How to block your WhatsApp account if your cell phone is stolen or lost

Losing or having our cell phone stolen can be a real tragedy because, unless we take the precaution of making backup copies, we are likely to lose information and memories. But beyond that, it is very important to protect our privacy and, in that sense, we are going to explain how an account is blocked. WhatsApp.

If your smartphone is stolen, you need to know what to do. While the first step may be to try to locate it, in many cases the best option is to block the SIM, apps and the phone itself using the IMEI code.

Reflect on all the information that someone could obtain from you if they access your cell phone. For this reason, it is necessary to change the passwords of social networks and other platforms, in addition to blocking your mobile banking and your WhatsApp account. We are going to teach you how to do this step by step.

Step by step to block WhatsApp in case of theft

Through this process you can be sure that no one will be able to access your WhatsApp conversations in case you unfortunately lose or have your cell phone stolen.

The first step is block your SIM card,this is done through your mobile operator, you will have to provide some data to prove ownership but, it is necessary not only for WhatsApp security, with this you can be sure that They will not carry out bad practices from your number.

Once the SIM has been blocked, it will no longer be possible to verify your WhatsApp account on that phone, so remember that it is necessary receive a text message (SMS) or a call to verify the account.

However, there are still some steps that are recommended to follow:

Send an email with the subject line “Stolen/Lost Phone: Please Deactivate My Account” and include your phone number in the full international format in the body of the message.

The reason for this extra step is that, as WhatsApp explains, even if your SIM card is blocked and your phone service is suspended, your account could still be used with a Wi-Fi connection if you don’t contact them to request your account be deactivated.

The company also clarifies that it cannot help you locate your phone or deactivate your account from another device.

What happens if I deactivate my WhatsApp account?

Once you have blocked your WhatsApp account, to recover your communication through this instant messaging platform You must ask your mobile operator to issue you a new SIM card with the same phone number.

When you get a new smartphone, you must download WhatsApp from your app store and follow the steps to verify your account. If you made a backup, you will recover the conversations you had before losing your other phone.

WhatsApp reminds us that when we block the account it is not completely deleted, in fact, your contacts will still be able to see your profile and even send you messages which will remain pending for a maximum period of 30 days so that, when you recover your profile, these will be displayed automatically.

Nevertheless, If you do not reactivate your account within 30 days, it will be completely deleted.