Quick Answer
The only way to change your WhatsApp number without losing your chat history is to create a backup of your chats, uninstall WhatsApp, install WhatsApp on the new number, and then restore your backup. Here are the steps:
- Back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive or local storage on your phone.
- Uninstall WhatsApp.
- Install WhatsApp on your new number and verify it.
- On the ‘Restore’ screen, restore your backup to transfer your chats to the new number.
This will move your entire chat history, media, settings etc to your new number. Your old number will no longer have access to your WhatsApp account.
Detailed Steps
Here are the detailed steps to change your WhatsApp number without losing your chats:
Back Up Your Chats
First, you need to back up your WhatsApp chats so you have a copy of them. WhatsApp gives you two backup options:
- Google Drive – WhatsApp can automatically back up your chats to your linked Google Drive account. This happens daily at a set time. Check that backups are enabled and the last backup was recent.
- Local Storage – You can manually back up to your phone’s local storage. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap Back Up. This will save a backup file to your phone storage.
Ideally, use both backup methods to be safe. Also make sure you remember the Google Drive backup password if you set one.
Uninstall WhatsApp & Install on New Number
Once your chat backup is done, it’s time to install WhatsApp on the new number:
- Uninstall WhatsApp from your old phone number. This will delete the app and all its data.
- Install WhatsApp on your phone and enter your new number. WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code.
- Enter the code to verify your new number.
You now have a new, blank WhatsApp account on your new number. Time to restore your backup.
Restore Your Backup
The final step is to transfer your old chats to your new account by restoring your backup:
- Open WhatsApp on your new number and tap Restore when prompted.
- Select the backup source – Google Drive or Local Storage depending on your backup.
- For Google Drive backup, enter your encryption password if you had set one.
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats & media from the backup.
That’s it! Your chats, groups, media etc will now be available on your new number. You can now start using WhatsApp on the new number without losing any data.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about changing WhatsApp number without losing chats:
Does my old number lose access to WhatsApp?
Yes, once you activate WhatsApp on your new number using chat restore, your old number will lose access to your WhatsApp account. It will be logged out.
Can I restore my backup to a new phone?
Yes, you can restore your WhatsApp backup to a new phone using the same steps. As long as you have the backup file, you can restore it.
How far back does my chat backup go?
WhatsApp backups include your entire chat history. So when you restore, you get back all your chats no matter how old they are. Media is included for up to 30 days based on storage space.
Can I transfer my WhatsApp from Android to iPhone?
Unfortunately, WhatsApp backups are not interchangeable across platforms due to messaging protocol differences between Android and iOS. You cannot transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone while retaining chats.
Will my groups be restored?
Yes, any WhatsApp groups you are a member of will be restored when you recover your chat backup on the new number. All group info, names, media etc will be retained.
Can I restore my backup on a new phone number?
No, WhatsApp backups can only be restored on a new device using the same phone number. To use a new number, you have to follow the steps above and migrate your account properly.
Summary
Here are the key points about changing WhatsApp number without losing chats:
- Back up chats to Google Drive or local storage.
- Uninstall WhatsApp on old number.
- Install WhatsApp on new number and verify.
- Restore backup on new number to transfer chats.
- Old number will lose access to WhatsApp account.
- Entire chat history, groups, media will be retained.
Following these steps carefully will ensure a smooth transition to your new WhatsApp number without losing any precious chat data.
Conclusion
Changing your WhatsApp number can be a smooth and hassle-free process if you correctly back up your chats first. The backup and restore feature makes it easy to migrate your account and all associated data like nothing changed except your number.
Just be sure to complete all steps properly – back up chats, uninstall WhatsApp on old number, install and verify WhatsApp on new number, and finally restore your backup. This will seamlessly transfer your WhatsApp account to the new number so you can keep chatting like before!
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Back up WhatsApp chats to Google Drive or local storage |
| 2 | Uninstall WhatsApp from old number |
| 3 | Install and verify WhatsApp on new number |
| 4 | Restore backup on new number to transfer chats |
By following this process, you can change your WhatsApp number without losing any chats, media, settings and other data. It provides a seamless transition to continue using WhatsApp when you get a new phone number.