Your phone number is your identity on the popular messaging platform Whatsapp and chatting cannot be done without it. What if you have to change your WhatsApp number for some reason? If you think that in such a situation, creating a new WhatsApp account and deleting the old account is the only option, then it is not so. You can easily change your WhatsApp number without any long process and by doing so your old chats will not be deleted.
First of all, you have to choose the WhatsApp number which you want to use in place of the old number. It is necessary for this number to be active. Keep in mind, while changing the number, one-time-password (OTP) will be sent to your new number with the help of SMS or call can be made, in this case it is necessary to have an active cellular connection. Apart from this, make sure that your old phone number registered on WhatsApp is really to be removed. Also, make sure that your new number is supported for the messaging app or not.
Whatsapp does not support such numbers
Certain types of phone numbers cannot be registered in WhatsApp and are not supported by the messaging app. You will not be able to use such numbers in place of the old WhatsApp number. For example, the landline number can only be used in the Whatsapp Business App. In addition, VoIP, toll-free numbers, paid premium numbers, Universal Access Numbers (UAN) and personal numbers (which users do not wish to make public) cannot be used to register accounts in the messaging app.
This is the way to change old Whatsapp number
If you have decided that your new number is not a part of the list mentioned above and is active, then you have to follow the easy steps by going to Settings.
1. First open Whatsapp and go to Settings by tapping on the three dots appearing on the top right.
2. In Settings, you have to tap on Account and choose the Change Number option shown at the end.
3. After this you have to type both your old and new number by tapping on NEXT.
4. After tapping on NEXT and after verification, if you have selected Notify Contacts option, then your contacts will be informed that you have changed the number. At the same time, this notification will also be shown in all the WhatsApp groups of which you are a part.
5. In the last you have to tap on Done and your number will be changed. After this you will be able to use WhatsApp with the new number.