With WhatsApp multi-device, you can use WhatsApp on your phone and up to four other devices. These other devices include WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp for Windows and Mac, and Facebook portal. But, unfortunately, you still can’t use the same WhatsApp account with the same mobile number on two mobile phones. How does it work? What are the current limitations? Don’t worry. We have all the answers for you. The current WhatsApp multi-device function is still in beta, but you opt for the beta channel and try this feature.
How to Enable WhatsApp Multi-Device on Phone
You need to have an Android phone to use the feature for now. WhatsApp hasn’t enabled it for iOS users yet. If you have an Android phone, follow the steps below to enable WhatsApp multi-device. Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android phone. Step 2: Tap on the three-dot menu at the top and select Linked devices. Step 3: WhatsApp will ask you to try new improvements. Hit Ok. Step 4: Tap on Multi-device beta and select Join BETA from the following menu. (In future, you won’t have to follow this step once it becomes part of the stable build and public rollout.) Step 5: Go back to the Linked devices menu and you will see Joined status for the Multi-device beta function. That’s it. You are now all set to enjoy multi-device on WhatsApp. Let’s set it up.
How to Set up Multi-Device on WhatsApp
You have successfully enrolled to use the multi-device function for WhatsApp. Follow the steps below to set it up with WhatsApp Web or Desktop. Step 1: Download and install the WhatsApp app on Windows or Mac. Download WhatsApp for Desktop You can also visit WhatsApp Web from any browser and set it up there. For example, in the screenshots below, we are using WhatsApp Web. Step 2: WhatsApp will ask you to scan a QR code. Step 3: Open WhatsApp on your Android phone and tap on the three-dot menu at the top. Step 4: Select Linked devices and tap on Link a device. Step 5: Scan the QR code on the desktop using the built-in scanner from the phone. Give it a couple of minutes. WhatsApp will take some time to organize your end-to-end encrypted messages. You can now go ahead and disable the internet on your Android phone. WhatsApp desktop will continue to work as before, something that wasn’t possible before.
WhatsApp Multi-Device Limitations
The multi-device function is still in beta. So, some functions won’t work as expected. WhatsApp has listed out the current unsupported features. Check the list below.
You can’t check the live location on companion devices.Pinning conversation on WhatsApp Web or Desktop.Joining, viewing, and resetting group invites from WhatsApp Web and Desktop. You’ll need to use your phone instead.Messaging or calling someone who uses an old WhatsApp version won’t work from your linked device.Calling from Portal or WhatsApp Desktop to linked devices that aren’t enrolled in the multi-device beta.Other WhatsApp accounts on your Portal won’t work unless those accounts have joined the multi-device beta.WhatsApp Business users can’t edit their business name or labels from WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
If the features mentioned above are essential for you, we would advise going back to the stable version. For that, you need to leave the WhatsApp multi-device beta program. Here’s how to do it. Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android phone and go to the Linked devices menu. Step 2: Select Multi-device beta and tap on the Leave beta button from the following menu. WhatsApp will log you out from all the connected devices and you need to connect to WhatsApp Web or desktop again. This time around, you are using the old way to establish a WhatsApp connection on the desktop, meaning you need to keep your phone around with the internet-enabled for a flawless experience.
What About Security and Privacy
WhatsApp has completely revamped the underlying architecture of how the messaging works on the platform for the multi-device function to work flawlessly. Here, each device has its own identity key. WhatsApp encrypts each message individually using the established pairwise encryption session with each device. Also, messages don’t get stored on servers after they are delivered. You can read a dedicated WhatsApp blog to learn how the multi-device function came to life.
Using WhatsApp Multi-Device
We connected the WhatsApp Android app with WhatsApp Web and then disabled the internet connection on the phone. The multi-device worked flawlessly between devices without any delay to sync newly-arrived messages from the desktop to the connected phone. However, you can only view messages that are up to three months old. If you try to look beyond, WhatsApp will ask you to use a mobile phone to view the full chat history. The inability to pin a chat conversation might bug you those who need to keep the most important threads at the top. WhatsApp won’t sync starred stickers from phone to desktop as well.
Use WhatsApp on the Web Without Phone
With WhatsApp’s multi-device function, the company is one step closer to achieving true multi-device sync across multiple phones. First, the foundation is laid out. It will be interesting to see how much longer the company allows users to use the same WhatsApp account on more than one phone simultaneously. Next up: Are you having problems with WhatsApp Web? Read the post below to learn why it’s not working on how to fix it. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
