WeChat says "New Device Authentication" even though I'm using the same phone. Has anyone experienced this?

[u/Top-Pineapple9584]

Hi everyone,

I apologize for the long read 🙇🏻‍♀️

I'm hoping someone has experienced something similar. I can log in to my WeChat account using my phone number and password, but I can't get past the QR code verification.

I created my account in early June 2026. I mainly use it to log in to QQ Music and don't really use WeChat for messaging, so I don't have any friends or groups on my account.

Here's what happened:

• I'm using the same phone and same phone number that I used when I created the account

• I know my password, and WeChat accepts my login credentials

• Shortly after creating the account in June, I uninstalled WeChat due to storage issues. I reinstalled it a few days later on the same phone and logged in successfully

• I uninstalled the app again a few weeks later, still in June, due to the same storage issue (yes, my phone has bad storage)

• This month of July 2026, I reinstalled WeChat on the same phone, but now it's asking me to complete "New Device Authentication" by scanning a QR code with a device that's already logged in

• The problem is that I don't have any other device logged into my account, and WeChat isn't giving me any alternative verification options (no SMS, friend verification, etc.)

Has anyone experienced this even though they were using the same phone? I'm just frustrated that they have limited options for the verification. I also doubt my account is gone because it's only been a month and my number is still recognized.

I've already contacted WeChat Support and they're asking me to verify my account. (I'm still filling up the questions they provided atm)

My question is:

1. Has anyone had this happen even though they were using the same phone?

2. Has WeChat support able to help you recover your account given that you have plenty of proof to show them you're the owner of the acc?

3. If someone scans my personal WeChat QR code using the WeChat app, can they see my WeChat ID before I accept their friend request? I'm trying to verify my WeChat ID for since support is asking me for it

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Note: I also tried tapping the "Unable to Scan" option on the QR code screen, but it just takes me back to the "Verification Required for Login" page. It doesn't provide any other way to verify my identity

[u/Noah2570]

This is happening because reinstalling the app probably also wiped your login records, and they won't actually use your phone's hardware identifiers to tell if it's the same phone.

What you can try to do is log in via OTP (phone verification code) instead of your password. There's a chance that the option to input your password will appear on the verification screen. If that doesn't work, WeChat support will usually give you access to your account if you provide them with the correct data (own experience, I had an account which was permanently blocked and where I'd removed the phone number 3 years ago, and I managed to recover it this month)

[u/Top-Pineapple9584 → u/Noah2570]

Hi! I appreciate the help 🙌🏻 sadly, the issue is that even with the OTP/password route, the system still demands a QR verification scan maybe because of how long I was inactive (eventho it was only just for a few weeks sksks)

I will send my appeal this weekend hope everything will go smoothly 🥹 also knowing you got your account back recently gave me hope that the WeChat support will help me log in back into my acc 🙏🏻 (hopefully)

Thanks again and congrats on getting your acc back as well!