Do you want to use your same WhatsApp account on more than one Android phone? That used to be a bit tricky, but thankfully WhatsApp has listened to user feedback and made it much easier. They have expanded the device linking feature, so now it’s not only for desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets anymore. You can have the same WhatsApp account across multiple phones with easy steps.
But there’s some trade-off, a couple of features like live location sharing and status updates won’t work on the linked devices, as they are still exclusive to your main mobile phone. For security, your chats will still be end-to-end encrypted when you link an extra phone or more. And it doesn’t matter if you’re an iPhone or Android user, or even if you mix them up – you can link as many devices as you want.
What is WhatsApp Companion Mode?
WhatsApp Companion mode lets you use one WhatsApp account across multiple devices. So all your chats, contacts, and groups sync up no matter which device you’re using. You can easily connect a maximum of five devices with your same phone number.
You might think it’s just like the ‘Linked devices’ feature we already have. But this Companion mode is a whole different thing and it’s specially designed for phones rolled out officially on April 25, 2023.
How to Use the Same WhatsApp Account on Two Android Phones
- Install WhatsApp on the Second Phone – Download and open the WhatsApp app on the second device. You’ll need to choose your language and accept the terms of use, tap on ‘Agree and Continue’ to continue.
- Link the Second Mobile Phone – Instead of entering a number, choose the option ‘Link this device to an existing account’. If you’re using a smartphone, tap on the three dots at the top right. A menu should pop up with the ‘Link to existing account’ option. After you select it, the QR code will appear on your screen.
- Scan the QR Code – On your primary phone, tap on ‘Settings’ in WhatsApp if you’re on an iPhone or the three little dots on Android. Then, select ‘Linked Devices’ and proceed to ‘Link a Device.’ Then, your phone’s camera view will pop up. Point it toward the QR code on your second phone. They will automatically link up, and your chats will start loading – it might take a little while to open.
You can also link up a PC, laptop, or tablet similarly with a maximum of up to five devices, including your primary phone and four linked devices.
One thing to remember, you don’t need your leading smartphone to be close by or even keep turned on to use WhatsApp on linked devices. But to keep using it on that separate mobile phone/s, you must log into WhatsApp at least every two weeks. Doing so prevents it from being auto-logged out, which will require re-linking if you ever need to use it.
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