Changing your phone number does not mean starting WhatsApp from zero. WhatsApp has a built-in feature that moves your whole account to a new number, chats included. The catch is timing: it only works while the old number is still active on your account. Here is how to do it, what your contacts will see, what to do if the old number is already gone, and how to move your account to a US number.
How do you change your number on WhatsApp?
Use the official Change Number feature. Check three things first:
- Your new number can receive SMS or phone calls.
- Your old number is the one currently registered on WhatsApp on this phone (Settings, then tap your profile photo).
- If the new number is a TripoSIM US number, it is active in the TripoSIM app and the app is online.
You must do this on your main phone. The option is not available on WhatsApp Web, Desktop or a linked device.
Then, on the same phone:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Change number, then tap Next. On iPhone, start from Settings or your profile picture.
- Enter your old number in the first field and your new number in the second, both in full international format (for a US number, +1 and the 10 digits).
- Tap Next.
- Choose whether to notify contacts: all contacts, only contacts you have chats with, or a custom list.
- Tap Done, then verify your new number with the code WhatsApp sends.
That is it. Your account now lives on the new number.
What moves across and what do contacts see?
WhatsApp’s About changing phone numbers page says the change transfers your profile photo, username, display name, privacy settings, WhatsApp contacts, individual chats and group chats. It also deletes the account on the old number, so your contacts stop seeing the old number in WhatsApp.
| Who | What happens |
|---|---|
| Your groups | Notified automatically, whatever you choose for contacts |
| Contacts you choose to notify | See that you changed your number |
| Contacts you do not notify | Not told. They can still message you in existing chats. |
| Blocked contacts | Stay blocked and are not told your new number |
| Broadcast list recipients | Only receive your broadcasts if they save the new number |
WhatsApp recommends telling people before you switch and asking them to save the new number. For broadcast lists this is essential, because a broadcast only reaches people who have your number saved.
One warning from the same page: a change made by mistake cannot be reverted. If you move back to the old number, a group admin has to re-invite you.
How do you keep your chats on a new phone too?
If you are changing number and phone at the same time, the order matters:
- On your old phone, change your number first.
- Still on the old phone, make a new backup (Google Account or WhatsApp’s own cloud storage on Android, iCloud on iPhone).
- On the new phone, install WhatsApp, register the new number and restore that backup.
The reason: cloud backups are linked to the number that created them. Once you change number, a backup made under the old number can no longer be restored. Even if you are staying on the same phone, make a fresh backup straight after the change. You can start one from Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back up, as described in How to back up your chat history.
What if you have already lost the old number?
This is where most people get stuck. Change Number needs the old number to still be registered on your phone. If you do not use Change Number and then lose the old SIM or number, you lose access to that account and have to create a new one.
Your options, in order:
- Still logged in on the old number? Do the change now. You may stay logged in for a short time after losing a SIM, which is your window.
- Logged out but the number is yours? Ask your mobile provider for a replacement SIM with the same number, re-register, then change number. WhatsApp’s lost or stolen device guide says an account cannot be recovered without a SIM for that number.
- Number gone for good? Register the new number as a new account. If you have a Google Account backup you may be able to restore some history, but expect to rejoin groups and re-add contacts.
Do not leave an old number to lapse while WhatsApp is still on it. Carriers reassign numbers, and the next owner can register WhatsApp with it. Our guide to number recycling and account security explains how to avoid that.
Can you move WhatsApp to a US virtual number?
Yes. The TripoSIM US number receives verification codes (OTP SMS) from apps, including WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business. TripoSIM tested WhatsApp on October 13, 2026 and WhatsApp Business on October 18, 2026. That makes it a safe, reliable home for your WhatsApp account when you move abroad or want a US number that stays with you.
To move your account to it:
- Buy a plan and finish the short ID check. The number then shows in the TripoSIM app. See the plans.
- On iPhone, add the TripoSIM web app to your Home Screen. On Android, install the TripoSIM app. Allow notifications and the microphone so the code and any “Call me” call reach you.
- In WhatsApp, use Change number and enter the US number as the new number: +1 and the 10 digits.
- Enter the 6-digit code that arrives in the TripoSIM app. If the text hasn’t come when the timer ends, tap Call me.
- Make a fresh backup and turn on two-step verification.
Keep the plan renewing so the number stays yours. After a plan ends, the number is held 30 days on the yearly plan or 90 days on monthly, then released. For more on using the number for WhatsApp, read our WhatsApp number page. The app check tool shows TripoSIM’s results for other apps.
Why turn on two-step verification before you switch?
A number change means a fresh verification, and a fresh verification is when accounts get hijacked. Two-step verification adds a password to your phone number. WhatsApp’s steps:
- Go to Settings > Account > Two-step verification.
- Turn it on and create a strong password.
- Add an email address you can access, so you can reset the password later.
Do this before you change number, and keep the password somewhere safe. You will need it when you register the new number.
The bottom line
Use Change Number, never a fresh install, and do it while the old number still works. Tell your contacts first, let WhatsApp notify your groups, and make a new backup straight away because old backups stay tied to the old number. Turn on two-step verification. If you want your account on a US number, the TripoSIM US number receives the WhatsApp code, so you can move to it with the same Change Number steps.