Switching phone numbers can be a hassle, especially when it comes to informing everyone you know. But when it comes to updating the number on WhatsApp, one thing comes to mind: what about WhatsApp history? All those funny memes, important documents, and sentimental conversations – surely they are important, and you don’t want to lose them. Well, you don’t have to worry about that. WhatsApp offers a built-in feature to transfer chat history to a new phone number, including account information, group chats, and chat history to the new number, allowing users to seamlessly transfer their conversation.
If you are also changing your number and want to keep your WhatsApp account the same but change the number and inform your contacts simultaneously and save data, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with the process.
How to change phone number on WhatsApp
Before starting the process, please note that this inbuilt feature works best if you keep the same phone. However, if you are switching phones entirely, you will need to create a local backup on your old phone.
Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your old phone.
Step 2: Navigate to Settings. On Android, tap the three vertical dots on the top right corner. For iPhone users, Settings is located at the bottom right corner.
Step 3: Tap “Account” and then “Change Number.”
Step 4: Review the information on the screen. It essentially confirms that changing your number will migrate your account details, chats, and settings.
Step 5: Tap “Next” and enter both your old and new phone numbers. Double-check for accuracy!
Step 6: Choose how you want to notify your contacts. WhatsApp offers three options:
Step 7: All Contacts: Everyone in your address book will be informed.
Step 8: Contacts I have chats with: Only those you’ve exchanged messages with will be notified.
Step 9: Custom: You can manually select specific contacts to be informed.
Step 10: Tap “Done” to initiate the transfer process.
Meanwhile, if you’re replacing both your phone and SIM card, here’s how to create a local backup on your old device:
- Open WhatsApp and navigate to Settings.
- Tap on “Chats” and then select “Chat backup.”
- Choose the frequency of backups. You can opt for daily, weekly, or manual backups.
- Decide whether to include videos in the backup. (Keep in mind, including videos can significantly increase the backup size.)
- Tap “Back Up” to start the process. Your chats will be saved to your phone’s storage.
Restoring WhatsApp backup on new phone
- Download and install WhatsApp on your new phone.
- Verify your new phone number during the setup process.
- When prompted, tap “Restore” to retrieve your chat history from the local backup.
Alternatively, you can first migrate your WhatsApp with your old phone number, and then, once WhatsApp is installed on your new phone, you can initiate the phone change settings as outlined above.
Source Agencies
