WhatsApp has announced the expansion of its multi-device feature, which previously allowed access to accounts on Android tablets, browsers, and computers in addition to a primary phone. The service can now also be used on multiple smartphones. Users can add up to four different phones to the same account, which will roll out to all users in the coming weeks. Setting up a secondary phone requires tapping a “Link to Existing Account” option, which generates a QR code to be scanned by the primary WhatsApp phone via the “Link a Device” option in the settings. The feature works on both iOS and Android devices.
The company presents the feature as a useful tool for small businesses, who may want multiple employees to send and receive messages from the same company number on different phones. It is also useful for individuals who use multiple smartphones and want them to be linked to the same WhatsApp account. The primary phone initially signed into the account is considered the “primary” device, but it does not need to be turned on to receive messages on other phones, Android tablets, or computers. However, if the primary device is inactive for more than 14 days, WhatsApp will log other devices out. Users can also manually deregister paired devices from the primary phone.
Once a second phone is linked to a WhatsApp account, messages can be sent and received on both phones. Messages are synced between phones regardless of operating system, including from iOS to Android and vice versa. Messages of up to a year are synced between devices, allowing users to view their chat history before sending new messages. Official support for the feature is expected to be much more seamless and helpful than workarounds for accessing the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones via WhatsApp Web in a browser, while personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted, ensuring user privacy.
