A major change is coming for WhatsApp users in India. According to reports, the company is preparing to make changes to the SIM verification system to comply with new government regulations. This step is being taken following a directive from the Department of Telecommunications. The government wants to prevent misuse of a mobile number that has been deactivated or reassigned to someone else.

Sometimes, a number is deactivated and later reassigned to someone else. This could lead to misuse of the old account.

How does WhatsApp work now?

Currently, WhatsApp only verifies the number by sending a 6-digit code during the first login. Once verification is complete, the app does not recheck whether the SIM is still active.

What will change in the new system?

After the new update, WhatsApp will periodically check in the background to see if the SIM card in your phone is still active. If everything is correct, the user will not need to do anything. But if the system detects that the SIM is not active, verification may be required by entering a 6-digit code again.

If verification fails, account access may be temporarily blocked. However, the good news is that your chat history and old messages will remain intact.

Will logging in with a passkey work?
According to reports, a passkey-only login will not meet this requirement, as the government requires that accounts be linked to an active mobile number. WhatsApp's two-step verification feature will continue to function as before.

Which users will be affected?
This change will only apply to users in India whose numbers start with +91. There will be no changes for users in other countries at this time. This feature is currently in testing and may be rolled out gradually in the coming months.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.