Phone lost or stolen? Here’s how you can still use WhatsApp

What happens to your WhatsApp account if someone steals your phone and breaks through the screen lock? Or takes the SIM card out of the phone and logs in with your WhatsApp account on another phone? Scary right? Luckily there's a way you can avoid the misuse of your WhatsApp account. (Image: WhatsApp)

Before worrying about your WhatsApp account, the first thing you should do when your phone is stolen (or lost) is to lock your SIM card. You can do so by calling your mobile network provider. The common number for complaints is 198.

Activate new SIM with the same number and log in your WhatsApp account on the new phone. Since WhatsApp can be activated only on a single phone, it will automatically log out your WhatsApp account on the stolen phone.

Alternatively, you also have the option to email WhatsApp with the phrase: "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account" in the body of the mail and include your phone number in international format which is: +91 XXX XXX XXXX. It will not delete your WhatsApp account but deactivate it for the time being.

To stay on the safer side, don't forget to activate biometric authentication on WhatsApp. Also, you must enable the two-step authentication on your account so that your WhatsApp account could not be logged in on a different phone without a passcode even if your SIM card is compromised.