It appears WhatsApp is starting to roll out SIM binding verification in India. A user on X shared a screenshot of a new prompt from WhatsApp that reads, "Allow WhatsApp to check the phone number on your SIM." It seems Meta is complying with India's SIM-binding regulation that asked messaging apps to validate whether the registered SIM card is present and active on the device.
WhatsApp Begins Checking for Physical SIM Cards in India
As you can notice, the SIM verification prompt gives users two options: "Continue" to grant the permission, or "Not now" to skip it. The prompt also says, "Due to regulatory requirements in India, WhatsApp needs to check the phone number on your SIM card. To do this, you'll need to allow phone permission".
It's not clear yet whether this is a wider rollout or limited A/B testing. We have not received such prompt from WhatsApp on our devices either.
This is one of the first definitive signs of WhatsApp complying with India's SIM-binding regulation. In February 2026, WABetaInfo spotted traces of SIM-binding code in WhatsApp beta for Android. Now, it looks like the feature is making its way to users in India.
For context, India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the SIM-binding directive in November 2025. The rule requires messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc. to ensure their services only work when the registered SIM is physically present in the user's device. If the SIM is removed or deactivated, the app will stop functioning.
The DoT had also asked messaging apps to automatically log out from web-based sessions like WhatsApp Web every six hours. However, due to strong pushback from the industry, the Indian government dropped the auto-logout rule entirely, and extended the deadline for SIM-binding to December 31, 2026. But it looks like WhatsApp is quietly moving forward with SIM-binding implementation.
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