How to add a phone number to WhatsApp on your phone?

How to add a phone number to WhatsApp on your phone - briefly?

To add a phone number to WhatsApp on your phone, simply open the app, go to Settings > Account > Phone Number, and follow the prompts to enter and verify the new number. This process ensures that your contacts can reach you seamlessly through WhatsApp.

How to add a phone number to WhatsApp on your phone - in detail?

Adding a phone number to WhatsApp on your phone is a straightforward process, but it requires careful attention to detail to ensure that everything works correctly. Follow these steps to successfully add a new phone number to WhatsApp:

  1. Backup Your Data: Before making any changes, it's crucial to back up your chat history. This step ensures that you don’t lose any important conversations or media files during the process. To do this, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and follow the prompts to save your data to Google Drive or iCloud, depending on your device.
  2. Uninstall WhatsApp: After backing up your data, you need to uninstall WhatsApp from your phone. This step is necessary because WhatsApp accounts are tied to specific phone numbers, and the app cannot be used with a different number without being reinstalled. To uninstall, locate the WhatsApp icon on your home screen or in your app drawer, press and hold it until the option to remove it appears, then confirm the action.
  3. Reinstall WhatsApp: Once the app is removed, go to the Google Play Store (for Android users) or the Apple App Store (for iOS users) and search for WhatsApp. Download and install the latest version of the app on your device.
  4. Open WhatsApp: After the installation is complete, open WhatsApp. You will be prompted to enter your phone number during the initial setup process. If you have already set up WhatsApp before, you can manually trigger this step by going to Settings > Account > Change Number.
  5. Enter Your New Phone Number: When prompted, enter your new phone number in the international format. For example, if you are in the United States and your number is 123-456-7890, you would enter it as +1 1234567890. Make sure to include the country code at the beginning.
  6. Verify Your Number: After entering the new phone number, WhatsApp will send a verification code to that number via SMS. This code is used to confirm that you have access to the phone number you entered. Once you receive the code, enter it into the app to complete the verification process.
  7. Restore Your Backup (Optional): If you backed up your chat history earlier, you can now restore it to your new WhatsApp account. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and follow the prompts to restore your data from Google Drive or iCloud. Keep in mind that restoring a backup will overwrite any messages on your new number.
  8. Update Your Contacts: Finally, make sure to update your contacts with your new phone number. This step is important so that your friends and family can reach you without any issues. You can do this by going to the Contacts app on your phone and editing your entry to reflect the new number.

By following these steps carefully, you should be able to add a new phone number to WhatsApp on your phone without any problems.