How to Change Your Phone Number on WhatsApp Without Losing Your Chats

Use WhatsApp’s built-in Change number feature (Settings > Account > Change number) on the phone that has your chats: it moves your existing account to the new number instead of starting a new one, so you keep your chats on that phone. If you’re also switching phones, back up your chats first and restore them on the new one.

This guide is for anyone moving WhatsApp to a different number, such as a new local number after a move. The steps were checked against WhatsApp’s Help Center in October 2026.

Before you start: a quick checklist

• The new number has to be working. WhatsApp says it must be able to receive text messages or phone calls, because that’s how you’ll verify it.
• Your old number must still be on WhatsApp on your phone. To check, open WhatsApp’s Settings and tap your profile photo.
• The new number must be a type WhatsApp supports. WhatsApp lists VoIP numbers, toll-free numbers, paid premium numbers, universal access numbers, personal numbers and landlines as unsupported for registration. Landlines can be used only with the WhatsApp Business app.
• Use your phone. You can’t change your number on WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop. It has to be done on your primary device.
• Have both numbers in full international format. For a U.S. number, that’s +1 followed by the 10-digit number. Our guide to the U.S. country code shows the format.

How to use Change number on the same phone

1. Get the new number working on your phone. WhatsApp’s first step is to put the SIM card with your new number in your phone.
2. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Account > Change number, then tap Next.
3. Enter your old number in the first box and your new number in the second, both in full international format. Tap Next.
4. Choose whether to notify your contacts (see the options below), then tap Done.
5. Verify the new number when WhatsApp asks you to register it.

That’s it. Your account moves to the new number on the same phone. WhatsApp’s Help Center calls this migrating your account, as opposed to removing it and starting over.

If the verification code never arrives, our guide to verification codes not arriving after switching carriers walks through the usual fixes.

Changing your phone and your number at the same time

Order matters here. WhatsApp says it can’t restore your chats for you, because your chat history isn’t stored on its servers. Your backup is the only way to bring it to a new phone.

1. Back up your chats on the old phone. On Android, WhatsApp’s Help Center says to make a Google Account backup; without one, you’ll have to move the backup by hand. WhatsApp’s Help Center has the backup steps for both Android and iPhone.
2. Change your number on the old phone, using the steps above.
3. Install WhatsApp on the new phone and register your new number.
4. Restore your backup when WhatsApp offers to.

What your contacts and groups see

When you change your number, WhatsApp lets you choose who gets a notice. Turn on Notify contacts and pick one of these:

• All contacts
• Contacts I have chats with
• Custom, where you choose people one by one

A few things happen no matter what you choose:

• Your groups are told. WhatsApp says group chats are notified when you change numbers, whether or not you notify your contacts.
• Blocked contacts stay blocked, and they aren’t told about your new number.
• Nobody’s address book changes by itself. WhatsApp suggests asking your contacts to remove your old number and save the new one. A quick message to the people you call or text most saves confusion.

See WhatsApp’s own page on how to change your phone number for the full details.

Getting a new number by transfer? Time it like this

If your new number is being transferred to your carrier (for example, a Manhattan 212 number you bought), don’t switch WhatsApp the day you order it. Wait until the number actually works on your phone.

1. Keep using WhatsApp on your current number while the transfer is in progress.
2. Wait until the new number makes and gets calls and texts on your phone. Your new carrier sets the transfer date.
3. Then run Change number, and verify the new number.
4. Don’t give up your old number until WhatsApp has moved. WhatsApp says to move or remove your WhatsApp account before you stop using a phone number, because phone companies commonly recycle numbers.

Where your number goes matters. Because WhatsApp lists VoIP numbers and landlines as unsupported (landlines work only with WhatsApp Business), a number you plan to use with regular WhatsApp belongs with a mobile carrier. If WhatsApp says your number isn’t valid, see our post on the “not a valid number” error.

For numbers bought from 212areacode.com, the transfer takes 3–5 business days to a mobile carrier such as T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T or Cricket, and 7–14 business days to a VoIP service or a landline. Once the number rings on your phone, you’re ready for step 3.

Keeping your number but switching carriers?

Then you don’t need Change number at all. That feature is for moving WhatsApp to a different number. If the number itself stays the same and only the carrier changes, there’s nothing to move. Just make sure the transfer is finished and your phone can get texts or calls in case WhatsApp asks you to verify. Once it’s done, consider turning on your new carrier’s number lock; our guide on how to lock your phone number shows where to find it.

What if you stopped using the old number without moving WhatsApp?

WhatsApp says that if the same number is used to set up WhatsApp on a new device after 45 days, the old account is erased completely. So if you’ve already given up the old number, move to your new one as soon as you can. WhatsApp also says you can contact its support to ask for an old account to be deactivated.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Setting up a new phone with the new number before backing up the old one. WhatsApp can’t restore chats for you; only your backup can.
• Cancelling the old number first. Move WhatsApp to the new number before you stop using the old one.
• Leaving out the +1. Both numbers go in full international format.
• Trying from a computer. Change number works only on your phone, not on WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
• Switching before the transfer finishes. If the new number can’t get texts or calls yet, you can’t verify it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my chats if I change my number on WhatsApp?
Not if you use Change number on the same phone, since it moves your existing account to the new number. If you’re also switching phones, back up first and restore on the new phone, because WhatsApp doesn’t keep your chat history on its servers.

Will my contacts know I changed my number?
Only the ones you choose: all contacts, the contacts you have chats with, or a custom list. Your group chats are always notified. Blocked contacts are never told.

Can I change my WhatsApp number on WhatsApp Web or a computer?
No. WhatsApp says you have to do it on your primary device, your phone.

Can I use a VoIP or landline number on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp lists VoIP numbers and landlines as unsupported for registration. Landlines can be used with the WhatsApp Business app only.

What should I enter in the number boxes?
Both numbers in full international format. For a U.S. number, that’s +1 and then the 10-digit number, including the area code.

When should I switch WhatsApp if my new number is still being transferred?
After the transfer is finished and the new number makes and receives calls and texts on your phone. Until then, keep using WhatsApp on your current number.

Looking for a new number to bring to WhatsApp?

212areacode.com sells real U.S. phone numbers, mostly Manhattan 212 numbers, plus numbers in many other area codes. You buy the number and transfer it to your own carrier. We email you when it’s ready, and the account number and transfer PIN appear in My Numbers in your account. Once it’s working on your phone, use the steps above. If that sounds useful, you can browse available numbers.