Planning to finish my old AIS number. Long time verified on Whatsapp.

 

If I just take out the SIM and use the phone without a replacement, will Whatsapp still  work? Or do I then have to get a new SIM and verify it? I fancy just using the old phone for Whatsapp (on the existing account, chats, etc) and not mobile calls, is all. 

How do you 'finish' a number? What is the point of that? Costs you next to nothing to keep it alive.

Of course you can use it without a SIM and just on WiFi.

Another option is to use a different telephone number, i switched from UK to Thailand

31 minutes ago, JakeC said:

Of course you can use it without a SIM and just on WiFi.

That was my doubt - once verified, you don't have to have the SIM in the phone all the time?

On 10/15/2025 at 12:57 PM, Dilligaph98 said:

That was my doubt - once verified, you don't have to have the SIM in the phone all the time?

No. I use my second WhatsApp on the second mobile without the SIM in. You need it just to verify the number. Once done, you don't need the SIM.

I had a similar setup to sort out, and using ultramsg made life easier since I could trigger WhatsApp messages through simple HTTP calls and hook everything into my existing CRM without hacks. I also liked how fast I could spin up a chatbot and test media messages, so it didn’t feel like a project that would drag on forever.

No need to keep the sim. In the phone.

The only potential issue is recycling of old numbers if your contract lapses. Your number once unused for a certain period will be released for use again & that could cause complications.

IMO - it's best to transfer the account across to a number you are in control of.

Yes, it works fine. WhatsApp only needs the SIM to verify the number once. After that, all you need is Wi-Fi.