Following the introduction of the long-requested ability to use the same account seamlessly across one phone and multiple other devices in 2021, today WhatsApp is back with the logical conclusion of that effort. The service is now offering what has to be the most requested feature ever.
You can use the same WhatsApp account on up to five phones. You link every additional phone the same way you link with WhatsApp on web browsers, tablets, and desktops. Each linked phone connects to WhatsApp independently, ensuring that your messages, media, and calls stay end-to-end encrypted.
Furthermore, if your primary phone is inactive “for a long period” (the company doesn’t specify anything more exact), then you’ll be logged out of all companion devices automatically, as a security precaution.
So now you can finally switch between multiple phones without signing out of WhatsApp. You can use multiple phones with the same WhatsApp account signed into each of them. Hurray for progress!
This update has already started rolling out to all users globally. The rollout will conclude “in the coming weeks”.
Additionally, WhatsApp is also rolling out (over the same coming weeks) a “more accessible way” to link to companion devices. You’ll be able to enter your phone number on WhatsApp Web to then receive a one-time code, which you can use on your phone to enable device linking, rather than having to scan a QR code. This is only rolling out to WhatsApp Web right now, but it’s promised to arrive on “more companion devices in the future”.
