In need of a WhatsApp / iPhone expert (hero)

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Level 1

4 points

In need of a WhatsApp / iPhone expert (hero)

Hello :)

This is maybe a slightly complex question and I really, really would appreciate some help. This relates to sentimental messages and photos, which cannot be replaced if something goes wrong. I know that this is more of a WhatsApp question, however tried WhatsApp support many times in the beginning of this journey, but sadly they don’t appear to actually read the query or it’s automated responses based on keywords.

In June 2022, I had a XS max that broke/froze. I was unable to access the phone’s data, until yesterday. I now have an iPhone 12 Pro Max with almost all content back on it (whohoo) and I would like to now access my WhatsApp account/messages/photos again.

When I opened the app on the [new] phone, for a few seconds, I briefly saw whatever the last WhatsApp conversation I’d had before my old phone broke/froze. However, this was suddenly replaced by the Welcome To WhatsApp page and this iPhone message appeared on my [new] phone — “ Your phone number is no longer registered on this phone. This might be because you registered it on another phone. If you didn't do this, verify your phone number to log back in to your account”—

im not sure if this Apple message popped up as WhatsApp briefly thought I was on my Old phone… or what. Also, I hear that WhatsApp delete accounts after 120’days (which I’m just over) x … so

My questions are:

• does WhatsApp delete accounts after 120 days? My account was last active over 120 days ago.

• if deleted, can I reregister my number and still retrieve my old chat history / contacts and photos from a back up?

• if my account has been deleted or something else goes wrong. would I be able to retrieve the data stored locally on my old phone (if the phone can be fixed later)?

I hope this all makes sense.

I’m concerned that if my account has been deleted, that registering my number on my new device will wipe any WhatsApp backup that is available/ the content stored on my currently frozen phone.

This is content which I really don’t want to lose x

Thank you so much for your time.

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 22, 2022 10:04 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 22, 2022 10:48 PM in response to Tlou_80

There are a few questions here that either you omitted or I couldn't grasp while reading your post. All these questions which I have raised do matter to find an answer to your query.

Was your old Phone an iPhone or an Android?
Are you using the same SIM on this new iPhone?
Do you have WhatsApp registered with a number (The SIM) that is not on your new iPhone?
What process did you use to transfer WhatsApp data from your old device to the new one?

Here in order to answer your query I assumed the following. (This is what I do)

The old Phone was an iPhone
Another SIM on the new iPhone
Yes, WhatsApp is registered with a number (The SIM) which is on the other Device.
The data was transferred using the data backed up on iCloud.

Here are some links that may help you

If you change your device frequently or changed your Phone number too frequently then this is against the WhatsApp policy terms and conditions, and you are bound to land in trouble.

The process which I use...

Log into WhatsApp with the same Phone number that was used to backup. If it prompts you to update your chat history, then you use it or else check the Phone Number. WhatsApp chat history can be deleted via WhatsApp only.

Even if you erase your iPhone the chat history remains on iCloud Drive and is accessible only through WhatsApp.

WhatsApp Backup is taken on iCloud and while restoring, it verifies your Phone number.

The phone number used for backing up and restoring must be the same. You can't restore the chat history from another WhatsApp account.
Because backups are tied to individual phone numbers, it is possible to have backups for multiple WhatsApp accounts stored in the same iCloud account.

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Answer 2

Tlou_80 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 23, 2022 12:55 AM in response to SravanKrA

Hi SravanKrA,

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my post and reply. I really do appreciate it.

To answer your questions:)

As mentioned, the old phone is an iPhone XS max (10 s Max) - this is still in my possession but is currently unusable.
I have put the same SIM (with no number change) from the frozen XS into the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
(I’m afraid I might not quite understand this question but…) … My SIM and the related phone number have not been used to access WhatsApp in any way since June**. Also the new phone has not had another SIM registered.
I made a full iPhone XS to iPhone 12 transfer yesterday via an iCloud backup (which had been made around 4 days before my XS froze). I believe that my settings in the WhatsApp app were to backup to iCloud (though I cannot be 100% sure). If iPhone also has a setting for WhatsApp backup, this would have also have been selected (it’s unlikely I would have switched any toggle off) x

>>**My most significant concern is that I had not been able to log into WhatsApp at all since the beginning of June. Info I’ve found suggests that [WhatsApp deletes accounts] that have been inactive for more that 120 days (I’m more than that now).

If WhatsApp does delete inactive accounts, will my backup still exist somewhere or will that have been deleted with it?
if WhatsApp has deleted my account, if I register my number again, does it essentially become a fresh account which might refuse syncing with any existing WhatsApp backup - despite being from the same phone number.
If iCloud does back up the data separately from WhatsApp, can this be used with what WhatsApp might essentially see as a new WhatsApp account (despite having the same number)

(those last two points are almost one and the same) xx

That’s so much info again, I’m sorry :) I’m just trying to be as clear as possible.

I truly am so grateful for your help x

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In need of a WhatsApp / iPhone expert (hero)

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