WhatsApp has started rolling out its expected multi-device support for a large number of users on both Android and iOS to allow them to use their account on secondary device, without requiring their phones to be associated with the Internet. Users can leverage the new feature to connect WhatsApp on up to four devices simultaneously to send and receive messages on the app even when their phones are not connected to the Internet. The update is helpful if you access WhatsApp on a desktop or Mac.
Introduced in July after a series of internal testing, multi-device support on WhatsApp allow users to connect their instant messaging account to a secondary device — say a PC, laptop, or Facebook Portal. It notably enables end-to-end encryption on the chats that takes place using the secondary device. This means that neither WhatsApp nor a third party can read the messages you send or receive on your connected PC.
By offering independent support, WhatsApp enables users to send and recieve messages on their secondary device even if they are not in the proximity of their phones. The feature also helps you stay connected to WhatsApp if your phone runs out of charge.
How to link your WhatsApp account to a secondary device
Before beginning with the steps below, it is important to note that you must be on the latest WhatsApp version to get multi-device support and link your account to a secondary device. The feature is also currently in ‘beta’ and may, thus, result in some stability issues for the time being. Furthermore, it is limited to WhatsApp Web, Desktop, and Portal. This means that WhatsApp hasn’t yet enabled support for linking an Android phone or iPhone as a secondary device. You can also not connect your WhatsApp account using multi-device support to an Android tablet or iPad at this moment.
Join multi-device beta by going to WhatsApp and then Settings > Linked Devices > Multi-Device Beta.
Once done, return to the screen of the Linked device and afterward tap the Link a Device button to interface another gadget.
You will presently be needed to scan a QR code available on your secondary device to link it with your WhatsApp account.
After linking, WhatsApp will allow you to send and recieve messages using your another device. You can also see your recent messages from the secondary device, though the messages that are deleted from your primary device will not be visible on the secondary one. Messages that you delete from your secondary device will also not be visible on your phone. However, this feature doesn’t work with an iPhone.
