WhatsApp has now introduced a new feature that allows users to access their accounts on multiple smartphones, in addition to other devices such as tablets and computers. Previously, the multi-device feature only enabled users to access their accounts on additional Android tablets, browsers, or computers. This new feature will now allow you to use your WhatsApp account on multiple phones, making it more convenient for users who may use more than one device regularly. The company says that the feature will be available to everyone in the coming weeks. This update will no longer restrict WhatsApp users to using their accounts on just one phone, making it easier for them to stay connected with friends and family on the go.
How to Set Up WhatsApp Multi-Device Feature
To set up a secondary phone for use with your WhatsApp account, you will need to perform a fresh install of the app. During the setup process, you will need to choose the new “link to existing account” option instead of entering your phone number and logging in as usual. This option will generate a QR code that you can scan with your primary WhatsApp phone by selecting the “link a device” option in settings. It’s worth noting that this new feature is available on both iOS and Android devices, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Once you have linked your secondary phone to your primary WhatsApp account, you will be able to access your messages and send new ones from both devices seamlessly.
WhatsApp is promoting this new feature as a valuable tool for small businesses that may require multiple employees to access and respond to messages from the same business number using different phones. However, the feature is also beneficial for individuals who use multiple smartphones frequently and wish to link them all to the same WhatsApp account.
Your original phone, which was used to log in to your account, is known as the “primary” device. You do not need to turn on the primary device in order to receive messages across your other devices such as Android tablets, computers, or secondary phones. It’s worth noting that if the primary device remains inactive for a period of 14 days, WhatsApp will automatically log out of your other linked devices.
After linking a secondary phone to your WhatsApp account, you will be able to access and send messages from either device seamlessly. Moreover, you can view up to a year’s worth of chat histories on both devices, allowing you to catch up on previous conversations before sending any new messages. This synchronization of messages between devices is not dependent on their operating systems and works seamlessly between iOS and Android devices.
In the past, users have resorted to workarounds such as accessing WhatsApp Web on a browser to use the same account across multiple phones. However, this experience has often been subpar, and official support for this feature is expected to be much more seamless and beneficial.
It is worth noting that regardless of whether you are using the multi-device feature, personal messages on WhatsApp will remain end-to-end encrypted.
