Emily Bennett
How To Update Your WhatsApp Number in 2025
Trying to switch your WhatsApp number without losing all the chats, media, and settings can seem kinda tricky — especially if you’re not familiar with the process. Sometimes folks get scared they’ll lose everything, or the change doesn’t go through smoothly, leaving them stuck. But honestly, if done right, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s especially handy if you’re moving to a new phone, switching SIMs, or just updating your contact info without messing up your chat history. By following some simple steps, your account stays intact, and you keep all your precious messages and photos.
How to Fix WhatsApp Number Change Smoothly
Where to start: Make sure WhatsApp’s up to date
Before diving into the actual change, double-check that you’ve got the latest version of WhatsApp. Open your app store (Google Play or App Store) and look for updates. Outdated versions can cause weird bugs or even prevent the process from working. Because of course, WhatsApp has to make it harder than necessary.
Method 1: Changing your number in WhatsApp’s settings
- Open WhatsApp. Yeah, this part’s obvious, but make sure everything’s working before you start. If you get stuck, sometimes reinstalling helps, but that’s another story.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner (on Android — iPhone users will see a different menu). Select Settings.
- Go into Account > Change Number. This is the whole trick — not just updating your profile info.
- Read the info screen. It explains what happens (your chats should transfer), then hit Next.
On some setups, this step might be glitchy, so don’t get discouraged if it’s a little slow. It’s just WhatsApp doing its thing.
Entering your phone numbers: the key part
- First, punch in your current number (with country code). Make sure you include the + and country code, e.g.,
+1XXXYYYZZZZ. - Then, enter your new number the same way.
This is where some folks mess up if they forget the country code or type it incorrectly. Double-check — it’s crucial for the verification SMS to get through.
Notifying your contacts: when and why
- WhatsApp will ask if you want to notify your contacts about the change. Depending on your privacy preferences, you can notify everyone, only those with your chat history, or no one at all.
- Select what’s best for you, then tap Done. It’s optional, but keep in mind, your friends might not realize you changed numbers otherwise.
Note: on some devices or depending on your privacy settings, the notification options might behave weirdly. Not sure why it works, but on one setup it worked perfectly, on another — not so much. Fun times.
Verifying your new number
- After that, WhatsApp will send a verification code via SMS to your new number. Keep an eye on your messages (sometimes they get filtered or delayed). If you don’t see it, try tapping Resend SMS.
- Enter that code into WhatsApp when prompted, and the app will finalize the change.
Once verified, your account now has the new number. Your chats, media, and settings should be safe, no drama there. But always keep your old SIM active until you see everything working fine—just to be safe.
Extra tips and potential hiccups
- Make sure your phone has good network coverage, or you’ll get stuck waiting for that SMS verification. It’s annoying, but unavoidable sometimes.
- If verification SMS doesn’t arrive after a wait, you might need to check your spam filters or reboot your phone. Sometimes, just waiting a few minutes helps if the network is busy.
- And if you keep having trouble, consider switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data temporarily. Weird, but it helps sometimes.
Another tip — don’t delete or uninstall WhatsApp during this process. That might wipe your data or make the verification fail.
Wrap-up
Changing your WhatsApp number can be a smooth process if those key steps are followed. It’s mostly about entering your info correctly and verifying promptly. If the verification text hangs up or you run into hiccups, restarting your device or toggling airplane mode might help fix network glitches. It’s not always perfect, but usually, it works fine. This method’s pretty reliable across different setups, so fingers crossed, it gets your number swapped without any fuss.
Summary
- Make sure WhatsApp is current.
- Use the Change Number feature inside Settings > Account.
- Enter both your old and new numbers carefully.
- Follow the verification process promptly.
- Keep your old SIM active until you’re sure everything’s settled.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. It’s not always perfect, but it’s the easiest way to keep your chats when switching numbers. Just makes everything a lot less stressful. Good luck, and don’t forget to double-check those numbers!