Registering WhatsApp on your phone again can mean a few different things. Here are some of the main reasons why you may need to register WhatsApp again on your device:
You Got a New Phone
One of the most common reasons for re-registering WhatsApp is that you got a new phone. When you get a new phone, you’ll need to install WhatsApp and register your account on the new device. This links your WhatsApp account to the new phone.
During the registration process, you’ll be prompted to verify your phone number. WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code to your number that you’ll need to enter to complete the registration. This confirms you own the phone number and links it to your new device.
You Reinstalled WhatsApp
If you reinstall WhatsApp after deleting it from your phone, you’ll also need to re-register your account. This includes if you wipe your phone back to factory settings and reinstall your apps. The reinstallation process erases your locally stored WhatsApp data, so you have to register again from scratch.
The process is the same as registering on a new phone. You’ll verify your phone number and link your WhatsApp account back to your device. This restores access to your chats, contacts, settings, and other data that is stored in the cloud.
Your Phone Number Changed
If you got a new phone number, you must re-register WhatsApp under your new number. WhatsApp accounts are tied directly to your phone number as the primary identifier. Your chats, groups, and contacts won’t automatically transfer to the new number.
To move your WhatsApp account to a new number, you first need to register your account on the new number. This will create a fresh WhatsApp ID tied to the new number. You can then use WhatsApp’s chat history transfer process to migrate your old chats and data to the new account.
Your Account Was Banned
In some cases, your WhatsApp account may get banned for violating WhatsApp’s terms of service. This usually happens if you use third-party mods, spam others, or engage in illegal activities.
If your account gets banned, you’ll need to register your number again to use WhatsApp. However, your prior chat history will not carry over to the new account. You’ll have to start fresh with a clean slate if your old account was banned.
You Have a Dual SIM Phone
On dual SIM phones, you can only use one WhatsApp account at a time. If you swap your active SIM card, you’ll need to re-register WhatsApp using the new SIM. This links your WhatsApp ID to the currently active number.
You can switch between SIMs as needed. Each time you swap SIMs, you’ll have to complete the verification process again to use WhatsApp on that number.
Your Phone Was Stolen or Lost
If you lose your phone or it gets stolen, you should immediately re-register your WhatsApp account on a new device. This prevents the thief from accessing your WhatsApp account on your lost phone.
To re-register, simply install WhatsApp on your new phone and verify your number. This securely relinks your account to your SIM card on the new device. It will sign you out from the lost device and prevent further access.
You Want to Use Multiple Devices
WhatsApp recently introduced the ability to use your account on multiple devices. To set this up, you need to re-register your phone as the “linked device” even if WhatsApp was already installed.
This special registration links your phone as the primary device. You can then connect up to 4 additional PCs or tablets to use WhatsApp seamlessly across multiple devices.
Your Phone Number Was Hacked
If your phone number gets hacked, the hacker could potentially access your WhatsApp account. To prevent this, you should immediately re-register your number with WhatsApp on a safe device you own.
This revokes access on the hacked SIM card. You’ll regain control of your old chats and groups under your number. You should also contact your carrier to report the hacking attempt and get a new SIM card issued.
You Want to Transfer Your Account to Another Number
WhatsApp does not allow you to change the phone number linked to your account. If you want to transfer your WhatsApp account to a different number entirely, you’ll need to go through a re-registration process.
First, register your account on the new number on a separate device. Then use the change number feature on your old phone to link up the new registration. This will migrate your account and data to the new number.
Conclusion
In summary, re-registering your WhatsApp account associates your account with a new device or phone number. This is required when you get a new phone, change numbers, replace your SIM, or want to use WhatsApp on multiple devices. Re-registration protects your account when your phone is lost or hacked. It also wipes your data if your old account was banned for Terms of Service violations.
| Reason | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Got a new phone | Links your account to the new device |
| Reinstalled WhatsApp | Resets app and relinks your account |
| Phone number changed | Creates new account on new number |
| Account banned | Creates fresh account, chat history lost |
| Dual SIM phone | Switches account to different SIM |
| Phone lost/stolen | Secures account by relinking to new device |
| Want multi-device | Links phone as primary device for multi-device |
| Number hacked | Regains control of account from hacker |
| Transfer account | Moves account to a different number |
What Happens When You Re-Register WhatsApp?
When you re-register WhatsApp, here’s what generally happens:
Verification of Phone Number
You’ll need to enter your phone number to start the registration process. WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code to your number via SMS or phone call.
This confirms you own the phone number and have access to it on your device. It prevents others from registering your number without permission.
Account Linking
Once verified, your phone number will be linked to your WhatsApp account ID. Your account info and chat data will be pulled from WhatsApp’s servers and linked to the app on your device.
If registering for the first time, a new WhatsApp ID will be created tied specifically to your phone number.
Restoring Chat History
In most cases your chat history will be restored once your account is verified and linked to your device. This includes your messages, groups, contacts and settings.
However, if your account was banned or you’re registering with a new number, your chat history will not carry over.
New Security Key Generation
Part of the registration process generates new security keys to validate your device. These keys help keep your account secure by tracking registration attempts.
If you lose your phone and try to register your number on a new device, the security keys will change and instantly log you out of the lost device.
How to Re-Register WhatsApp
If you need to re-register WhatsApp for any reason, here are the steps to follow:
1. Install WhatsApp
First, download and install the latest version of WhatsApp from your device’s app store. Make sure you install WhatsApp on the phone number you want to register it on.
2. Open WhatsApp & Enter Phone Number
Open WhatsApp and agree to the Terms of Service. On the registration screen, enter your full phone number including country code.
For example, for a US number enter: +1xxx5550123. Make sure to use the number for your currently active SIM card.
3. Verify Phone Number
WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code to your phone number via SMS or call. Enter this code when prompted to verify ownership of your number.
If you don’t receive the code, tap the call option to receive it via a voice call instead of SMS.
4. Set a Profile Name
On the next screen, enter a profile name that will be visible to your WhatsApp contacts. You can use your regular name or a nickname here.
5. Allow Contacts Sync
WhatsApp will ask to access your phone’s contacts. Grant this permission so it can sync your existing contacts who also use WhatsApp.
If you deny access, you’ll have to manually add each WhatsApp contact.
6. Verify Registration
Once the above steps are complete, your WhatsApp account will be fully registered and linked to your phone. Verify everything looks correct before start using WhatsApp.
All your old chats, groups, and settings should automatically restore once registration is successful. You may see “Updating” screens as data syncs from the servers.
Important Things to Know When Re-Registering
Here are some key points to remember when re-registering your WhatsApp account:
Use the Same Phone Number
You must re-register using the same phone number that is currently associated with your WhatsApp account. Attempting to register with a new number will create a fresh account.
You’ll Get Logged Out of Old Devices
As soon as you re-register your number on a new device, you’ll instantly get logged out from any old devices. This links your account exclusively to your new phone.
It Can Take Up to 24 Hours for Chats to Restore
While your chats usually come back quickly, it can sometimes take up to 24 hours for your full chat history to sync and restore. Be patient while cloud data transfers.
Linked Devices Get Unlinked Automatically
If your phone was previously linked to other devices like PCs, tablets, or Portal, re-registering on a new smartphone will unlink it from those devices automatically.
Tell Contacts You Got a New Number if Needed
If you’re registering with a new phone number, let your important WhatsApp contacts know that you have a new number. So they know who the new account belongs to when you message them.
Groups May Need to Re-add You
Some WhatsApp groups may not recognize your account with a new number right away. You may need to ask group admins to re-add you to continue participating.
Troubleshooting Problems
If you encounter issues while trying to re-register WhatsApp, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Didn’t Receive Verification Code
If the verification text or call didn’t come through, first check your signal strength. Move to an area with better reception and tap Retry. You can switch between SMS and voice call verification options.
Also check if you entered the right country code and number. Verify the number matches your SIM card.
Account Banned Error
If your old account was banned, you’ll get an error message saying your phone number is banned when trying to re-register. You will need to appeal the ban or use a different unbanned number.
Couldn’t Migrate Chat History
If your old chats didn’t transfer over, go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat History > Export Chat History to create a local backup. Then import this backup file after reinstalling WhatsApp to recover lost chats.
Old Account Still Showing
It can sometimes take up to 24 hours for your old device to get logged out after re-registering your number on a new phone. Be patient and use the new device in the meantime.
WhatsApp Account Registration FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about registering and re-registering WhatsApp accounts:
Can I Use One WhatsApp Account on Multiple Phones?
No, one WhatsApp account can only be active on one device at a time. You have to re-register an account each time you switch devices or phone numbers.
Is My Chat History Deleted When I Register Again?
Usually your chat history is restored when re-registering the same number. However, any banned or non-transferred accounts will lose chat history. Local backups can sometimes recover lost data.
Can I Change the Phone Number on My Current WhatsApp Account?
No, you cannot directly change the number on an existing WhatsApp account. You’ll need to sign up on the new number first, then use the Change Number feature to transfer your account.
How Do I Know if My Number is Banned?
You’ll get an error message saying your phone number is banned from WhatsApp if you try to register a banned account. Appeals need to go through WhatsApp support to lift a ban.
Can I Transfer WhatsApp From Android to iPhone?
Yes, you can transfer your WhatsApp account between Android and iPhone. Use the Change Number feature and scan the QR code on your new device to link your account.
How Do I Set Up WhatsApp on Multiple Devices?
First re-register your account on your smartphone, which becomes the linked device. Then on secondary devices, use the Linked Devices option in WhatsApp Settings to scan a QR code and link up.
Conclusion
In summary, re-registering your WhatsApp account is necessary when you switch devices, change phone numbers, or want to use multiple devices. The process involves verifying your number via SMS/call and linking your ID to your new phone.
Be sure to use the same number your account is currently registered under. Your chat history will generally carry over, unless your prior account was banned. Overall, re-registration is quick and easy – just follow the on-screen prompts to get your account linked with your new smartphone or SIM card.