WhatsApp is rolling out a long-awaited feature that will allow users to use the same WhatsApp account across multiple devices. In a blog post, the company confirmed that this feature is an extension of a similar feature that was introduced in 2021, which allowed WhatsApp users to link up to four non-phone devices without the need for them to be tied to a primary smartphone. However, the major limitation of this feature was that none of the four devices could be a smartphone. This limitation has been removed with the new update.
The latest feature will enable users to log in to multiple smartphones using the same number. Previously, WhatsApp logged users out of one smartphone if a login with the same number was detected on a different smartphone. The auto-logout feature was designed to enable privacy, but it also caused many issues for people who needed to switch between devices. The advent of WhatsApp Business accounts also meant that access to the same number for multiple employees was a feature that could simplify things and result in faster response times.
Although WhatsApp has not yet detailed the steps required to enable multi-smartphone login, it is expected to be similar to the existing login process that uses QR codes. However, Meta has indicated that it is working to introduce a revamped method of linking companion devices that would remove the QR code from the equation. Instead, the process would involve receiving a one-time security code for a secure login.
The blog post also clarifies that the multi-phone login feature is still being rolled out to users worldwide. It is not yet clear how soon all WhatsApp users will receive the update, nor is it clear whether the feature is platform agnostic and will work across different platforms. For example, would the feature still work if the primary smartphone is an Android device and the linked smartphone is an iPhone, or vice versa? These are the questions we will be getting answers to as time goes by.
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