Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to untie the old phone number from the popular messenger. This can be due to the sale of the device, changing the carrier or the desire to completely delete the account for the sake of privacy. The deactivation process on the shell of MIUI or HyperOS has its own nuances, which are important to consider so as not to lose correspondence or access to the account.
Changing a number isn't just about removing an app, it's a complex process of migrating or erasing data. WhatsApp tightly ties your profile to a specific one. SIM-It's not enough to just pull out the SIM card. In this article, we'll look at all the steps from setting up notifications to completely deleting your account through the application servers.
Before you take any drastic action, make sure you understand the difference between changing a number and deleting a profile. If you plan to use the messenger further, but with a new SIM card, you will need the function "Change a number." If the goal is to erase all traces of presence, you will need a procedure for complete deactivation, which we will describe in detail below.
Preparation for number deletion and backup
The first and most critical step is to save important data: If you simply uninstall the app or change your SIM card without preparation, all your chats, media files and settings will be irretrievably lost. On Xiaomi smartphones, backup can be done both to the Google Drive cloud and to the device’s local memory through the built-in utility.
To create a full copy, open your messenger settings and go to the Chats section. Here is the "Chat Backup" option. Click on the "Backup" button to save the current state of your correspondence. Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi, as the process can require significant traffic, especially if there are many photos and videos in the history.
⚠️ Attention: Local backup on Xiaomi is stored in a hidden folder of the system.If you plan to do a full reset of the phone to factory settings, be sure to copy the folder WhatsApp/Databases to a computer or external drive, otherwise it will be deleted along with the memory cleanup.
It is also worth checking which devices are associated with your account. In modern versions of the messenger, you can use up to 4 additional devices at a time. Before deleting the number, you need to unplug all computers and tablets to avoid login errors in the future.
☑️ Checklist before deleting number
Instructions for changing the number inside the application
If your goal is to transfer your messages to a new SIM card, rather than permanently delete your account, use the built-in number change feature, which is the safest method to save your message history and stay in the same groups without having to ask your contacts to add you again.
First, insert a new one. SIM-card to Xiaomi smartphone and make sure it is active and accepting calls. Then open WhatsApp, go to the settings menu (three dots in the corner or gear) and select Account».
The system will alert you that your number will be changed on all devices and your contacts will be notified (unless you do not forbid it yourself). Enter the old number in the first field and the new one in the second. SMS-Confirmation code that must be entered in the appropriate field.
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When changing the number, turn on the “Notify Contacts” option so that your interlocutors automatically update the entry in their phone book and know that you have changed the number.
Once the verification is successful, the messenger will suggest resetting the group settings, which is important because it allows you to remain the administrator of the groups you created, and if you skip this step, you can only stay in the groups as a regular member, and in some cases, access to them may be limited.
Deleting WhatsApp Account Forever
The radical solution is to delete your account completely, and this process is irreversible: your chat history will be erased, you will log out of all groups, and your number will be deleted from the app’s database. On Xiaomi smartphones, this procedure is performed directly from the app’s settings menu.
To start the process, open Settings → Account → Delete my account. You will be prompted to enter the phone number in an international format. Be careful when entering: a single-digit error can lead to the deletion of someone else's profile or system error.
The system will request confirmation of action by showing a list of consequences: deletion of chats, logging out of groups, deleting backups from Google Drive. Once confirmed, the account will be deactivated. However, the data can be stored on servers for up to 90 days in case of recovery, although for the average user access to them will be closed immediately.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting your account does not mean deleting your application. After deactivation, your profile will disappear from your servers, but WhatsApp will remain on your Xiaomi app. To remove it completely, you need to additionally delete the application through the program management menu.
It is important to understand that once you delete an account, you will not be able to restore correspondence, even if you have a local copy. The End-to-End encryption mechanism binds the recovery keys to the active account, and when it is canceled, the keys are destroyed.
Cleaning the application data on MIUI and HyperOS
MIUI and HyperOS shells have powerful tools for managing memory and application data, and if you change your number or delete your account, but want to make sure there are no traces left on your phone, you need to clean up your data through system settings.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Search in the WhatsApp list and click on it. From the menu that opens, select the option “Clean” (or “Delete Data”). The system will warn that this action will delete all messages and settings on this device.
This method is especially useful if you transfer the phone to another person or sell it. It ensures that the new owner will not be able to restore access to your chats, even if the application remains installed.
| Action. | Keeping chats | Preserving the media | Recovery capability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change of number | Yes. | Yes. | Complete. |
| Deletion of account | No. | No. | Impossible. |
| Data Clearance (MIUI) | No (locally) | No. | Backup copy. |
| Deletion of the annex | No. | Depends on the settings. | Backup copy. |
Delete the number through the web version and support
In some cases, such as when you lose access to your phone or SIM card, you can delete the number through a support request or using the web version. This is true if the old number is no longer functional, but the account is still active.
To remotely exit all sessions, open WhatsApp Web on your computer if you have an active session. From the dot menu, select "Lun on all devices." This will break the phone's connection to your computer, but will not delete your account completely.
If your phone is lost, write a message to support asking you to deactivate your account, and in the subject line, say, "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account." In the body of the email, enter an international phone number, which will suspend your account for 30 days, after which it will be deleted automatically unless you reactivate it.
How to write in support of WhatsApp?
This is a temporary security measure that doesn't instantly erase data, but it blocks the ability for attackers to read your messages from new devices without a confirmation code.
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
Xiaomi users may experience system errors during the process of deleting or changing their number, often involving unstable internet, ad blockers, or aggressive battery optimization typical of MIUI.
One of the common mistakes is to say, "Can't check the number," which can happen if the phone has the wrong date and time, check the date and time settings, and set up automatic network sync, and try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet or vice versa.
Another common problem is waiting for a confirmation code to be confirmed endlessly: Don't ask for the code too often, otherwise the number will be locked for 24 hours. If the code doesn't come in, make sure there are no apps on the phone that block SMS from short numbers.
⚠️ Note: If you use modified versions of the messenger (such as WhatsApp Plus or GBWhatsApp), the standard number deletion procedure may not work or result in the account being blocked by servers. To delete the number in such cases, you must first install the official version of the application.
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Aggressive energy savings in MIUI can block WhatsApp's background work, leading to errors when checking the number.Add the app to battery exceptions.