You open WhatsApp. You message someone. Then suddenly, it says your security code with them has changed.
You didn’t block them. You didn’t reinstall WhatsApp. You didn’t even switch phones.
So what’s going on?
Let’s make sense of this, step by step. This article will tell you why this happens, what it really means, and what you should do. if anything.
Let’s start with the big question. What does that message mean?
When WhatsApp shows that “Your security code with [contact] has changed,” it’s not calling you out. It’s not accusing you. It’s just giving you a quiet heads-up.
It means the encryption keys between you and that person were updated. And WhatsApp wants you to know.
Your chats are still safe. Nothing’s been exposed. This is part of how WhatsApp keeps your messages private. End-to-end encryption depends on those keys.
And when something changes. Even a tiny system thing. It resets the code.
You didn’t do anything? That’s fine. But that doesn’t mean nothing happened on the backend.
So can this message show up even if nothing obvious happened?
Yes. It can. And it does.
You don’t need to reinstall the app. You don’t need to change your phone number. You don’t even need to update WhatsApp manually.
These codes can still change.
Here’s what might be going on:
That person might’ve logged into WhatsApp Web. They might have used a new computer. Or logged out and back in. Or added another linked device. Even that counts.
Sometimes, WhatsApp updates the security keys silently during regular background updates.
So even if nothing changed on your side, a small shift on their side can trigger it.
And WhatsApp will still notify you. Because that’s how end-to-end encryption works. Every time it detects a new session, it shows a fresh code.
But wait. Can this happen if someone blocked you?
Yes. Surprisingly, yes.
Let’s say someone blocked you. You can’t see their last seen. You can’t call them. And you can’t see their profile photo either.
But guess what? If they still have your number in their phone. You might still get this code change notification.
It doesn’t mean they unblocked you. It doesn’t mean they’re trying to reach you. It just means something changed on their side.
Maybe they reinstalled WhatsApp. Maybe they got a new phone. Maybe they added WhatsApp Web on a laptop.
Even if you’re blocked, you might get this message. Because technically, it’s not a chat message. It’s a security alert. And those still go through.
So no. This message doesn’t mean you’re unblocked
Don’t get your hopes up.
If you see the code change notification from someone who blocked you, it’s not a sign they want to talk again. It’s not a mistake either. It’s just how WhatsApp handles encryption alerts.
If you’re blocked, you’re still blocked. The message is automatic. You’re not in control of it. Neither are they.
What if you don’t want to see these notifications anymore?
You can turn them off.
Maybe they stress you out. Maybe they confuse you. Maybe you just don’t care.
Totally fine.
Here’s how to disable them.
If you’re on Android: Open WhatsApp. Tap the three dots at the top. Go to Settings. Tap Account. Tap Security. Now turn off “Show security notifications.”
If you’re on iPhone: Open WhatsApp. Tap Settings. Go to Account. Tap Security notifications. Turn off “Show security notifications on this phone.”
If you’re using WhatsApp Web or Desktop: Click the three-dot menu. Click Settings. Go to Security. Turn off the toggle.
And done.
Now you won’t see those alerts anymore.
Should you be worried about these code changes?
No.
That message isn’t a red flag. It’s not a hack warning. It’s not a glitch.
It’s a routine update.
WhatsApp shows you that message so you can verify. If you want to. Especially if you’re chatting about sensitive things. It’s an extra layer of trust.
You don’t need to do anything. Your chats are still safe. Even when the code changes, your messages are still encrypted.
But if you’re ever unsure. You can verify the code with your contact.
How to check the actual security code
If you want to go the extra mile, you can compare the code manually.
To do that:
Open your chat with the person. Tap their name at the top. Scroll down and tap “Encryption.” You’ll see a 60-digit number and a QR code.
Ask your contact to do the same.
You can either:
Read out the code and match it. Or scan their QR code using your phone. If the code matches. Your messages are private and safe.
You don’t need to do this every time. But if you’re dealing with sensitive stuff, it’s good practice.
Why do some people get the notification a lot?
It depends on how they use WhatsApp.
Some people switch devices often. Some log into WhatsApp Web daily. Some reinstall WhatsApp every other week.
All those things trigger new codes.
If you’re chatting with someone who keeps tweaking their setup, you’ll keep seeing the message. And that’s okay.
It just means WhatsApp is doing what it’s supposed to.
If you don’t like it, you already know how to disable those alerts.
Can WhatsApp security code change when nothing really happened?
Yes.
Sometimes WhatsApp changes keys in the background.
No reinstall. No logout. No new phone.
Still. The code resets.
This is rare, but not impossible.
It usually happens when WhatsApp updates its end-to-end encryption protocols. You won’t notice it unless you look closely. But WhatsApp will still tell you.
Because even a silent change is still a change. And their job is to let you know.
The takeaway
If you see the message that your security code has changed, don’t panic.
You didn’t get hacked. You’re not being spied on. You’re not blocked or unblocked. It’s just WhatsApp doing its job.
This message doesn’t mean you need to stop chatting with someone. It doesn’t mean your messages are exposed. And it definitely doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your app.
Most of the time, the change happened on the other person’s phone. not yours. Or it was just WhatsApp updating its systems behind the scenes.
You can leave the setting on if you care about security. Or turn it off if you don’t want the noise.
Either way, you’re still safe. If you ever feel like something’s off, go to your contact’s info screen, tap “Encryption,” and verify the code.
If the digits match. You’re good.
If they don’t. Then you might want to double-check who you’re really chatting with. But that’s super rare.
For most people, these code changes are just part of the system doing what it’s supposed to do. keeping your messages private.
