Losing access to your WhatsApp account can be stressful and inconvenient. WhatsApp has become an essential communication tool for many people. Not being able to access your account means losing contact with important contacts and groups. Fortunately, in most cases it is possible to recover and regain access to your WhatsApp account.
Why You May Lose Access to Your WhatsApp Account
There are several common reasons why you may no longer be able to access your WhatsApp account:
- You lost your phone or it was stolen
- Your phone was damaged or stopped working
- You got a new phone number
- You uninstalled and reinstalled WhatsApp
- You forgot your verification PIN or password
- Your account was banned by WhatsApp
Losing your phone or changing your phone number are two of the most frequent causes of losing access to a WhatsApp account. Without access to the associated phone number, you will no longer be able to use that WhatsApp account.
Requirements for Recovering Your WhatsApp Account
To recover and regain access to your WhatsApp account, there are a few key requirements:
- You need access to the phone number associated with your account
- You need the six-digit verification code that is sent to your number when registering
- Your phone number cannot already be linked to another WhatsApp account
As long as you meet these requirements, you should be able to recover and regain access to your WhatsApp account through a few steps which will be explained.
How to Recover Your WhatsApp Account
Here is a step-by-step guide to recovering and regaining access to your WhatsApp account:
On an iPhone
- Download and install WhatsApp from the App Store
- Open WhatsApp and agree to the Terms of Service
- Enter your phone number in full international format (include country code)
- Tap the “Request new code” button
- WhatsApp will send a six-digit verification code to your phone number via SMS
- Enter the verification code in WhatsApp
- You can now set a new password and regain access to your account
On an Android
- Download and install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store
- Open WhatsApp and agree to the Terms of Service
- Enter your phone number in full international format (include country code)
- Tap the “Request new code” button
- WhatsApp will send a six-digit verification code to your phone number via SMS
- Enter the verification code in WhatsApp
- You can now set a new password and regain access to your account
As long as you have access to your phone number and can receive the SMS verification code, following these steps should allow you to recover and log back in to your WhatsApp account.
What to Do If You Don’t Have the Correct Phone Number
If you no longer have access to the phone number associated with your WhatsApp account, the process is a bit more complicated. Here are the steps to take:
- Contact your phone carrier and try to recover your old number if possible
- Reach out to friends and contacts to try to find someone who may still have your old number
- Use your phone’s SIM card to try to recover the number
- Contact WhatsApp directly via email for further assistance
Without access to your previous phone number, recovering your account will be very difficult. But providing proof of ownership and contacting WhatsApp support may allow you to regain access.
How Long Does It Take to Recover a WhatsApp Account?
If you have the correct phone number, recovering your WhatsApp account is quick and simple. Just plan for the following time requirements:
- Receiving the SMS verification code: 30 seconds to 5 minutes
- Entering the verification code in WhatsApp: 1 minute
- Setting a new password: 1 minute
So if you have your number, it should take 5 minutes or less to complete the WhatsApp account recovery process.
However, if you need to recover your number first, the process could take up to several days depending on your carrier and whether you have the proper account details. Contacting WhatsApp support can also take 1-2 days to get a response.
Tips for Avoiding Losing Your WhatsApp Account
To avoid the hassle of having to recover your WhatsApp account, follow these best practices:
- Always backup your chats – this makes restoring easy
- Link your account to an email as well as your phone number
- Note down your verification PIN code when you set up your account
- Avoid uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp frequently
- Save important WhatsApp contacts under their names in your phone
Can Someone Else Take Over Your WhatsApp Account?
It is possible for someone else to take over your WhatsApp account if they have access to the SMS verification code. When you register a number with WhatsApp, it does not check that you are the legitimate owner of that number.
So if someone else gains access to your SMS messages or SIM card, they could enter your number in WhatsApp, intercept the verification code, and then register your number to a new device.
This risk is why it’s important never to give someone access to your SMS or SIM card. The only way they could legally obtain your number is through your phone carrier by providing proof they now own the number.
Permanently Deleting Your WhatsApp Account
If you wish to permanently delete your WhatsApp account and stop using the service, here are the steps:
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Go to Account > Delete My Account
- Select Delete My Account at the bottom
- Enter your phone number and tap Delete My Account again
This will begin the account deletion process. For the first 30 days, your account will remain deactivated and can still be recovered with your phone number.
However, after 30 days, your account is permanently deleted including all messages and groups. You will not be able to use that phone number again to create a new WhatsApp account.
Conclusion
Losing access to your WhatsApp account can certainly be frustrating. But in most cases, you can recover your account quickly as long as you have access to your phone number and verification code. Just be sure to backup your chats, link an email, and avoid reinstalling WhatsApp repeatedly.
With over 2 billion users, WhatsApp has become a crucial communications platform for many people worldwide. Taking the proper steps to protect and back up your account is important to avoid losing your contacts and chat history. But if you do lose access, in most cases recovery is straightforward process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my WhatsApp account without my phone number?
Recovering your WhatsApp account without access to your original phone number is very difficult. The only way is to contact WhatsApp support and provide proof that you previously owned the account.
How long does it take to recover a deleted WhatsApp account?
If your WhatsApp account was deleted but not permanently removed, you have 30 days to recover it using your phone number. After 30 days accounts are permanently deleted.
Can I use the same phone number for multiple WhatsApp accounts?
No, you cannot use the same phone number for multiple WhatsApp accounts. Each phone number can only be associated with one account at a time.
What happens if I don’t have my verification code?
Without your 6-digit verification code, you cannot recover your WhatsApp account on a new device. You need to contact WhatsApp to retrieve your account without this code.
Can someone hack my WhatsApp account?
It is possible but difficult. They would need access to your phone number’s SMS messages or SIM card to intercept the verification code during registration. Enabling two-step verification helps prevent unauthorized access.
Key Takeaways
- Regain access to your WhatsApp account by re-registering your phone number and entering the verification code
- If you lost your number, contact your carrier or WhatsApp support for assistance
- Recovery takes just a few minutes if you have your phone number
- Back up your account and link an email to avoid losing your chats
- After 30 days of deactivation, accounts are permanently deleted
Statistics on WhatsApp Usage and Account Recovery
| Total WhatsApp Users Worldwide | Over 2 billion |
| Daily Active WhatsApp Users | 1.6 billion |
| Photos Shared Daily on WhatsApp | 4.5 billion |
| WhatsApp Video Calls Daily | Over 1 billion |
| Countries Where WhatsApp is Most Popular | India, Brazil, Indonesia |
| WhatsApp Accounts Deleted Every Month | Over 1 million |
| Accounts Recovered After Deletion | 75% |