WhatsApp, the widely-used messaging platform boasting over 2 billion users, has revealed its latest update: multi-device login support for multiple phones. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement on both Facebook and Instagram.
In his statement, Zuckerberg shared that users will soon be able to log into the same WhatsApp account on up to four phones, a significant departure from the previous limitation of one WhatsApp account per phone with companion desktop devices allowed. WhatsApp plans to make this feature available to all users in the coming weeks.
WhatsApp’s latest update brings the much-awaited ability for users to sync their messages across multiple devices, including phones that may be powered off. This is made possible by WhatsApp’s innovative technology that enables message synchronization while maintaining robust end-to-end encryption for enhanced security.
The company has been testing this feature with select beta users since 2021, which posed a challenge due to WhatsApp’s commitment to providing end-to-end encryption support for chats and calls. However, with the successful development of this new technology, WhatsApp is now able to offer multi-device compatibility, allowing users to access their messages across various devices seamlessly.
While messaging services like Telegram and Messenger have offered multi-device sync for messages, they have often lacked the critical feature of end-to-end encryption that sets WhatsApp apart. With WhatsApp’s new update, which introduces multi-device login support, the company is taking a significant step forward, making it an even more appealing messaging option for users who prioritize security.
In addition to multi-device support, WhatsApp is also introducing a new method for linking devices using a one-time code. Instead of scanning a QR code on your mobile phone, users can now obtain a unique one-time code by entering their mobile number on WhatsApp Web.
This feature will be expanded to accommodate more linked devices in the future, further enhancing the convenience and flexibility of using WhatsApp across multiple devices.
Read more: WhatsApp New Update: Upload Full Quality Images, Voice Status and Message Yourself
Everything You Need to Know About Linked Devices
With WhatsApp’s latest update, you can now enjoy the convenience of using the messaging service on a variety of devices, including Web, Desktop, Android tablets, companion phones, and more. By linking these devices to your primary phone, you can have up to four linked devices active at the same time.
The best part? Your personal messages, media, and calls are all end-to-end encrypted, ensuring the same level of privacy and security that WhatsApp users have come to trust. Each linked device operates independently while maintaining the robust encryption standards that WhatsApp is known for, giving you peace of mind as you communicate across different devices.
WhatsApp’s multi-device support allows you to use WhatsApp on linked devices even if your phone is offline. However, please note that if your phone remains inactive for more than 14 days, your linked devices will be automatically logged out for security reasons.
? Drumroll please…
Now you can use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones ?? ☎️ ?
Link up to 4 other devices to your account so you can easily switch between phones without signing out and pick your chats up right where you left off. pic.twitter.com/Loqa30EgHk
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) April 25, 2023
It’s important to remember that your primary phone is required to register your WhatsApp account and link new devices. So, when setting up WhatsApp on additional devices, make sure to have your primary phone handy for the initial registration process. Enjoy the convenience of using WhatsApp on multiple devices while keeping your account secure!
At the moment, there are some features that are not supported in WhatsApp’s multi-device feature. These include:
- Viewing live location: The ability to view live location updates from other users is not currently supported on linked devices.
- Creating and viewing broadcast lists: The feature to create and view broadcast lists, which allow you to send messages to multiple contacts at once, is not available on linked devices.
- Adding and deleting status on linked devices: The ability to add or delete status updates, which are temporary posts that disappear after 24 hours, is not supported on linked devices.
WhatsApp continues to work on enhancing its multi-device feature, and these unsupported features may be added in future updates. In the meantime, you can still enjoy the core messaging functionality of WhatsApp on linked devices.
