About changing phones

Android
iOS
It’s easy to switch to a new phone and transfer your WhatsApp account. You can either move to the same type of phone (Android to Android), or move to a different type of phone (iPhone to Android).
Sometimes, we may need to ensure your account is secure while changing devices. In these cases, you’ll need to wait to receive your verification code. We can’t speed up this wait time.
Note: You might get a notification on your old phone to confirm that it’s you trying to change devices. In this case, confirm you’re moving WhatsApp to your new phone.

Move to the same type of phone

There are three ways to transfer an account from old Android device to new Android device.
  • Account transfer
  • Google Account backups
  • Chat transfer
If you're moving from one Android device to another, the account transfer process is the most simple and best way to move to a new phone. Before you start transferring your WhatsApp account to a new phone via account transfer, it's crucial to have the old device active to scan the QR code. Learn how to transfer your account to a new phone in this article.
Once it’s backed up, you can restore your chat history on your new phone.
Alternatively, you can transfer your chat history.
Note: The option to transfer the WhatsApp account is available at the “registration” phase. If you’d like to transfer only your chats, you can do so from the Settings tab.

Move to a different type of phone

If you're switching from an iPhone to an Android phone, or vice versa, you can keep your account information. This includes your profile photo, about, individual chats, group chats, and settings.
You can transfer chat history from an iPhone to an Android phone or from an Android phone to an iPhone.

Keep your phone number

To keep your phone number when changing phones, simply download WhatsApp on your new phone to re-register your phone number. When you re-register on a new phone, you will be logged out on your old phone as soon as re-registration is complete.
Note: If two-step verification is active on your account, you’ll receive a prompt to enter the PIN created when you set it up. Your PIN is different from your six-digit registration code.
You might experience some delay in setting up 2FA. This delay is normal and helps us assess that your account is not compromised. Learn more about the delay in setting up 2FA in this article.
  1. Open WhatsApp on your new Android. Choose your language, then tap the
    next
    .
  2. On the Welcome screen, tap Agree and continue to accept the Terms of Service.
  3. Enter your phone number and tap Next.
  4. Confirm your phone number and tap OK.
  5. Check your old phone for the 6-digit code. Enter this 6-digit code on your new phone and tap OK.
    • Note: If you're having trouble receiving the code on your old phone, you can choose to receive it via call, or in an SMS. Make sure to tap Need help getting a code? to choose an option.

Change to a new phone number

If you’re changing phone numbers and want to keep your chat history, you must first change numbers on your old phone.
Note: If you register with a new number on a new phone without completing this step, you’ll lose your chat history.
To change to a new phone number without keeping your chat history, simply download WhatsApp on your new phone and register your new phone number. You can then delete the WhatsApp account associated with your old phone number.
Don’t worry if you forget to delete the account associated with your old phone number, or no longer have access to your old phone. All of your account information tied to that phone number will be deleted when the new owner of your old phone number activates WhatsApp. They won’t be able to use your old phone number with WhatsApp until there have been 45 days of inactivity on your old account.
Note: If you plan to give away your old phone, or return it to your mobile provider, you should wipe all your data beforehand. This includes the SD card, if applicable. This ensures that none of your private data, such as your WhatsApp chat history, will fall into someone else's hands.

Troubleshooting common issues with changing phones

If you're having trouble receiving verification codes or logging in on your new phone, try the following:
  • Make sure you're entering the correct phone number and verification code.
  • Restart your phone and try again.
  • Check your old phone's settings to ensure that WhatsApp is allowed to send you notifications.

What to do if your phone is lost or stolen

If your old phone was lost or stolen, follow these steps.
By doing so, you should be able to recover your WhatsApp account. Remember to always back up your chat history and take steps to protect your account if your old phone is lost or stolen.

Does this answer your question?

Yes
No