SIM binding operational from January 1: WhatsApp will stop working on these phones

SIM binding operational from January 1: WhatsApp and Telegram users may need to keep their registered SIM cards in their phones under the government's SIM-binding rules. Here is what the new requirements mean for iPhone and Android users and when they will take effect.

In Short

• WhatsApp and Telegram face SIM-binding requirements under DoT rules
• Apple has reportedly released an iOS patch to detect SIM card absence
• The compliance deadline is December 31, 2026; specific affected phone models have not been confirmed

WhatsApp and Telegram users may need to keep their registered SIM cards available to continue using the messaging services as the government’s SIM-binding rules take effect. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed covered app-based communication services to link accounts with KYC-verified SIM cards, with the compliance deadline set for December 31, 2026.

The rules are intended to strengthen the link between a mobile number and the account registered with it, making it harder to misuse messaging services for fraud. Under the requirements, users who rely on Wi-Fi without their registered SIM card may face access issues.

Which phones will be affected by SIM binding?

The requirements could affect smartphones on which users operate WhatsApp or Telegram without keeping the registered SIM card inserted. This includes iPhones and Android phones, depending on how the services implement the rules.

Apple has reportedly made changes to iOS to support SIM binding, with a software update released in September to help detect when an iPhone does not have a SIM card. However, the precise list of affected devices and the extent of the restrictions will depend on implementation by the respective platforms.

Users who access their messaging accounts across multiple devices, travel abroad or use a phone primarily over Wi-Fi may also need to check how the rules affect their setup.

What has changed in the government’s SIM-binding rules?

The DoT issued its directive on November 28, 2025. The original requirements included automatically logging users out of web sessions every six hours. The department later withdrew this blanket logout requirement and replaced it with risk-based logouts, including immediate termination of services in suspected fraud cases.

This means users should not assume that WhatsApp Web will automatically log them out every six hours under the revised framework. The SIM-binding requirement, however, remains a separate compliance issue.

Will all messaging apps follow SIM binding?

WhatsApp and Telegram are among the services covered by the reported requirements. Snapchat is reportedly not required to comply with the SIM-binding rules. Signal, meanwhile, has not responded to government notices, according to the information available.

Users should keep in mind that January 1 is being cited as the operational start date, while the stated compliance deadline is December 31, 2026. The available information does not establish that WhatsApp will stop working on specific phone models from January 1. The main concern is whether a device has the registered SIM available and whether the app can verify it under the applicable rules.

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