reported.  

To change your WhatsApp number without losing contacts, follow these steps: The change number feature allows you to change the phone number associated with your WhatsApp account on the same or a new phone.

WhatsApp Warning!

Before changing your phone number: Make sure your new phone number can receive SMS or phone calls and has an active cellular connection. Make sure your old phone number is currently registered on WhatsApp on your phone. You can find your registered phone number by opening WhatsApp Settings and tapping your profile photo.

Android users can access WhatsApp’s Settings by tapping on the three-dot hamburger menu on the top right. Now, tap on Account and select the ‘Change Number’ option. Next you will be asked whether you are able to receive SMSs and voice calls on your new number. When this is confirmed, tap on ‘Next’.

It will then ask whether you want your WhatsApp contacts to be notified about your new number. You have three options to choose from – All Contacts, Contacts I have chat with or Customer numbers. WhatsApp will automatically notify groups about the change in your number. Click on ‘Done’. After this is done, the app will ask you to register your new phone number. You will then receive a six-digit verification code via SMS or phone call which you need to enter into the app to finish the registration. After the registration is complete, you will be able to see your old chats and contacts on WhatsApp.