Quick Overview
There are a few common reasons why WhatsApp may have logged you out unexpectedly:
- You updated to a new version of WhatsApp
- Your phone switched to a new number
- You reinstalled WhatsApp or switched phones
- Your phone was restored to factory settings
- You haven’t used WhatsApp in over 120 days
In most cases, logging back in is as simple as re-verifying your phone number. Just tap “Log in” and enter your full phone number when prompted. WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code via SMS or call to log back in.
Updating to a New Version
One of the most common reasons for getting logged out of WhatsApp is updating to a new version of the app. WhatsApp frequently releases updates with new features and bug fixes.
When a major update is released, you may open WhatsApp to find you’ve been logged out. This is normal behavior and helps ensure a smooth update process.
Here’s what happens when a major WhatsApp update occurs:
- The new update is pushed out to users’ devices.
- When you open WhatsApp after the update, it detects the old version is out of date.
- WhatsApp logs you out and prompts you to log back in to initialize the new version.
This logout process allows WhatsApp to migrate your data and settings to the new version cleanly. As long as you log back in with your phone number, your chats and info will be intact.
To avoid surprise logouts from WhatsApp updates, enable auto-updates for your apps in your device settings. This way each update will install smoothly in the background without interrupting your messaging.
How to Re-Login After an Update
If you get logged out after updating WhatsApp, simply re-verify your phone number:
- Tap “Log in” on the WhatsApp login screen.
- Enter your full phone number in international format when prompted.
- Tap “Request SMS” or “Call me” to receive a 6-digit verification code.
- Enter the code and tap OK to log back in.
This quick process will get you back into your chats in just a few seconds. As long as your number is the same, your chat history will be intact.
Switching Phone Numbers
Changing your phone number will also result in being logged out of WhatsApp automatically.
WhatsApp ties your account directly to your phone number. So when you get a new number, WhatsApp will detect the change and log you out for security reasons.
Here are some cases when changing numbers can log you out:
- You switch mobile providers and get assigned a new number.
- You change to a new phone plan with a new number.
- You port your number to a different carrier.
Whenever your underlying phone number changes, WhatsApp will view that as your account switching numbers.
To get back into your account, you’ll need to log in with your new phone number and verify it. This will migrate your account over to the new number.
Transferring Your Chats to a New Number
When you change numbers, your chat history can transfer over to your new number through WhatsApp’s “Change Number” feature:
- Install WhatsApp on your new phone and log in with your new number.
- Go to Settings > Account > Change Number.
- Enter your old number and tap Next.
- Enter the 6-digit code auto-sent to your old number and tap Next.
- Tap OK to confirm changing your number. Your chats will now transfer over.
This process associates your new phone number with your account so you don’t lose your chat history. Make sure to do it within 14 days of changing numbers.
Reinstalling WhatsApp or Switching Phones
If you uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, or switch to a new device entirely, you’ll also get logged out automatically as a security measure.
When you reinstall WhatsApp or activate it on a new phone with your same number, it will view your account as disconnected from the previous device. WhatsApp does this to prevent others from accessing your account if they install WhatsApp on another phone.
To get back in:
- Enter your phone number when prompted after reinstalling or activating WhatsApp.
- Verify your number via SMS or call.
- You’ll then regain access to your chats and info.
As long as you use the same phone number, your chat history won’t be lost when switching devices. Your data is synced to your account, not the app install itself.
Transferring Chats to a New Phone
For a seamless transition when getting a new phone, use WhatsApp’s built-in chat transfer feature:
- On your old phone, back up your chats via Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- On your new phone, install WhatsApp and log in with your number.
- On the ‘Restore Backup’ screen, tap Restore to transfer your chats.
Backing up chats saves your entire chat history. Transferring the backup migrates everything flawlessly to your new phone.
Restoring Your Phone
If you reset your phone to factory settings, it will sign you out of WhatsApp. Resetting your phone erases its memory entirely, including your WhatsApp account info and authentication.
Some reasons for restoring your phone include:
- Fixing software bugs or performance issues.
- Removing a forgotten passcode.
- Preparing to sell or give away the device.
After a reset, simply log back into your WhatsApp account:
- Enter your phone number when prompted.
- Verify it via SMS or call.
- Your chat history will be restored from the cloud backup.
Just make sure to regularly back up chats before performing a reset. This ensures you won’t lose important chat data.
Using Backup to Restore Chats
If you reset your phone without backing up chats, you may lose your chat history.
However, you can restore conversations from a previous backup:
- Log into WhatsApp on your newly reset device.
- Tap Restore when prompted to restore backups.
- Select the backup date to restore chats from iCloud or Google Drive.
Backups are saved for several weeks. Select a recent enough date to recover your lost chats.
Account Inactivity
If you don’t use WhatsApp for an extended period, your account may get logged out automatically. According to WhatsApp’s terms, accounts are considered inactive after 120 days of no usage.
Reasons for prolonged WhatsApp inactivity include:
- Switching to another messaging app.
- Going on vacation without your phone.
- Changing phone numbers and forgetting to re-verify.
- Uninstalling WhatsApp during a long break from messaging.
When you try logging back in after 120+ days, WhatsApp will prompt you to re-verify your number. This ensures that your account and phone number still match after a long absence.
Regaining Access After Inactivity
To log back into WhatsApp after inactivity, just re-verify your number:
- Enter your full phone number when prompted after opening WhatsApp.
- Confirm the number via text or call.
- You’ll regain access to your chats as long as you have the same number.
WhatsApp will then reconnect your account details with your phone number so you can pick up where you left off.
Other Less Common Factors
Some other rare cases that can cause a WhatsApp logout include:
- Exceeding the number of devices allowed per account (4).
- Having an extended WiFi or data outage.
- Updating your device’s operating system.
- Your phone number gets suspended by your carrier.
These situations are occasional exceptions rather than common reasons. But in any case, just log back in with your phone number and verify it to get reconnected.
Preventing Unexpected Logouts
To avoid getting logged out unexpectedly:
- Enable auto-updates for WhatsApp so updates don’t interrupt you.
- Back up chats regularly in case you switch devices or lose your phone.
- Use WhatsApp periodically if you have secondary devices.
- Associate your account with an email address as well for added security.
Following these tips will help prevent surprise logouts from disrupting your messaging. Stay logged in seamlessly.
Recovering Your Account if You Forget Your Number
In rare cases, you may forget your phone number after long periods of WhatsApp inactivity. This makes it impossible to log back in without your number.
If you can’t recover your number through your carrier, you can regain access to your account by emailing WhatsApp Support through their Contact Us page.
WhatsApp can verify account ownership through the following info:
- Your phone make and model.
- Date you registered your number.
- List of frequent WhatsApp contacts.
By providing details that only you could know, WhatsApp Support can confirm you’re the account owner. They can then help you recover or replace the number so you can access your account.
Preventing Lockouts if You Lose Your Number
To avoid getting locked out if you ever lose your number, set up account recovery options in WhatsApp beforehand:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account.
- Tap “Change Number” and enter an email address.
- Verify the email to associate it with your account.
If you ever forget your number, you can reset it via email without contacting WhatsApp Support. Your email acts as backup verification to restore access.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you get logged out of WhatsApp unexpectedly, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Force close and restart the WhatsApp app.
- Check for app updates and install if available.
- Reboot your phone to clear any software glitches.
- Check your WiFi and cellular data connections.
- Make sure your phone plan and number are still active.
- Contact your carrier if your number seems to have changed.
In most cases, a simple re-login will get you back up and running. But if issues persist, these steps can help identify potential causes.
When to Contact WhatsApp Support
If the common troubleshooting tips don’t fix your WhatsApp login issues, contact their support team for further help:
- You can’t receive SMS or calls for verification.
- Your number is no longer valid or has changed.
- You forgot your phone number associated with your account.
- Your issue prevents account access despite re-verifying.
WhatsApp Support can investigate issues with your account and help recover access in many cases through their email contact form.
Conclusion
Unexpectedly getting logged out of WhatsApp is annoying but easily fixable in most situations. The most common reasons involve updating the app, changing phone numbers, switching devices, or prolonged inactivity.
To get back into your account, simply re-validate your phone number when prompted after opening WhatsApp. Your chat history won’t be lost as long as your number matches your registered account.
Avoid surprise logouts by enabling auto-updates, backing up chats routinely, and verifying your account with a secondary email address. Getting logged out without warning can disrupt your messaging – but following simple best practices will keep your access seamless.
| Reason | Prevention | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Update | Enable Auto-Updates | Re-verify Number |
| Number Change | Use Account Transfer | Re-verify New Number |
| Reinstalled App | Back Up Chats | Restore Backup |
| Reset Phone | Regular Backups | Restore From Backup |
| Account Inactivity | Periodic Usage | Re-verify Number |