If you choose the wrong path, your new account with assets in it may be permanently closed and all funds wiped out. This is not a scare tactic. It is part of how OKX account merging works. Below I will clearly explain the difference between "Merge" and "Recover" so you can figure out which situation applies to you before taking any action.
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The Wrong Result: Many People Get Tripped Up by the "Merge" Button
When you register a new account and see "phone number already bound," you might think, "Then I will just merge it." Wrong. I have seen people enter the "Merge Account" process just to bind an old phone number to a new account. After finishing, they found that the new account was gone, the old account did not get the phone number they wanted, and the few hundred USDT they had just deposited into the new account was wiped out along with the new account because they did not transfer it out in advance.
The core reason is simple: "Merge Account" essentially means "a verified account absorbs an unverified account." If you go in the wrong direction, things can go badly.
Step 1: First Determine Which Situation You Are In
Situation A: You still remember your old account password and can log in
This is the simplest case. You can just change the phone number directly in your old account. There is no need to "merge" or "recover" anything.
Path: Log in to your old account → Tap the grid icon in the top left corner of the homepage → Account Settings → Security Settings → Phone Number → Change Phone Number.
Enter the new phone number and the new phone verification code as required, then confirm. The old phone number will be replaced.
Completion standard: The page shows "Change successful," and you can log in to the old account normally with the new phone number. This operation does not close any account and is the safest option. If you can use this path, choose changing the phone number first.
Situation B: You forgot your old account password or cannot log in at all
Only then should you consider "Merge" or "Recover," but you still have two branches.
Step 2: Choose "Merge" or "Recover"? Look at One Key Factor
Situation B1: The old account has completed identity verification (KYC), but the new account has not
Conclusion: Use the "Merge Account" process.
How to do it (using the app to merge phone numbers as an example):
Log in to your new account (the unverified one). Tap the grid icon in the top left corner of the homepage → Tap the arrow on the right to enter Security Settings → Phone Number → Bind Phone Number.
Enter the phone number that is already in use. The system will show "This phone number is already bound." Continue as prompted, and you will need to enter the SMS code for that phone number and the email verification code for the new account.
Then the system will show a confirmation page that clearly states the new account will be closed. This is the most important part: read the popup text carefully and confirm that the account about to be closed is the "new account" you are currently logged into.
Then tap in order: Start → Correct → Next. Check the account closure notice, then tap Close Account → Yes, Close Account → Done.
Completion standard: The page shows "Migration successful." After that, you can only log in with the old account, and the new account has been closed.
Risk warning: Before doing any of the above, transfer all assets out of the "new account" first. Whether it is USDT or other coins, withdraw or transfer everything out. After the merge is complete, the new account will be permanently closed. If assets are not transferred out in advance, they will be cleared to zero, and customer support cannot recover them.
Situation B2: The new account has completed identity verification, but the old account has not
In this case, you cannot use the process above. OKX rule is that you can only merge an unverified account into a verified account. The system will not allow the reverse direction.
What you need to do here is "recover the old account," not "merge."
How to do it: On the login page, enter the old account phone number or email → Tap Next → Select Forgot Password → On the verification page, select Cannot Verify → Reset verification method.
Follow the prompts to submit an ID photo or record a face video to prove you own the old account. After approval, you will receive a reset link to change both the password and phone number of the old account.
Completion standard: You receive an official OKX email saying "Security verification method has been reset." You can log back into the old account with the new password and new phone number.
Common reasons for failure: The identity verification photo is blurry or has glare, or the video does not show you reading the required numbers as instructed. The platform risk control is very strict. If you fail once, it goes to manual review, which can take anywhere from half a day to two days. Take photos in good lighting and avoid shaking when holding your device.
Step 3: How to Verify the Operation Is Complete
No matter which path you took, there is only one final test:
Use your "target phone number" to log in to OKX. You should receive a verification code and successfully enter the account homepage, and the asset balance in the account should match what you expected.
If you used the "Merge" path, it is normal to see the old account assets after logging in. If you used the "Recover" path, it is also normal to see the original assets of the old account after logging in.
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FAQ
Q: Both of my accounts are verified, but I want to move the phone number from A to B. What should I do?
A: You cannot merge them. Platform rules do not allow binding relationships to be transferred between verified accounts. You need to log in to account A and change to a new phone number in security settings, which releases the old phone number. Then go to account B and bind that old phone number.
Q: Will my referral commissions remain after merging?
A: No. The unverified account that gets closed will not have any of its referral relationships or commission records migrated to the main account. They will be cleared to zero. So if the new account has downline referrals, think carefully before merging.
Q: How long after merging can I withdraw crypto?
A: If a security reset was triggered during the merge, such as changing your phone number or password, withdrawal and C2C selling functions will be restricted for 24 hours. You cannot withdraw immediately.
