WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps across the world, with over 2 billion users. It provides end-to-end encryption for messages and uses your phone number as your account identifier. When you first sign up for WhatsApp, it sends a 6-digit verification code to your phone via SMS to confirm your identity and activate your account.
However, there is a limit to how many times you can request a verification code within a 24-hour period. If you make too many attempts, WhatsApp will block any further verification code requests for 24 hours before allowing you to try again. This can be frustrating if you genuinely need a new verification code but have exceeded the attempt limit.
Here are some tips on how to get a new WhatsApp verification code if you have made too many attempts:
Wait 24 hours
The simplest solution is to just wait. WhatsApp’s limit is designed to prevent abuse and spam. So you’ll just have to wait 24 hours from your last attempt before you can request a new verification code without issue. I know, it’s not ideal, but it ensures your account remains secure.
WhatsApp does this to prevent bots or spammers from trying to guess verification codes repeatedly. The 24-hour cool down gives them time to detect and block any suspicious activity. So as frustrating as it is, try to be patient and you’ll be able to get a new verification code after a day.
Use a different phone number
If you urgently need to sign up for WhatsApp again and can’t wait 24 hours, try using a different phone number. Get a new SIM card with a new number and use that to request a verification code from WhatsApp. This bypasses the limit on your old number.
You can use a secondary number you have, a family member’s number, or purchase a prepaid SIM. Pop it into your phone, install WhatsApp, and enter the new number. You should now be able to get a verification code for that number right away.
Edit your phone number
An alternative to getting a new number is editing your phone number in your existing WhatsApp account. Here are the steps:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Account > Change Number.
- Enter your old and new number.
- Tap Next and you’ll get a new 6-digit verification code on the new number.
This essentially assigns your account to a new number without losing your chat history and messages. It’s convenient if you already have another number you can switch to.
Use SMS forwarding
Some mobile carriers offer SMS forwarding which lets you receive messages sent to one number on a different number. You can use this to get the WhatsApp verification code meant for your old number on your new number.
Contact your carrier to enable SMS forwarding. Once enabled, any verification codes sent to your old number will be forwarded to your new number. You can then enter that code in WhatsApp to verify your account.
Use WhatsApp Web
If you’ve previously linked your WhatsApp account to WhatsApp Web, try using the web version to reverify your account. Open web.whatsapp.com in your browser, scan the QR code when prompted, and continue using your account on the web. You may then be able to get a new verification code on the linked phone number.
Contact WhatsApp support
In some cases, you may need to directly contact WhatsApp support to resolve your issue. Explain your situation and request that they remove the verification limit on your number.
To contact WhatsApp support:
- Open WhatsApp > Settings > Help > Contact Us.
- Fill out the form detailing your issue and submit.
- Alternatively, email [email protected] for help.
A WhatsApp representative will then review your case and may be able to lift the verification limit if you genuinely need access to your account.
Use backup codes
If you had previously enabled backup codes, you can use one of them in place of the 6-digit verification code to reverify your account. Backup codes act as a secondary password for your WhatsApp account.
To find your backup codes:
- Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Two-step verification.
- Tap Backup Codes and it will display any available codes.
- Enter one code when prompted to verify your account.
If you don’t have backup codes enabled, you can try turning them on after 24 hours when the verification limit resets.
Restore Google Drive/iCloud backup
If you had WhatsApp backups enabled in Google Drive or iCloud, you may be able to restore your backup to a new device with a new number:
- On Android, uninstall WhatsApp > reinstall > enter new number > restore Google Drive backup when prompted.
- On iPhone, delete WhatsApp > redownload > enter new number > tap Restore when prompted > select iCloud backup.
This will essentially allow you to verify a new number with your old chats and data. However, it’s only an option if you had remote backups enabled.
Use a different device
Try installing WhatsApp on a different device like a tablet or secondary phone, and enter your phone number. You may be able to get a verification code on this device while still blocked on your old device.
The block is applied on a per device basis. So setting up on a new device essentially gives you a clean slate to request a code again without limitations.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some tips to get a new WhatsApp verification code after hitting the attempt limit:
- Simply wait 24 hours for the limit to reset.
- Get a new SIM card with a different number.
- Edit your phone number in WhatsApp settings.
- Use SMS forwarding to get the code on another number.
- Try WhatsApp Web to reverify your account.
- Contact WhatsApp support to remove the limit.
- Enter a backup code if you have two-step verification enabled.
- Restore a backup on a new device with a different number.
- Install WhatsApp on a different device and reverify.
The 24 hour limit is there for security reasons and can’t be removed without help from WhatsApp support in some cases. But in most situations, with some patience or creativity, you should be able to get a new 6-digit code to verify your account and access WhatsApp again.
| Method | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Wait 24 hours | 24 hours | Easy |
| New phone number | Minutes to hours | Easy-medium |
| Edit number in WhatsApp | Minutes | Easy |
| SMS forwarding | Minutes to hours | Medium |
| WhatsApp Web | Minutes | Easy |
| Contact WhatsApp support | Hours to days | Hard |
| Backup codes | Minutes | Easy |
| Restore backup | Hours | Medium |
| New device | Minutes to hours | Medium |
As you can see, the easiest options are simply waiting 24 hours or using backup codes if enabled. Getting a new SIM card or phone number can also work well. The more difficult options involve contacting WhatsApp support or restoring backups.
The key is finding the right solution that works with your circumstances. With patience and some clever workarounds, you should be able to get a new WhatsApp verification code after hitting the limit on attempts. Just be sure not to attempt verifying repeatedly as it will reset the 24 hour countdown.