How to change your phone number in Viber on Android: a complete guide with pictures

Changing a phone number on Viber on devices Android is a procedure that users face when buying a new SIM card, changing operator or moving to another country. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process has nuances: from confirming an old number to transferring chat history and media files. In this article, we will analyze all the stages in detail, including preparation for the shift, step-by-step guide and solutions to typical problems.

The peculiarity Viber is that the phone number is not just a contact for communication, but a unique account identifier. Changing it affects not only your profile, but also the display in chats of other users. Therefore, it is important to understand what happens to the data when changing: will the correspondence be saved, will you remain in group chats, and how will this affect the backup copies. We will also look at how to avoid losing access to your account if the new number has not yet been activated.

The article is relevant for all versions Viber on Android 8.0 and later, including the latest application updates. If you are using a device with custom firmware or root access (root), some steps may differ - we will also mention this separately.

Preparing to change your number: what you need to do in advance

Before you start changing your number, perform several critical steps. This will help avoid data loss and problems with authorization.

Firstly, create a backup copy of chats. Viber allows you to save the correspondence history in Google Drive or to the internal memory of the device. Without a backup, when you change your number, you risk losing all your messages if something goes wrong. Please note: backups in Google Drive are linked to an account Googleand not to a phone number - this simplifies recovery.

Secondly, check the linked email. Viber may request it to confirm your identity if there will be problems with the SMS code. Email is also used to recover your account if you lose access to both numbers. To check or add an email, go to More → Settings → Account → Email.

• 📱 Update the application to the latest version in Google Play. Older versions may not support current number change mechanisms.
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%. The process may take up to 10 minutes, and interruption due to low battery will result in errors.
• 📶 Make sure the Internet is stable. Use Wi-Fi or a mobile network with a good signal. Changing the number requires several network requests.
• 🔐 Prepare a new SIM card. It must be activated and ready to receive SMS or calls for confirmation.

⚠️ Attention: If your account Viber is linked to a number that you can no longer use (for example, a lost SIM card), first restore access via email or contact support Viber. Changing the number without access to the old one can block the account.

Install the latest version of Viber|Create a backup copy of chats|Check the linked email|Charge the phone ≥50%|Activate a new SIM card-->

Step-by-step guide: how change number in Viber on Android

Now let's move on to the process itself. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid mistakes. All actions are performed directly in the application Viber.

1. Open Viber and go to section More (three horizontal lines in the lower right corner). Then select Settings → Account → Change phone number.

2. A warning about the consequences of changing your number will appear on the screen. Read it carefully and click Continue. The application will ask you to confirm your current number via SMS or call. Enter the code that will be sent to your old number.

3. After confirming the old number, enter new phone number in international format (for example, +79123456789). Make sure you enter the correct country code. Click Next.

4. Viber will send an SMS with a confirmation code to the new number. Enter it in the appropriate field. If the SMS does not arrive, request a resend or select the confirmation option via call.

5. After successfully confirming the new number, the application will prompt you to update your profile. You can change the name, avatar and other data or skip this step by clicking Skip.

6. Ready! Now your account is linked to the new number. Viber will automatically notify your contacts about the number change (this can be disabled in the notification settings).

Step	Action	Possible problems
1	Open Settings → Account → Change number	The button is inactive - update the application
2	Confirm the old number via SMS/call	The code does not arrive - check your balance or network
3	Enter a new number in international format	Format error - add + and country code
4	Confirm new number via SMS/call	SMS does not arrive - request a call
5	Update profile data (optional)	Changes are not saved - restart the application

⚠️ Attention: If after changing the number you do not see old chats, check whether the backup copy has been restored. Go to Settings → Chat → Backup and click Restore. If a backup was not created, the message history will be lost.

What happens to the data after changing the number

Many users are worried that after changing the number they will lose access to correspondence, group chats or media files. Let's take a look at what exactly happens with different types of data.

Personal chats: All your dialogues will be saved, but in the eyes of your interlocutors you will be displayed with a new number. If the interlocutor has not updated his contacts, he may see your old number in the list of chats, but when you open the dialogue Viber he will show the current one.

Group chats: You will remain a member of all the groups you were in before changing your number. However, if the group was created through the old number, you will lose administrator rights (they will have to be transferred manually).

Media files: All uploaded photos, videos and documents will remain in the chats. They are stored on servers Viber and are associated with an account, not a phone number.

Backups: If you created backups via Google Drive, they will remain available. When restoring on a new device or after reinstalling the application, you will be able to download your chat history, even with a new number.

Contacts: Your new number will be automatically updated in the address books of those users who saved your contact through Viber. Those who added you to the phone book manually will have to update the number themselves.

What happens if you do not confirm the new number within 7 days?

If you selected the "Confirm later" option and did not complete the process within 7 days, Viber will cancel the number change. Your account will remain linked to the old number, and all changes (for example, contact notifications) will be canceled. To try again, you will have to start the process all over again.

Typical errors and how to fix them

Even when following the instructions exactly, users sometimes encounter problems. Let's look at the most common errors and ways to solve them.

• ❌ "Invalid confirmation code" — make sure that you enter the code without spaces or dashes. If the code does not match, request a new one. Also check if an antivirus or battery saving application is blocking SMS.
• ❌ "The number is already in use" - this means that the new number is linked to another account Viber. If this is your second account, delete it first or change the number there. If the number belongs to another person, contact support.
• ❌ "Failed to send SMS" —check your SIM card balance, network settings (enable data transfer for SMS) or try confirmation via call.
• ❌ "Account blocked" —if you entered the wrong code several times, Viber may temporarily block attempts to change the number. Wait 24 hours or contact support.

If none of the solutions helped, try the following steps:

1. Restart the application Viber.
2. Restart your phone.
3. Delete the application cache in the settings Android (Settings → Applications → Viber → Memory → Clear cache).
4. Reinstall Viberafter creating a backup copy of the chats.

⚠️ Attention: If you use Viber on several devices (for example, on a phone and tablet), changing the number must be performed on the device where the account was first created. Otherwise, a synchronization conflict may occur, and chats will not appear on other gadgets.

Once a year|Once every 2-3 years|Only when changing the operator|Never changed|Another option-->

Features of changing the number in different versions Viber

The interface and logic for changing the number in Viber may vary slightly depending on the version of the application. Let's look at the key differences.

In Viber 18.0 and later (2023–2026) the process is simplified as much as possible: confirmation of the old number occurs automatically if you are already authorized. An option for delayed confirmation of a new number (7 days) has also been added. These versions support restoration of chats from Google Drive even after changing the number.

In Viber 15.0–17.0 (2020–2022) to change the number you had to manually enter the old number, even if you already authorized. There was also no integration with Google Drive for backups - backups were saved only locally. If you are using this version, we recommend that you update before changing your number.

In Viber for Android Go (light version for weaker devices), the functionality of changing your number is limited. For example, there may be no option to confirm via call. In this case, use the full version of the application.

If you are not sure about the version Viber, check it in Settings → About the app. For stable operation, it is recommended to always use the latest version.

Changing a number when moving to another country

If you move and change your number to a foreign one, the process has several features. The main one is identity confirmation. Viber may request additional data to make sure that the account is not hacked.

1. When changing to a foreign number Viber you may be asked to confirm your email or answer a security question (if it was asked previously). This is a standard security measure.

2. Make sure that the new SIM card supports receiving SMS or calls from Viber. In some countries, operators block service messages from instant messengers.

3. If you use Viber Out (calls to landline numbers), check the tariffs for the new country. They may vary. Update your payment information in Settings → Viber Out.

4. In some countries (for example, China or the UAE) Viber may be limited. Before moving, check whether the service is available in the new country, or prepare VPN.

⚠️ Attention: If you change your number to a foreign one, your interface language may change Viber. It is tied to the region of the SIM card. To return the Russian language, go to Settings → Language and select the desired option.

What to do if the number has changed without your knowledge

If you discovered that the number in Viber has changed, but you did not do this, this may be a sign of account hacking. Act quickly:

1. Immediately cancel the sessions on all devices. To do this, go to Settings → Account → Devices and remove all unknown gadgets.

2. Change your password from the linked email (if there is one). This will prevent further hacking attempts.

3. Restore access via your old number or email. If the number has already been changed by an attacker, contact support Viber through the form on the official website. Provide as much information as possible: old number, email, account creation date.

4. Check activity to your account. Open Settings → Account → Active sessions and remove all suspicious devices.

If you suspect that your account has been hacked, it is also recommended to warn contacts about possible fraudulent activities on your behalf.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing your number in Viber

Is it possible change your Viber number without access to the old one?

Yes, but only if an email is linked to your account. In this case, you can restore access through it and change the number. If the email is not linked, contact support Viber with proof of account ownership (for example, screenshots of correspondence or payments for Viber Out).

Will my stickers and GIFs be saved after changing the number?

Yes, all purchased or saved stickers, as well as favorite GIFs will remain. They are linked to account, and not to the phone number. However, if you used promotional codes or gifts associated with the old number, they may become unavailable.

Why do not messages arrive after changing the number?

This can happen for several reasons:

• The interlocutor did not update your contact in the phone book. Ask him to delete the old number and add it. new.
• Messages are sent to the old number. Check if you are still logged in on another device with the same SIM card.
• Problems with synchronization. Restart the application or reinstall it.

Is it possible to return the old number after changing?

Yes, but with restrictions. You can change the number again to the old one if:

• No more than 30 days have passed since the change.
• The old number is not linked to another account Viber.
• You can confirm ownership of the old number via SMS or call.

If these conditions are not met, it will be impossible to return the old number.

What will happen to my Viber Out if I change the number?

Balance Viber Out and call history will be saved, but tariffs may change depending on the country of the new number. Check current prices in Settings → Viber Out. If you had an active subscription, it will remain active, but the terms may be updated.