India’s Department of Telecommunications has announced that from January 1, 2027, messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram will not function on a phone if the SIM card is removed. The move is aimed at preventing illegal activities, online scams and cybercrime by restricting SIM-less usage over Wi‑Fi.
Many users currently run these apps on older phones by removing the SIM and relying only on Wi‑Fi. Under the new rule, if a device does not have a SIM card, the app will be automatically disabled. Users who keep the SIM in a primary phone but log in with the same number on another phone are also expected to be affected, as having the SIM in the device will become mandatory.
The change may impact people who frequently swap SIM cards or remove their registered SIM while travelling abroad or within India. Accounts created using a number and later left inactive—such as when the SIM is not recharged and becomes inactive—could also be disabled.
For those who use WhatsApp Web on computers or laptops for long periods, officials said users may be logged out at intervals for security reasons. To sign in again, they would need to scan the QR code using the phone that has the SIM.
Officials said the directive will apply to major number-based messaging and social media apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Chat, JioChat and ShareChat. They added that users who message via Wi‑Fi without the registered SIM will be most affected, and the measure is intended to make misuse of Indian numbers by fraudsters more difficult.
