If you’re new to the world of WhatsApp or you’re looking to start again fresh, you’re going to want to make sure you go through the account registration process correctly to avoid any unnecessary issues.
First of all, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the latest version of WhatsApp Messenger downloaded. You’ll also want to make sure that you have a stable connection to the internet, preferably in the 3G, 4G, or WiFi range on your carrier’s home network. It’s possible the registration may fail if you’re roaming. You’ll also need to be able to receive international text messages.
When you first open WhatsApp, you’ll be prompted to enter your correct phone number. This is arguably the most important part of the registration process, as it makes it easier for friends to find you and you won’t be able to complete registration without the correct number being registered.
The first space is where you’ll enter your country code. If you don’t know this information, you can find it on our International Dialing Codes page. Remember to enter only the country code and leave out any extra 0s before the number. Once you’ve confirmed the phone number is correct, you can tap Yes on iPhone and Android, or tap Continue on Windows Phone.
You’ll get a confirmation SMS message with a 6-digit verification code, which you can enter on the next screen you see. Keep in mind that it may take up to 10 minutes according to WhatsApp for you to receive your code. If you don’t receive it at this time, repeat the above steps. Alternatively, you can also request a phone call once the timer on the verification code screen runs out. The phone call will provide you with the activation code that you can enter in order to proceed into WhatsApp.
Or perhaps you’re more interested in deleting an old account and starting from scratch? It’s actually quite common and there are a number of reasons why starting from scratch might seem like the best choice.
The process is actually quite simple and very similar regardless of what mobile operating system you use. In fact, the only real difference is found in Android, which requires the press of the Menu button. From there, the process with all three major operating systems is the same. Select Settings, then tap on Account. Finally select Delete Account (Delete My Account for Windows Phone).
The next screen will prompt you to enter your phone number in full international format (i.e. using the country codes at the link above). Once you’ve entered your phone number, press [delete] or [Delete My Account] (depending on your version) at the bottom of the screen to finish deleting your account. Then you’re ready to follow the steps outlined above to register a completely new account!