WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion active users. If you suddenly see the message “Your phone number is no longer registered on this phone” when opening WhatsApp, it can be confusing and concerning.
What does this message mean?
This message means that the WhatsApp account associated with your phone number has been registered on another device. So essentially, WhatsApp thinks your number is now being used on a different phone.
There are a few potential reasons you might see this message:
- You got a new phone and installed WhatsApp, without first uninstalling it from your old phone.
- Someone else has registered your phone number on their device and is using your WhatsApp account.
- Your phone was stolen and the thief registered your number on a new device.
- Your phone number was incorrectly registered by someone else by mistake.
The most common reason is that you have switched phones and still have WhatsApp installed on your old device. WhatsApp can only be activated on one device at a time with the same number, so it will show this message if it detects your number on two phones.
How to fix “Your phone number is no longer registered on this phone”
Here are the steps to take if you see this message on WhatsApp:
- First, uninstall and delete WhatsApp from your old phone. This will unregister your number from that device.
- Make sure you still have access to your old phone number and SIM card.
- Install WhatsApp on your new phone and register using the same phone number.
- WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code via SMS to activate your account.
- Enter the verification code to verify your number on the new device.
Following these steps should re-register your phone number to the new device and resolve the issue. You will regain access to your full WhatsApp account and chat history.
If you lost access to your old number/SIM
If you no longer have access to your old phone number, for example if your phone was stolen, then you will need to contact WhatsApp support to unregister your old number:
- Email [email protected] from your registered email address.
- Explain that you lost access to your number and cannot uninstall WhatsApp from the old device.
- Provide your old phone number and request that it be unregistered from the account.
- WhatsApp can then unverify your old number so you can register your new number.
If your number was registered by someone else
In rare cases, someone else may have purposefully or accidentally registered your phone number on their device. Here’s what to do:
- First make sure the number is still working in your phone and you haven’t lost access to it.
- Contact your mobile carrier and confirm you are the owner of the phone number.
- Install WhatsApp and try registering your number again. WhatsApp will send a verification code to unregister the other device.
- If this does not work, email WhatsApp support to report your number has been misregistered.
- They will investigate and revert access of the account back to you.
How to prevent this issue
To avoid the “number no longer registered” message when switching phones, follow these best practices:
- Always uninstall WhatsApp from your old phone. This will unregister the number properly before installing on your new device.
- Log out of WhatsApp on the old phone before uninstalling the app. This adds an extra layer of security.
- Make sure to backup your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive or iCloud so you don’t lose your messages.
- Remove your SIM card from the old phone once you are done transferring your data and uninstalling WhatsApp.
- When installing WhatsApp on your new phone, use the same phone number as your old device to transfer your account seamlessly.
What to do if you can’t unregister your old device
In some cases, you may not be able uninstall WhatsApp from your old phone, for example if:
- You forgot your old phone’s lock passcode
- The old phone is damaged or broken
- You lost access to the old device
If you cannot delete WhatsApp from the old phone, here are some solutions:
- Do a factory reset on the old device if possible to wipe the WhatsApp install.
- Contact your device manufacturer for help removing the passcode.
- Use a remote uninstall app to uninstall WhatsApp remotely.
- Report the issue to WhatsApp as described above to have them unregister your number.
Why is it important to uninstall WhatsApp from your old phone?
It’s crucial to properly uninstall WhatsApp from your old device before activating it on a new phone. Here are some key reasons why:
- Security – Leaving WhatsApp installed on your old device leaves your chats vulnerable if the device is lost, stolen or sold.
- Account control – You can lose access to your WhatsApp account if someone else takes over your old device.
- Smooth transition – Uninstalling WhatsApp will seamlessly transfer your account to your new phone.
- Avoid lockout – Prevent the “number no longer registered” message by unregistering your old device.
- Multi-device support – WhatsApp’s new multi-device feature has limited device support if you don’t uninstall old installs.
So in summary, always make sure to wipe WhatsApp from your older phones to maintain control of your account and enable a smooth transition to your new device.
Can you use WhatsApp on two phones at once?
Traditionally, WhatsApp has only allowed one registered device per account at a time, tied to your phone number. But WhatsApp has recently introduced official multi-device support that allows you to use WhatsApp on up to 4 linked devices simultaneously.
To use WhatsApp on two phones at the same time, you need to:
- Update to the latest version of WhatsApp on both phones.
- On your primary phone, go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices > Multi-device beta > Enable.
- Scan the QR code on your secondary phone to link the device.
Once linked, you can use WhatsApp on both phones at the same time. However, you will only receive messages and calls on your primary device. The secondary device works while connected to the internet.
A few things to keep in mind about multi-device:
- You can only link up to 4 devices in total.
- Tablets and secondary phones must have the WhatsApp app installed.
- The primary phone must be turned on and have an active internet connection.
- If you log out or unlink devices, there is a waiting period before you can relink.
Troubleshooting tips
Here are some additional troubleshooting tips if you encounter the “number no longer registered” message:
- Force close and restart the WhatsApp app.
- Check your internet connection.
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version.
- Try reinserting your SIM card.
- Clear cache and data for the WhatsApp app.
- Try registering your number again without verifying via SMS.
- Configure your phone not to optimize battery for WhatsApp.
If none of these steps work, contacting WhatsApp support is recommended to resolve the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my old number still showing in WhatsApp?
If you still see your old number in WhatsApp even after registering a new number, it’s likely that the app did not properly unregister the old number. Try force closing WhatsApp, clearing app data, and re-registering your new number.
Can I transfer my WhatsApp account to a new number?
No, WhatsApp accounts are tied exclusively to the phone number they are registered with. To use WhatsApp with a new number, you have to set up a new account from scratch.
I lost my phone – how do I get my WhatsApp messages back?
If you set up Google Drive or iCloud backup, you can restore your backup to a new phone to recover your messages. Otherwise, they are lost forever if not backed up.
Why does it say my WhatsApp verification code is expired?
WhatsApp verification codes expire after a few minutes. Request a new code and enter it quickly. Make sure your clock/date is set correctly. Turning on flight mode can also make codes expire quickly.
How do I know if someone is using my WhatsApp account?
If your SMS or calls are going to an unknown device, or you see unfamiliar names in chat history, someone else may be using your WhatsApp. Unregister your number immediately.
Conclusion
Seeing the “number no longer registered” message on WhatsApp can be alarming but is usually an easy fix. In most cases, simply uninstalling WhatsApp from your old device and re-registering your number on the new phone will resolve it. Be sure to fully delete your WhatsApp account before switching devices to avoid any issues. With WhatsApp’s new multi-device support, you can also use WhatsApp on two phones simultaneously by linking devices. If you encounter persistent trouble, contact WhatsApp support to troubleshoot further.