Contact change number how to incorporate old text threads

[tapdiggity]

Hello all, 

I was wondering if there was a way to connect old text messages to a contact that has changed their number? This has happen to me a few times now. A person has changed their number but we have messaging history that goes back several months by switching their number, their previous messages is just dangling in your messaging app. 

[Mujibar]

You can add the old number to their contact info. Messages should then show up with their name. You'll just have to be careful not to message the old number.

[tapdiggity]

Thanks, that's what I've been doing but now the changes are starting to accumulate so it's getting cumbersome to remember which numbers are real or not.

[Mujibar]

You should be able to change the label on a phone number to something like "old," for instance. 

[tapdiggity]

Yes that works

[realaud]

Which messaging app? If you are using Google messages, go into the chat, tap the dot menu, select details, scroll down to the contact and tap the dots and select edit contact. Make sure the contact is showing the correct number and carry on. Samsung messages should have a similar setting

[tapdiggity]

So there is no real way for the old text thread to incorporate with the new number?

[realaud]

I just outlined how to do it.

[tapdiggity]

Correct, and yes that works.

[maird]

At least on Google Contacts it lets you add at least six numbers for any contact, it's probably similar for other contact apps. On Google Contacts just edit the contact, scroll down, click Add phone, enter the number and give it an identity (work, mobile, home, other) and save the change. Now the contact exists with both numbers and should be the identity shown for texts from either number. When the contact is saved and still being viewed you should be able to set the new number as the "default" for calling/texting by pressing and holding on the number until the popup menu appears and click Set default.