What happens to WhatsApp if you change your phone number - briefly?
If you change your phone number while using WhatsApp, your account will be automatically updated with the new number. However, your contacts will need to manually update their records to continue communicating with you on the platform.
What happens to WhatsApp if you change your phone number - in detail?
When you change your phone number, several important changes occur in your WhatsApp account. Firstly, your WhatsApp profile will reflect the new phone number. This means that contacts who have saved your old number may see a discrepancy between your contact name and the number displayed in their WhatsApp list. To mitigate this issue, it is crucial to inform your contacts about the change so they can update their records accordingly.
Secondly, any groups you are part of will continue to function normally, but your contacts within those groups will see your new phone number. It's a good practice to notify the group members about the change to avoid confusion. Additionally, if there are any critical conversations or data that you need to preserve from your old WhatsApp account, it is advisable to back up your chats before changing your number.
Thirdly, your verification code will be resent to your new phone number. This step ensures that only you can access your WhatsApp account with the new number. Once you enter the verification code sent to your new number, your WhatsApp account will be successfully associated with it.
Lastly, it is important to note that changing your phone number does not affect your chat history or media. All messages, photos, videos, and documents will remain intact in your WhatsApp account. However, if you decide to switch from one operating system to another (e.g., from Android to iOS), the backup process might differ slightly due to platform-specific constraints.
In summary, changing your phone number on WhatsApp primarily updates your profile and verification code while maintaining your chat history and media. Communicating this change to your contacts is essential to ensure a smooth transition.