WhatsApp is one of the things most people have in common. Many phone companies even pre-install WhatsApp on their product, displaying it as a system app. Doesn’t it just feel like yesterday when you installed WhatsApp on your smartphone for the first time? As a platform, WhatsApp has grown a lot since then. Multiple features and options on WhatsApp set it apart from any other platform. The WhatsApp team is attentive to user reviews, comments, and suggestions.
For example, the read receipts feature stirred up a lot of controversy at one time. The users were split into two teams, each insistent on getting a solution. One side argued that read receipts are useful because that way, they can tell the status of their message. However, others claimed it was a solid invasion of privacy and highly unacceptable.
While the first side isn’t entirely wrong, the second seems more reasonable. It isn’t possible for us to be able to reply to a message immediately after we read it. Still, if we don’t read receipts will betray us, and the sender will be upset as they’ll feel ignored.
So, WhatsApp launched the perfect solution: adding an option to turn off read receipts for those users who want to. The decision was fair because those who turned off their read receipts couldn’t see their friends’ read receipts, even if the others hadn’t turned theirs off.
This was just one example of how there’s always a solution waiting for you if you’re looking for it.
In today’s blog, we’ll discuss whether or not WhatsApp contacts can see your new phone number after you change it. Stick with us till this blog’s end to learn about it!
Can Whatsapp Contacts See My New Phone Number After I Change It?
One of the most valued things in our lives is our privacy, won’t you agree? We all want our privacy, even if others think we have nothing to hide. That is a particularly flawed notion; how can a human have nothing to hide? Societal judgment is one thing, but regardless, we all have layers in our personalities that are ideally kept a secret.
Not because the disclosure of those layers would cause us any problems but because they define us as a person. These layers contain our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes. It’s the one thing we’ll always own, no matter the circumstances in our lives.
Those thoughts and ideas, and quirks belong to us, and it’s with great strength that we share them with people. The said people are our loved ones, chosen family, and partners.
So, coming back to our point, privacy is an important aspect, and it’s more so in regard to the internet. It’s not ideal for entering our phone number, social security number, address, age, and other personal information into someplace we aren’t sure about.
Thankfully, we can safely say that if some platform deserves that trust, it’s WhatsApp. It’s one of the most functional, efficient, and accessible social media platforms. Each and every feature is designed solely to make the users’ experience easier and more delightful.
So, let’s get back to your initial question: can WhatsApp contacts see your new phone number when you change it? Well, it depends. In general, there’s no reason why WhatsApp contact will be able to see your new phone number.
However, if you link your current WhatsApp account with your new number, you can choose to share the new number with your contacts. Even if you don’t want to, your number change will be notified in any group chats you’re a part of.
So, if you don’t want your number change to be announced, leaving any groups before the change would be best.
Now that we’re done with that, let’s move on to how you can change your phone number on WhatsApp in the first place.
Here’s how you can switch to a new phone number on WhatsApp
Step 1: Launch WhatsApp on your smartphone.
Step 2: The first screen you’ll land on is the Chats page. At the top right corner, locate and tap on the three-dots icon.
Step 3: Tap on Settings from the options on the drop-down menu. On the Settings page, tap on Account and then on Change number.
Step 4: At the page’s bottom, tap on the Next button. Next, type in your previous and new phone numbers, including the country code.
Step 5: You’ll see a toggle button with Notify contacts next to it; turn it on if you wish for your friends to be notified.
Step 6: Enter the OTP (One Time Password) from both devices.
That’s all! Now you know how to easily change your phone number on WhatsApp.
Now that that’s out of the way, you might want to know about the read receipts feature we mentioned earlier. Not only is it a highly convenient feature, and it’s useful if you avoid stressful confrontations and deal with the matter later.
When your read receipts are turned off, all messages sent by others will only be marked with either one or two grey ticks.
Similarly, none of the messages sent out by you will be blue-ticked. The blue ticks will officially be turned off.
The same will happen with status update views: no one will know that you’ve seen their status update, but you won’t have a status update viewers’ list. Doesn’t that sound so reasonable?
So, if this sounds like something that might work for you, we’re all too happy to help you out with it.
Here’s how to turn off read receipts on WhatsApp
Step 1: Launch WhatsApp on your smartphone.
Step 2: The first screen is your Chats page. Tap on the three dots icon in the screen’s top right corner.
Step 3: A drop-down menu will appear; select Settings. Next, tap on the first option on the Settings page called Account, and tap on Privacy.
Step 6: On the Privacy page, locate Read receipts with a toggle button. By default, it is turned on. Turn it off.
There you go! Now you don’t need to worry about your friend being upset because they think you ignored them.
In the end
As we end this blog, let’s recap all we’ve discussed today.
WhatsApp respects your privacy; you don’t need to worry about your contacts finding your new number if you don’t want them to. WhatsApp can only tell your old contacts about your number change if you switch to a new number with the same WhatsApp account.
If you want to turn off your read receipts, we support you in this decision. They’re entirely unnecessary and cause more drama than they’re worth. Follow our step-by-step tutorial for a quick and easy process.
If our blog has helped you, don’t forget to tell us about it in the comments below!
Also Read:
