For years, WhatsApp has had a huge limitation: you could only use it on your mobile phone. This was valid in its beginnings. But as it became a essential app to communicate, users demand the possibility of using WhatsApp everywhere. A particularly relevant case was always the power install WhatsApp on two mobiles or devices using the same number. That is to say: that WhatsApp was truly multi-device –just like your competition–. And, although it has taken longer than perhaps we would like, luckily, for a very short time, it is finally possible.
Whatever your case, we will explain all the ways to carry it out. As well as the supported platforms and the bindings supported so far thanks to the new WhatsApp and its multi-device mode.
WhatsApp on two devices or more
The WhatsApp help service says that “you can link other devices to your primary phone to use WhatsApp on the Web or Desktop versions, on Android tablets, additional phones or other devices. Can use up to four paired devices at once”. These devices They may be windows, macOS, Android (phone and tablet), iphone or any computer with a browser to run WhatsApp Web.
This means that you can access your personal messages, multimedia files and calls from different devices or mobiles. Of course, safely, since all this content is “end-to-end encrypted”.
Another advantage is that you do not need to have your main phone connected or online. You will only need it to “register the WhatsApp account and link new devices”. But keep in mind that paired devices will be disconnected if you don’t use your phone “for more than 14 days.”
Link a device with WhatsApp
Let’s say you have WhatsApp on Android or iPhone and that you want to use it on Windows, macOS, or Linux. Either with WhatsApp for desktop or through WhatsApp Web. To make it possible you will have to pair your main phone with the device. As we saw before, you can link up to four devices.
To pair a device:
- Open WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop on the device to be linked
- Then open WhatsApp on your main phone
- On Android, go to More options > Paired devices > Pair a device
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Paired devices > Pair a device
- Unlock your phone with the method you have activated if necessary
- Point the phone’s camera at the QR code displayed by the device to be paired
- When you scan the QR code, the link will become effective
Now you will have access to your WhatsApp messages, files, groups and contacts on two devices or more. The process of pairing the device must be done only once and in each of the devices to be linked.
WhatsApp on two Android or iPhone mobiles
The previous example is for using WhatsApp on two devices or more. But if what it is about is share a WhatsApp account on two mobiles, things change. Although WhatsApp is multi-device, the process is simpler than in the past.
Not long ago, WhatsApp offered an official method for use the same WhatsApp account or phone number on two different mobiles. That is, you can link an additional phone iPhone to your primary iPhone or link a iPhone with an Android. Combination is also possible Secondary Android with an iPhone or Android major.
The steps to follow are:
- Download, install and open WhatsApp on the second mobile
- Accept the conditions of the app and click on accept and continue
- On Android, open the dropdown menu and tap Link with an existing account
- On iPhone, tap Link this device to an existing account
- Now open WhatsApp on your main mobile
- Open the dropdown menu and select linked devices
- On iPhone, the path to take is Settings > linked devices
- Choose the option Pair new device
- With your primary phone, scan the QR code of the second phone
- When finished, you will see that the account is activated and synchronized on both mobiles
From now on you will have access to your WhatsApp messages, files, groups and contacts on two iPhone and/or Android mobiles. The process of pairing the device must be done only once and in each of the mobiles to be linked. As we saw before, the information stored locally and synced online. And to keep that data safe, it’s end-to-end encrypted.