Can I verify my WhatsApp via email?

Verifying your WhatsApp account with an email address is an important step to secure your account. When your phone number changes or is stolen, having your account verified with an email allows you to regain access to your WhatsApp messages and data.

While WhatsApp does not allow you to initially verify your account via email, there are a few methods you can use to link an email address to your existing WhatsApp account. This article will walk through everything you need to know about verifying your WhatsApp account with an email.

Why Verify WhatsApp with Email?

Here are some of the key reasons to verify your WhatsApp account using an email address:

• Regain access if you get a new phone number – If you change your phone number, having your account linked to an email allows you to keep your chat history and data.
• Added security if phone number is stolen – If someone takes over your phone number, they could also take over your WhatsApp account. An email verification prevents this.
• Easier multi-device usage – Linking an email allows you to more easily use WhatsApp on multiple devices.
• Restore deleted conversations – Verifying with email can help restore conversations if your phone is lost, damaged, or wiped.

Overall, having email verification provides an important backup verification method and added security for your WhatsApp account. It helps protect your data and conversations if anything happens to your phone number.

Can I Verify a New WhatsApp Account with Email?

When you first install WhatsApp and set up a new account, you are required to verify using your phone number. WhatsApp does not give you the option to verify a brand new account with only an email address.

This is because WhatsApp relies on your phone number as the primary identifier for your account. Your contacts on WhatsApp know you by your phone number.

So while email verification is useful as a secondary backup and security method, your phone number has to be the original verification mechanism when creating your account for the first time.

How to Add Email to an Existing WhatsApp Account

If you already have a WhatsApp account set up and verified with your phone number, here are the steps to add an email address for verification:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Account > Verification.
2. You will see an option to “Verify by Email Address.” Tap on this.
3. Enter the email address you want to verify your WhatsApp account with and tap Next.
4. A 6-digit confirmation code will be emailed to that address. Enter the emailed code into WhatsApp.
5. Once entered correctly, your email will be verified and linked to your account.

This process links your email address to your account as a secondary verification method. Your phone number remains the primary ID for your account.

Can I Switch from Phone Number to Email Verification?

While you can add an email for verification, you cannot fully switch your WhatsApp account to be identified by an email address instead of your phone number. Your phone number will remain the primary ID associated with your account.

This means you cannot eliminate your phone number completely and solely verify with an email. Both verification methods are tied together.

If you get a new phone number, you will need to update it in WhatsApp’s change number process, even if your account is email-verified. Your contacts still identify you by your phone number.

Troubleshooting Email Verification Issues

Here are some common issues and fixes for problems with email verification on WhatsApp:

Email verification code not received

• Check your spam folder – the email with the code often ends up flagged as spam.
• Use another email address – try verifying with a different email if you don’t receive the code.
• Request a new code – go back into WhatsApp’s verification settings and request a new verification code.
• Double check the email entered – make sure you typed the email correctly into WhatsApp.

Verification code says expired

• Codes expire after 24 hours if unused. Request a fresh code and enter it quickly.
• Check that your system clock is set correctly – an inaccurate system time can make codes seem expired.
• Turn off any VPN or proxy services – these can sometimes interfere with verification codes.

Account already verified with same email

• This means the email is already linked to a different WhatsApp account. Use a different email you have access to.
• Or, recover access to the verified account by contacting WhatsApp support.

Following up via WhatsApp’s help center or Twitter support can also help troubleshoot any email verification issues not resolved by the steps above.

Using Email Verification for Multi-Device

One of the advantages of linking an email to your WhatsApp account is that it allows you to more easily use WhatsApp on multiple devices.

Without email verification, WhatsApp can only be used on one smartphone at a time. But with your account verified by email, you can install and use WhatsApp on up to 4 additional non-phone devices.

Here is the process to set up multi-device usage with an email-verified WhatsApp account:

1. Make sure your WhatsApp account is verified with both a phone number and email address.
2. On your secondary non-phone device, install and open WhatsApp.
3. Scan the QR code shown on the device using your primary smartphone.
4. Approve the login on your smartphone to link the device.

Once completed, that additional computer, tablet, or portal device will have independent access to your WhatsApp account. Email verification provides the keys to unlock true multi-device usage.

Using Verified Email to Restore Deleted Conversations

If your primary mobile device is lost, damaged, or wiped, having your WhatsApp account verified with an email can help restore and recover deleted WhatsApp conversations and chat history.

Here is the process to use your verified email to restore deleted chats:

1. Obtain a new replacement smartphone or device.
2. Install WhatsApp and enter your phone number to send a verification code.
3. Before verifying with the code, click the “Restore Chats” button.
4. Enter the email address previously verified on your account.
5. Follow the steps to restore your chat history on the new device.

Having your account tied to an email address allows WhatsApp to locate and transfer your chat backups from their servers onto your new device. This convenient restore option is only available if your account is email-verified.

Security Risks of Email Verification

While verifying your WhatsApp account with an email has many benefits, it also comes with some security risks to be aware of:

• Emails can be hacked – If someone gains access to your verified email account, they could take over your WhatsApp.
• Potential for more spam – Your email may see increased spam if leaked from WhatsApp’s servers.
• Phishing potential – Fraudulent “verification” emails could try to steal your WhatsApp credentials.
• Account recovery by others – Anyone with access to the verified email could potentially recover and access your WhatsApp account.

To reduce these risks:

• Use a strong and unique email password.
• Enable 2-factor authentication on your email account.
• Use a spam filtering email provider.
• Watch for fraudulent WhatsApp emails and messages.
• Limit account access to only your devices.

Practicing good email security and watchfulness for phishing attempts will keep your verified WhatsApp account safely locked down.

Verifying Your Business WhatsApp Account

WhatsApp also offers business accounts for companies and organizations. For these business accounts, here are some key things to know about email verification:

• It is mandatory – Business accounts must be verified with an email address.
• The email must be a company domain – It cannot be a standard free email provider.
• Allows you to use the same number across multiple accounts.
• Lets you easily manage and transfer accounts between users.
• Easier to maintain continuity if employees with access leave.

Overall, email verification is even more crucial for securing and maintaining WhatsApp business accounts in organizations. It provides additional tools to manage business workflows.

Conclusion

While WhatsApp was designed to work primarily with just your phone number as verification, adding email verification provides immense value:

• It creates a backup verification method to regain access if your number is lost.
• It enables true multi-device usage of WhatsApp on non-phone devices.
• It allows you to recover and restore deleted chat history and messages.
• It makes business account management much simpler.

Although you cannot initially verify a new WhatsApp account with only an email, linking and verifying your active number to an email is strongly recommended. Despite some minor security risks, the benefits and convenience of securing your account with email backup verification are significant.

Pros	Cons
Regain access if phone number lost Protect against number theft Enable multi-device usage Recover deleted chats Better business account control	Email hack risks Increased spam potential Phishing vulnerabilities Account recovery by others

So in summary – yes, you should absolutely link and verify an email to your WhatsApp account if you haven’t already. Doing so gives you important account security and flexibility that phone number verification alone cannot provide.