Overview
- Effective March 1, the mandate requires an active, physically inserted SIM to use accounts on major services including WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal for India-registered numbers.
- Platforms will run recurring verification about every six hours to confirm the registered SIM is present in the primary handset.
- Web and desktop sessions will automatically sign out every six hours, and users must re-link using the phone that holds the active SIM.
- Linked Devices and companion modes face tighter limits that hinder use on tablets and secondary phones, while roaming remains allowed if the SIM stays in the device.
- WhatsApp has been testing SIM binding in beta builds, and guidance urges users to keep the SIM inserted, update the app, and keep the primary phone nearby for quick re-authentication.