Can I change back to my old WhatsApp number?

Changing your WhatsApp number can be useful if you’ve gotten a new phone number, but sometimes people want to switch back to their old number if it’s still available. Luckily, WhatsApp makes it pretty easy to change your number back as long as you still have access to your old number.

Can I switch back to my old WhatsApp number?

Yes, it is possible to switch back to using your old WhatsApp number as long as:

Your old number is still active and available

You still have access to a device with your WhatsApp account tied to your old number

As long as those two conditions are met, you can switch your WhatsApp account back to your old number fairly easily. Here’s what to do:

On the device with your old number, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Account > Change Number

Enter your old phone number and tap Next
Enter the 6-digit verification code you receive and tap Next
You’ll get a confirmation that your number has been changed back to your old number

And that’s it! Your WhatsApp account will now be tied to your old number again rather than your new number. Any chats and groups you were part of with your new number will be tied to your account with your old number.

I don’t have access to my old number anymore

If you no longer have access to the device with your old number, then changing back is a bit more complicated. Here are your options:

If you still have service on your old number, you can put your original SIM card into a new phone and verify with a code to link your account.

You can try contacting your phone carrier and asking them to allow you to port your old number onto a new SIM.
Use WhatsApp’s account recovery process to try recovering your account with your old number. This isn’t guaranteed to work though.
Start a new WhatsApp account with your old number if available. You’ll lose your chat history though.

Without access to your old number anymore, there is no direct way to change your WhatsApp account back. You’ll have to either port it to a new SIM or start fresh.

I want to transfer my chat history

If you want to switch back to your old number but also transfer your more recent chat history and groups from your new number, that is possible using WhatsApp’s built-in chat history transfer feature:

On your old device, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup to create a new backup.

On your new device, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat History Transfer > Transfer from Android or Transfer from iOS depending on your old device.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the transfer to your new device.
Now your new device will have your most recent chats even when linked to your old number.

Limitations of changing your number

While you can change back to your old number, there are some limitations to be aware of:

You’ll lose any chat history or media from the time on your new number unless you backup and transfer.
Any new contacts or groups added on your new number won’t carry over.

Your account information like your profile name will reset.
If your old number was reassigned, you won’t be able to get it back as your WhatsApp number.

Essentially, switching back means starting fresh without your new chats and contacts unless you do a transfer.

Steps to take before changing numbers

To make the number change process smoother, here are some steps to take ahead of time:

Back up your chat history on your old phone before you switch numbers initially. This makes it easier to transfer your chats back.
Note down which important group chats you’re part of. You’ll have to rejoin them once you switch back.

Export your chat history to a third party app like Google Drive to have records of old chats.
Let contacts and group admins know ahead of time that you’re switching numbers.
Make sure your old number is still linked to your account and active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch between two WhatsApp accounts on one phone?

Unfortunately no, WhatsApp only allows one account per phone number. You’d need two different devices to use two accounts.

Will my groups automatically transfer over?

No, any new groups from your new number won’t transfer over. You’ll have to rejoin any important groups after changing back.

What happens if my old number was given to someone else?

If your old number has been reassigned to a new person, then you won’t be able to take back that number for WhatsApp. It can only be used on one account.

Can I transfer my chat history from Android to iPhone?

Yes, WhatsApp has a built-in feature to transfer your chat history between Android and iOS when switching phones or numbers.

Will my chat history be deleted when I switch back?

No, your chat history on your old number will still be intact. Only the history from your new number will be lost unless you do a backup transfer.

Can I switch between different countries’ phone numbers?

Yes, WhatsApp supports switching between international numbers as long as you have access to verify both numbers.

Conclusion

Switching back to an old WhatsApp number is straightforward if you still have access to that number and account. Just go through the change number process and verify the code. Be aware that you may lose your chat history, groups, and contacts from the time on your new number unless you do a backup transfer before switching. Preparing ahead of time by backing up chats and noting group info minimizes disruption.

Steps	To Switch Back to Old Number
1	Backup chats on old phone
2	Note down groups to rejoin
3	Go to Change Number in WhatsApp
4	Enter and verify old number
5	Transfer chat history from new to old device

With a few simple steps, you can switch your WhatsApp account back to your old number if it’s still available. Just be prepared to re-add contacts and groups if you want to pick up where you left off.

What if I lost access to my old number?

If you no longer have access to your old number and device, here are some options to try to change back:

Contact your carrier to see if they can re-assign your old number to a new SIM
Use WhatsApp’s account recovery process to try to recover your account
Start a new WhatsApp account with your old number if available

Begin a new WhatsApp account and ask contacts to message you

Without access to your old number, there’s no direct way to reinstate your account. You’ll have to either get your carrier to assign you that number again or start fresh with a new account.

Can I temporarily use two WhatsApp numbers?

Unfortunately, no. WhatsApp only allows one number to be linked to an account at a time. You’d have to frequently change back and forth between the two numbers if you wanted to temporarily use both.

How can I tell my contacts I’m changing my number?

To notify your contacts, you can change your profile name to indicate your new number. You can also post in any common groups you share with contacts or broadcast a message letting people know before you switch numbers.

Will my chat history remain intact when I switch back?

Yes, the chat history on your old number will be there intact when you switch back. Only new chats and groups from your time on the new number will be lost.

Can I transfer WhatsApp data from iPhone to Android?

Yes, WhatsApp allows cross-platform chat history transfers between iOS and Android. Use the Change Number option and follow prompts.

Backing Up Your Account Before Switching Numbers

Before you change your WhatsApp number, it’s a good idea to back up your account. This preserves your chat history, media, and settings so you can restore them later. Here are ways to back up WhatsApp:

Android Backup

Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup
Tap Back Up to create a new backup in Google Drive

You can also enable automatic daily backups here

iPhone Backup

Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
Tap Back Up Now to create an iCloud backup

Enable auto backup to do daily backups

With your backup complete, your chat history and data will be preserved when you change numbers. You can then restore from the backup after activating WhatsApp on your new number.

Third-Party Backup Tools

Some other ways to back up WhatsApp data include:

WhatsApp’s built-in Google Drive and iCloud backup features
Third-party apps like dr.fone and iMyFone for WhatsApp backup
Manually exporting chat history to email or files

Using a local backup tool to create a full system backup

Backing up ensures you don’t lose important WhatsApp data when you change numbers. Test restoring your backup to confirm it works correctly before changing numbers.

Using WhatsApp on Multiple Devices

WhatsApp recently introduced the ability to use one account on multiple devices. This can make switching numbers easier. Here’s how it works:

Linking Devices

Open WhatsApp on your main device and go to Settings > Linked Devices
On your secondary device, install WhatsApp and scan the QR code from your main device
Verify your number on the second device when prompted

Using Multiple Devices

You can now use WhatsApp on both devices simultaneously
Messages will sync across linked devices automatically
You can link up to 4 total devices to one account

Switching Numbers

When you switch numbers, keep WhatsApp open on linked devices
Scan the QR code on your new device to link it
You’ll maintain access on previously linked devices and new device

Using multiple devices makes switching numbers easier since your chat history stays synced across devices. Just link your new number without losing access on other devices.

Troubleshooting Problems Changing Back

Some common problems and solutions when trying to change back to an old WhatsApp number:

Can’t Receive Verification Code

Make sure your old number is still active with calling and texting capability

Contact your carrier to resolve any service issues on the number
Use another number to receive the code if your old number doesn’t work

Missing Chat History

Back up chats before switching numbers then restore the backup

Use WhatsApp’s Chat History Transfer feature when changing back
Export chat history to a third-party app before switching

Error “Number is Invalid”

Your old number may have been reassigned to someone else

Contact your carrier to confirm your number’s status
Try signing up for a new WhatsApp account with your old number

Contacts and Groups Missing

You’ll need to re-add any new contacts/groups from your time on the new number

Let your most important contacts know you’re changing back
Make a list of key groups to rejoin once you switch back

Following WhatsApp’s process closely and doing backups can help avoid most issues when changing back to an old number. Contact WhatsApp support if you encounter technical difficulties.

WhatsApp Support Resources

If you encounter problems switching back that you can’t resolve, here are some WhatsApp support resources:

WhatsApp FAQ

WhatsApp has an extensive FAQ section covering common problems with changing numbers and other issues:

https://faq.whatsapp.com

WhatsApp Help Center

You can browse articles or contact support via email for help with WhatsApp issues:

https://www.whatsapp.com/contact

WhatsApp on Social Media

You can also reach out to WhatsApp support on Twitter or Facebook:

Tweets by WhatsApp

https://www.facebook.com/WhatsApp

WhatsApp Community Forum

Search for answers or post questions in WhatsApp’s community forums:

https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/community

Make use of these options if you need more help resolving issues changing back to your old WhatsApp number.