Quick Answer
There are a few common reasons why WhatsApp may suddenly log you out:
- Your phone number changed or was reassigned to someone else
- You switched devices or restored your phone from a backup
- Your WhatsApp account was banned
- You haven’t used WhatsApp in over 120 days
- There’s an issue with your phone’s date/time settings
- You cleared your app data or cache
- You’re using unsupported or modified versions of WhatsApp
The most likely causes are switching devices, restoring your phone, or not using WhatsApp for an extended period. But issues with your phone number, date/time settings, or app data can also unexpectedly log you out.
What to Do When Logged Out of WhatsApp
If you find yourself unexpectedly logged out of WhatsApp, don’t panic. Here are the steps to get back into your account:
- Open WhatsApp and tap “Agree and Continue” or “Accept” to agree to the Terms of Service.
- On the “Enter your phone number” screen, enter your full phone number in international format.
- Tap “Next” and WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code to your phone number.
- Once received, enter the verification code and tap “Next.”
- On the “Restore chats” screen, you can restore your chat history from your Google Drive backup.
- Finally, WhatsApp should verify your number and restore your account.
This process works for any unexpected logouts. As long as you still have access to your phone number, you can regain access to your WhatsApp account and messages.
If you’re switching devices or installing WhatsApp for the first time, you’ll need to verify your number and accept the Terms of Service. WhatsApp will then build a new account for you on that device.
Why Your WhatsApp Number Changed
One of the most common WhatsApp logout causes is when your phone number changes. This often happens when:
- You get a new phone number from your mobile carrier.
- You switch phone carriers and port your number.
- Your mobile carrier recyles your old number and gives it to someone else.
In these cases, your old WhatsApp account is tied to a number you no longer use. When you try to log in with your new number, it will create a fresh WhatsApp account instead.
To fix this, you need to update your WhatsApp number to match your new phone number:
- Open WhatsApp > Tap Menu > Settings > Account > Change Number.
- Enter your old and new phone numbers.
- Tap “Next” and WhatsApp will send a verification code to your new number.
- Enter the code and your old WhatsApp account will be linked to your new number.
This will merge your WhatsApp data to your new phone number so you don’t lose your chats or groups.
Note that if your old number was given to someone else, they could have access to your WhatsApp account. Make sure to enable two-step verification for added security.
Switching Devices Can Log You Out
Switching to a new Android, iPhone, or tablet can also lead to sudden WhatsApp logouts.
That’s because each WhatsApp account is tied to one mobile device at a time. If you activate your account on a new device, it will log out of the old one.
The good news is your chat history is saved in the cloud. So when logging into WhatsApp on your new device, you can restore your chats during setup:
- Install and open WhatsApp on your new phone.
- Agree to the Terms of Service and verify your number.
- On the “Restore chats” screen, tap “Restore” to pull your chat history from Google Drive.
- Give WhatsApp time to download and restore your chats so you don’t lose your message history.
Just remember to move your SIM card to your new phone before installing WhatsApp. Otherwise you could have issues receiving SMS verification codes.
Restoring Your Phone Can Log You Out
If you recently reset your phone to factory settings or restored it from a backup, this can also Unexpectedly log you out of WhatsApp.
When you reset your phone, it erases all app data, including your WhatsApp account details and chats. So WhatsApp has no way to recognize your device.
But there’s no need to worry – you can still recover your WhatsApp account after resetting your phone:
- When you first launch WhatsApp after a reset, it will prompt you to enter your phone number.
- WhatsApp will send a verification code to confirm your number.
- During the setup process, tap “Restore” when prompted to restore your chat history from Google Drive.
- Let WhatsApp pull down and restore your chat backups so you don’t lose any prior conversations.
The same goes for restoring your phone from an iTunes or iCloud backup. As long as chat history was included in the backup, you can get back all your old WhatsApp data.
Banned or Suspended WhatsApp Accounts
In some cases, your WhatsApp account may be unexpectedly logged out because it was banned or suspended.
This can happen if WhatsApp detects suspicious activity or violations of their Terms of Service. Some examples include:
- Sending spam messages
- Automated or bulk messaging
- Spreading misinformation or fake news
- Abusing or harassing other users
Banned accounts will be logged out of WhatsApp. And newly logged-in accounts get detected and automatically banned again.
If you think your account was banned by mistake, contact WhatsApp to appeal the ban:
- Open WhatsApp and tap “OK” when you see the suspension notice.
- Tap “Contact Support” and fill out the on-screen form to submit an appeal.
- Explain why you believe the ban was an error and request your account be restored.
- Wait for WhatsApp to review your appeal and decide whether to lift the ban.
However, keep in mind appeals don’t always work, especially for severe or repeat violations. Creating a new account to evade a ban will also result in that account getting banned.
Not Using WhatsApp for 120 Days
To free up phone numbers, WhatsApp may recycle inactive accounts after 120 days of inactivity.
This means if you don’t open WhatsApp for 120 days, you could find your account was unexpectedly logged out or deleted.
When you try to log back in, it will be treated as a new account. You’ll have to reverify your number and start new chats instead of accessing your old messages.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to recover an inactive WhatsApp account after 120 days. The account is permanently deleted along with your chat history.
To avoid this, make sure to open WhatsApp regularly on your phone. Even once every few months is enough to keep your account active.
Time and Date Issues Can Log You Out
WhatsApp logouts can also happen if your phone’s time and date settings are inaccurate:
- An incorrect date can confuse WhatsApp’s activity tracking and logs you out.
- A wrong time zone also leads to inconsistencies that may log you out.
- If your clock shifts ahead by a large time difference, this can log you out.
To prevent this, always keep your phone’s date and time accurate and set to automatic sync:
- Go to Settings > System > Date & Time.
- Make sure “Automatic date & time” and “Automatic time zone” are enabled.
- Select your current time zone.
With automatic date and time sync enabled, your phone will always stay up to date. And you won’t have to worry about any sudden WhatsApp logouts.
Clearing App Data or Cache
You may also inadvertently log yourself out of WhatsApp if you clear the app’s data or cache.
This can happen if you:
- Delete WhatsApp data using your phone’s storage settings.
- Use a phone cleaner app to clear WhatsApp data.
- Manually wipe the WhatsApp app cache in your phone’s settings.
When you clear an app’s data or cache, your phone deletes all local account details and activity data. As far as WhatsApp knows, it’s a brand new install.
Just reverify your phone number when you open WhatsApp again after cleaning app data. Your chat history is still safely stored in Google Drive or iCloud.
Using Unsupported WhatsApp Versions
Using outdated or modified versions of WhatsApp can also lead to unexpected logouts:
- Outdated versions – WhatsApp regularly stops supporting old app versions. Using a severely outdated version may cause login issues.
- Unsupported third-party versions – Unofficial WhatsApp mods like GBWhatsApp are banned and will get automatically logged out.
- Jailbroken or rooted phones – Rooted devices using tweaked APK files may trigger WhatsApp’s anti-ban systems.
To avoid problems, always install official WhatsApp updates from Google Play or the App Store. Avoid third-party APK downloads or jailbreaking your device.
When You Can’t Log Back Into WhatsApp
In most cases, you can easily fix WhatsApp login issues by reverifying your number or restoring chat history.
But occasionally, you may find yourself permanantly locked out of your account. Situations where you can no longer log back into WhatsApp include:
- You lost access to your phone number due to account closure, porting issues, or the number getting assigned to someone else.
- Your account is banned by WhatsApp and your ban appeal got rejected.
- Your account was inactive for over 120 days and got deleted.
- You forgot your phone’s password/passcode and can’t access WhatsApp.
If you’re permamently locked out, your only options are to either:
- Open a new WhatsApp account with a different phone number.
- Wait up to 120 days for your old number to be recycled, then reclaim it.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to recover a lost or banned WhatsApp account. Your chat history and groups are gone for good.
So be sure to regularly back up chats and avoid actions that violate WhatsApp’s Terms of Service.
How to Back Up Your WhatsApp Chats
Given how suddenly you can lose access to your WhatsApp account, it’s vital to regularly back up your chats:
- Google Drive (Android) – WhatsApp automatically saves chat history to your Google Drive account. You can adjust backup frequency in WhatsApp Settings.
- iCloud (iPhone) – Enable WhatsApp chat backups in iPhone Settings > iCloud. Backups occur daily when charging and on WiFi.
- Local Backup – You can also manually backup WhatsApp to local storage or computer using WhatsApp’s export chat feature.
As long as you have backups enabled, you can restore your chat history if logged out of your account. Backups give you a way to recover lost WhatsApp data.
Avoiding WhatsApp Bans
To reduce the risk of a mistaken or permanent WhatsApp ban:
- Don’t send spammy messages, chain letters, or automatically generated content.
- Never buy, sell, or share WhatsApp accounts – this is against their Terms.
- Don’t use hacked, cracked, or unofficial modded versions of WhatsApp.
- Never exploit WhatsApp bugs or security issues.
Stick to using WhatsApp normally in compliance with their policies. This keeps your account in good standing so you can avoid permament bans.
Key Takeaways
- Unexpected WhatsApp logouts commonly happen when switching devices, after restoring your phone, or due to inactivity.
- Issues with your phone number, date/time settings, app data, or unsupported app versions may also log you out.
- You can recover your account by re-verifying your phone number and restoring chat history.
- Lost phone numbers, bans, inactivity, and forgotten passwords can prevent you from logging back in.
- Regularly back up chats so you can recover your messages if logged out.
Conclusion
Losing access to your WhatsApp account can be inconvenient and even stressful. But in most cases, you can easily regain access by re-verifying your number.
Be sure to regularly back up your chats and avoid actions that violate WhatsApp’s Terms of Service. This will help ensure you stay logged in and don’t lose access to your messages.
With proper backups, switching devices and restoring your phone don’t have to result in lost WhatsApp data. And you’ll have peace of mind knowing your chat history is safe if you ever find yourself unexpectedly logged out.