WhatsApp help please! I want to disappear without trace.

[Clumzy]

Hi, I'm normally quite tech savvy and have googled this but found no definitive answer. Please advise if you can.

I'm in various school class WhatsApp groups and I don't want to be. Plus, I have some singular people on there who I'd rather didn't have my number so next month, when my phone upgrade is due, I'm going to change my number.

But...I've noticed recently that if my WhatsApp contacts have changed their number, it notifies you in the message feed and it doesn't seem to be something the person did on purpose, WA just shouts it from the rooftops that X changed their number to X
How do I get around this? Does anyone know if it gives you an option when you first log in on the new phone to share your new number with your current chats?
And, if I was to delete my WA account completely before the upgrade (which is fine, nothing important on it) can I then get what's app on new phone/number and have no correlation between the old and new accounts?

And (sorry 😬) if I delete completely, does it announce to my groups that 'Sarah Smith has left' or anything like that? Is there any way to just slope off quietly and hope that I've left that god forsaken school before anyone twigs.

Gosh, if you've not got bored of reading by now, have a drink on me!

When you get your new number, clear the data on the app. When you go through the setup, just put your new number in as a new user. It may ask if you want to restore a backup, just say no and carry on your merry way.

If you're getting a new phone then just install the app and put your new number in as a new user.

As above - just make sure you don't transfer the data over. WhatsApp will ask you if you want to restore the most recent back up, just say no and sign up as a completely new account

Thanks! 🙂

And (sorry 😬) if I delete completely, does it announce to my groups that 'Sarah Smith has left' or anything like that? Is there any way to just slope off quietly

Can anyone help with this bit? I'd really rather it didn't notify the groups!

I can't answer that, but is there someone you trust that you can set up a group with, and then leave, so you can try it out?

Yes it does leave a message that xxxx has left the group. Not sure if you can stop this.

if I delete completely, does it announce to my groups that 'Sarah Smith has left' or anything like that?

Nope, it has no way of knowing.

Yes it does leave a message that xxxx has left the group. Not sure if you can stop this.

Only if you actively leave the group. If you just uninstall the app, it doesn't.

If you start a new account and leave your old account with the old groups on your old phone, it will just show that you never receive the messages, but only if someone goes looking.

You won't be able to carry over any groups you actually like this way, but you can get group members to add your new number as if you were a new person. Or even do it yourself from your old phone on wifi.

I would delete your account and then delete the app. Then get a new app on your new phone which will have a new number.