Originally Posted by
mikew99
WhatsApp accounts are attached to the phone number, not the SIM. In my experience, WhatsApp continues to function until WhatsApp needs to verify the account; WhatsApp then sends a verification code to the attached phone number. Typically, WhatsApp asks me to verify my account whenever I reinstall WhatsApp or if it detects that I have configured WhatsApp with the same phone number on multiple devices simultaneously.
So you can continue to use your WhatsApp on the same device indefinitely, regardless of the phone number of the SIM card that is installed. However, if WhatsApp needs to verify your account for any reason, then you are stuck.
Exactly. You can continue to use WhatsApp no matter how many times you swap the SIM until you either verify that number on a different device or have to reinstall the app. The only time WhatsApp uses the SIM is on initial setup, it defaults to using that phone number (but you can change it--I have mine tied to a GV number).
If you use a Fi number, be sure to have the SIM and you can just un-suspend it for a day if you have to replace or reset your phone.