No More WhatsApp or Telegram Without Your SIM Card Inside the Phone!
Welcome to theustales.com.
Imagine this: You wake up, grab your phone, open WhatsApp, and… nothing happens. The app stares back with a blank screen. Why? Because your SIM card is not inside that phone anymore. Starting from early 2026, this could become your new reality in India. The government has just dropped a bombshell rule that will change how more than 500 million people chat every day.
On 28 November 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) sent strict orders to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, ShareChat, Arattai, JioChat, and many others. From now on, these apps must keep checking that the original SIM you used to sign up is physically inside the device. No SIM? No chatting. Simple as that.
What Exactly Has Changed?
The new rule has two big parts:
- SIM Binding is Now Mandatory From February 2026 (90 days after the order), every messaging app has to stay connected to the exact SIM you registered with. If you remove the SIM, swap it, or put it in another phone, the app will stop working instantly. Right now, once you verify your number, the app runs forever—even without the SIM. The government wants to end that freedom.
- Web Versions Will Kick You Out Every 6 Hours Love using WhatsApp Web or Telegram on your laptop? Get ready to scan the QR code again and again. After the new rules kick in, web sessions will automatically log out every six hours. No exceptions.
You may Also Like:
Why Is the Government Doing This?
Cyber fraud has exploded in India. Scammers sitting abroad buy old Indian numbers, pop them into cheap phones just once, verify WhatsApp or Telegram, and then remove the SIM forever. After that, they run fraud from anywhere in the world. Police cannot trace them because there is no active SIM, no location data, and no call records.
The government says: “If the SIM has to stay inside the phone all the time, fraudsters will find it much harder.” The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has been asking for this change for months. Even banking and UPI apps already follow similar strict SIM rules.
How Will This Affect Normal People Like You and Me?
- Travelling abroad? Your Indian SIM might stop working or become expensive on roaming. Your WhatsApp could freeze the moment the SIM loses signal.
- Using two phones? Forget switching the SIM quickly. The app will lock on the phone that doesn’t have the SIM right now.
- Using a tablet or iPad? Most tablets have no SIM slot. Say goodbye to WhatsApp on them.
- Working on laptop the whole day? You will have to pick up your phone and scan the QR code every six hours. That means interruptions during meetings and late-night work.
- Kids using mom’s old phone? The moment mom’s SIM is not inside, their chats stop.
Will This Really Stop Fraudsters?
Many experts are not fully convinced. Fraudsters already buy fake IDs and get new SIM cards easily. One researcher said, “They only need ten SIMs to cheat hundreds of people. They throw away the SIM after use and buy fresh ones.” So honest people may face daily trouble, while smart criminals might still find ways around.
Where Did This Power Come From?
In 2024 and 2025, the government quietly created a new category called Telecommunication Identifier User Entity (TIUE). Any company that uses your phone number to identify you—messaging apps, food delivery, even local shops sending receipts—can fall under this tag. The latest order directly names WhatsApp, Telegram, and others as TIUEs. Now they have to follow telecom rules, not just IT rules.
What Happens if Companies Don’t Listen?
Apps have 90 days to make the changes and 120 days to file a report with DoT. If they ignore the order, the government can take action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. That could mean heavy fines or even blocking the app in India.
The Bottom Line
India wants every chat account tied to a real, active SIM at all times. The goal is simple: make fraud harder and tracing easier. But the price is extra hassle for millions of honest users. From early 2026, keeping your SIM inside the phone will no longer be optional—it will be the only way to say “hello” on WhatsApp or Telegram.
FAQs
- Can I still use WhatsApp on my tablet? No, unless your tablet has the exact registered SIM inside it. Most tablets will lose access.
- What if I travel outside India? Keep your Indian SIM active and inside the phone. Roaming charges may apply, and weak signal can still lock you out.
- Will old phones without the SIM still work? No. The moment the registered SIM is missing, the app stops.
- Do I need to scan QR code every 6 hours on laptop? Yes. After six hours, WhatsApp Web and similar services will log you out automatically.
- Can fraudsters still cheat after this rule? Possibly yes. They can keep buying new SIMs with fake IDs and start fresh accounts.
- When does this start? Apps must finish changes within 90 days of 28 November 2025—so around the end of February 2026.