Quick Answer
No, a new user of your old WhatsApp number will not be able to see any of your previous WhatsApp messages. When you stop using a number, your WhatsApp account becomes inactive. All your chat history remains on your phone and is not transferred to the new user of that number. However, your WhatsApp profile photo, name and about info will be visible to the new user.
Detailed Answer
When you stop using a phone number that is linked to your WhatsApp account, your account becomes inactive after 45 days of inactivity. This means you will no longer be available on WhatsApp with that number.
During this 45 day inactivity period, your chat history remains saved on your phone. It is not transferred over to anyone else who may start using your old number. After 45 days, your chat history is deleted from WhatsApp servers.
So if someone else starts using your old number, they will have to register a new WhatsApp account with that number. They will not have access to any of your chat history, media or messages on WhatsApp.
However, your WhatsApp profile information such as profile photo, name and about info will be visible to the new user. This is because the profile info is linked to the phone number and not your account.
When you stop using your old number and switch to a new number, make sure to inform your WhatsApp contacts about your new number. You can export your WhatsApp chat history and transfer it to your new device, so you have a backup of all your old chats.
Here are some key points to summarize:
Key Points
- Your WhatsApp chat history is stored on your phone and not on WhatsApp servers.
- If you stop using a number, your chats remain saved on your phone for 45 days after inactivity.
- The new user of your old number cannot see any of your chat history or access your account.
- However, your profile photo, name and about info will be visible to the new user.
- You should inform contacts about your new number and transfer your chat history.
What happens when you stop using your WhatsApp number?
When you stop using a phone number that is linked to your WhatsApp account, here is what happens:
- Your WhatsApp account remains active for 45 days after your last use.
- Within this period, your chat history stays saved on your phone.
- Your profile info and media files also remain visible on WhatsApp during this time.
- If you reinsert your SIM card into a phone within 45 days, your account will automatically become active again.
- After 45 days of inactivity, your WhatsApp account is deleted.
- Your chat history is deleted from WhatsApp servers after this time period.
- Your profile photo, name and about info are removed from being visible on WhatsApp.
So in summary, you have a 45 day window after stopping use of your number before your WhatsApp account is deleted along with your chat history. As long as you reactivate your account within 45 days, your chats and media will still be intact.
What happens when someone else starts using your old number?
When someone else starts using your old WhatsApp number after the 45 day inactivity period, here is what happens:
- Your WhatsApp account associated with that number no longer exists.
- The new user must register a new WhatsApp account with that number.
- They will not have access to any of your chat history, media or messages.
- Your chat history would have been deleted from WhatsApp servers.
- The only info they can see is your profile photo, name and about info.
- They have no way of accessing your old chats or media files on WhatsApp.
So in short, a new user of your old number has to start fresh with a new WhatsApp account. They will not be able to see any remnants of your chat history or access your account in any way.
Where is your WhatsApp data stored?
WhatsApp keeps your data in two places:
- On your phone
- On WhatsApp servers
Data stored on your phone
The following WhatsApp data is stored on your phone:
- Your chat history including text messages, photos, videos and voice messages
- Your WhatsApp contacts list
- Media files you downloaded or saved from WhatsApp chats
- Your phone number and profile info linked to your WhatsApp account
This locally stored data is not transferred anywhere if you stop using your phone number. It remains on your device for 45 days after your last use of WhatsApp.
Data stored on WhatsApp servers
WhatsApp stores the following information about your account on its servers:
- Your phone number
- Your profile photo
- Your profile name
- Your about status message
- Your last seen status and online presence info
- Your group participation info
- Your blocked contacts list
- Settings like security info and notifications
This profile data remains visible to others until 45 days after your last WhatsApp use. Your chat history is however not stored on WhatsApp servers.
How to transfer your WhatsApp data to a new phone
When switching to a new phone number, you can transfer your existing WhatsApp chat history by following these steps:
- Back up your WhatsApp chats – Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup to create a backup on Google Drive or iCloud.
- Install WhatsApp on your new phone and verify your new number.
- On the Chats screen, tap Restore to restore chats & media from your backup.
- Tap Merge when prompted to confirm and merge your chat history to the new phone.
This will transfer your old chats to your new device. You can also export your WhatsApp chat history as a text file and email it to yourself for a record.
WhatsApp security features
WhatsApp has implemented various security measures to keep your chats and data safe:
- End-to-end encryption – Messages are encrypted from sender to receiver so no one in between can read them.
- Two-step verification – Optional extra PIN prevents unauthorized access to your account.
- Blocking – You can block unwanted contacts from messaging or calling you on WhatsApp.
- Report & ban – Ability to report spam, offensive messages, illegal content etc to get users banned.
- Delete messages – Admins can remotely delete messages in a group to maintain privacy.
- Locked recordings – Encrypted voice messages can only be played through recipients’ phones.
These features help prevent snooping on your messages and misuse of data. But the main protection is that WhatsApp itself does not store your chat history, so no one else can access it.
WhatsApp privacy risks
While WhatsApp offers more privacy than other apps, some risks remain:
- Backups on third-party clouds like Google Drive could be hacked if passwords are weak.
- Physical phone theft can give access to locally stored WhatsApp data.
- Malware or spyware on devices can potentially access your messages.
- Law enforcement agencies can legally request limited WhatsApp data from Facebook.
- Linked devices like PCs used for WhatsApp Web can view chats if not logged out.
So while WhatsApp does not share your data, account security and device security are important to maintain privacy.
Can I permanently delete my WhatsApp account?
Yes, you can permanently delete your WhatsApp account and all associated data including your chat history. Here are the steps:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Delete My Account.
- Enter your phone number and tap Delete My Account.
- Enter the reason for deleting your account.
- Tap Delete My Account again to confirm.
Once confirmed, your account will be deactivated immediately and deleted from WhatsApp databases after 30 days. All your WhatsApp information including profile, groups, and chats will be erased permanently.
You can also request WhatsApp to delete your account for you from within the app. Go to Settings – Help – Contact Us and request account deletion.
Expert Recommendations
Based on the above information, here are some recommendations from cybersecurity experts when changing your WhatsApp number:
- Always make a backup of your chat history before deactivating your account.
- Transfer or export your chat history to retain a record of old conversations.
- Log out from WhatsApp Web and linked devices so new users cannot access your chats.
- Change your Google Drive and iCloud passwords if they contain WhatsApp backups.
- Turn on Two-Step Verification for added security on your account.
- Delete old WhatsApp media from your phone’s gallery that you no longer need.
- If concerned, request WhatsApp to permanently delete your account after the stipulated period.
Following these best practices will help you maintain your privacy when migrating to a new WhatsApp number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see my WhatsApp chats if they get my old SIM card?
No, someone cannot see your old WhatsApp chats even if they get access to your old SIM card. Your chat history is stored locally on your phone and not on the SIM card. The only way they could access your chats is by also getting access to your actual phone on which WhatsApp is installed.
How can I delete my WhatsApp account permanently?
You can permanently delete your WhatsApp account by going to Settings – Account – Delete My Account. This will deactivate your account immediately and erase all data after 30 days. You can also ask WhatsApp support to delete your account.
Do deleted WhatsApp messages get deleted from the recipient’s phone?
No, if you delete a message or chat only from your device, the recipient can still see it on their phone. You need to specifically delete that message or chat for the other person as well for it to be deleted from both ends.
Can I transfer my WhatsApp data from iPhone to Android?
Yes, you can transfer your WhatsApp chat history when moving from an iPhone to an Android device. You need to first back up chats to iCloud. On your Android phone, install WhatsApp and use the Move to Android app to transfer the backup.
If I delete WhatsApp, will my messages be deleted from other users’ phones?
No, deleting your WhatsApp account or uninstalling the app will only erase your messages from your device. Messages you sent to other WhatsApp users will still be present on their phones. Their chat history will remain unaffected.
Conclusion
To conclude, a new user of your old WhatsApp number cannot see any of your previous WhatsApp chat history, media or messages. This is because WhatsApp stores your data locally on your phone and not on their servers.
When you stop using a number, your WhatsApp account remains active for 45 days before being deleted along with your chat history. Someone else using that number has to register a new account and will not have access to your conversations.
Remember to always backup chats, enable two-factor authentication, and delete your account when changing numbers to maintain privacy. Following WhatsApp’s security guidelines and expert recommendations can help you securely migrate to a new device.