Want to use WhatsApp on multiple devices? Here's how it works!

In 2021, WhatsApp finally introduced a feature that many users had been asking for: the ability to use WhatsApp on multiple devices! We'll show you how this works and whether it's also a viable solution for companies and WhatsApp Business.

When WhatsApp announced the new "linked devices" features a few years ago, many users were excited. Finally, it was possible to use WhatsApp on multiple devices!  

The multi-device function can be used for both private WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business. We'll how this works and to what extent it's also a good solution for companies. 

How to use WhatsApp on multiple devices

Using WhatsApp on multiple devices has the following advantages:

• 📱 A connection is also possible without a smartphone. For example: you can also use another device if your phone battery is dead.
• 🖥 You can connect up to four other devices in addition to your main device.
• 🔒 End-to-end encryption remains the same.

When you link devices, you can't access the "live location" and "access status" features on the linked devices.

So, how can you link different devices to your WhatsApp account? We'll guide you through the process for Android smartphones and iPhones below.

Android: Using WhatsApp on multiple devices

• First, open WhatsApp on your phone.
• Go to "more options" and select "linked devices".
• Tap on "add device" and click "OK" to confirm.
• Now, use your phone to scan the QR code on the device you want to connect.

iPhones: Using WhatsApp on multiple devices

• Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
• Go to "settings" and select "linked devices".
• Tap on "add device".
• If you're using iOS14 or newer versions: unlock your phone using touch or face ID. Otherwise and enter your phone PIN when prompted.
• The last step is to use your iPhone to scan the QR code on the device you want to connect.

Using WhatsApp on multiple phones

In 2023, WhatsApp expanded the multi-device function. Previously, it was only possible to use one phone in the multi-device setting. However, since April 2023, users can also connect more than one phone.

This can be either two Android devices or two iPhones, and cross-operating system links are also possible.

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Linking companion Android phone with main phone

First, download WhatsApp to the accompanying Android phone you want to link, open the app and agree to the terms and conditions. Then click on "continue".

You'll then see the option "link as a companion device". Select this. This triggers a QR code, which you then need to scan with your main phone. 

Simply follow the steps mentioned above to link multiple devices.

Linking companion iPhone with Android main phone or iOS primary phone

Download WhatsApp on the companion iPhone, open the app and then tap "agree" and "continue". 

Then select the option "link as companion device". You'll then see a QR code that you need to scan with your primary phone. To do this, follow the aforementioned steps for linking devices. 

What you should keep in mind when linking two phones:

• As with the linking of other devices, the "live location" and "add status" options are not available on the second phones.
• If you don't use your main device for 14 days, the companion phones will be logged off.

What about WhatsApp Business on multiple devices?

WhatsApp Business is a commercial version of WhatsApp meant for very small businesses. As it's meant for companies with no more than five employees, many businesses quickly run into a problem: using the business app with multiple employees on just one device is very impractical. 

Because one WhatsApp business phone means that the "WhatsApp phone" must always be passed around the team to keep all messages in one place and guarantee only one contact number for customers. 

This comes with its own set of issues. What happens if the person with business access is out sick? Or, has taken their cell phone with them on vacation? Or, receives an inquiry that can only be answered by someone out in the field? It gets tedious! 

That's why most businesses quickly figure out that it's not smart to use WhatsApp with only one smartphone.

But can the multi-device function be a solution? Only to a limited extent!

Use WhatsApp Business on multiple devices: The basics

The multi-device feature offers companies more flexibility for customer communication via WhatsApp. In addition to your main device, which must be a smartphone, you can connect up to four other devices to the same phone number.

This works for the WhatsApp Business app in the same way as for the private app. This means that several employees can communicate with customers from different locations.

With a WhatsApp Premium subscription, you can even connect up to ten devices. The connection remains active even if your smartphone is not online. You only have to reconnect the other devices if your main phone is offline for 14 days.

However, there are also some restrictions.

• Tablets are excluded from the multi-device function.
• Deleting chats doesn't work if the main device is an iPhone.
• Linked devices can neither create nor view broadcast lists.
• You don't have the option of forwarding incoming messages to specific employees via a ticketing system or linking all devices to a central inbox.
• Because you use the WhatsApp Business app, all the restrictions of the Business app remain in place (no newsletters or push notification, no chatbots, no CRM integration, no analytics, etc.).
• There's no connection to WhatsApp Flows.

The bottom line is: a multi-device solution is still not very practical for companies with more than five employees, as it won't give you access to any scaling tools, neither for marketing nor for sales or customer service. 

And you're not on the safe side with this option either in terms of data protection!

The challenge of data protection!

As a company, you must always ensure that you meet all data protection requirements in every form of customer communication.

When it comes to encrypting messages, WhatsApp Business is just as secure on multiple devices as the private app. Here too, WhatsApp guarantees end-to-end encryption. So conversations remain protected.

However, you also use a smartphone as the basis for the multi-device function. And here, the handling of customer data is not 100% compliant with many data laws, like the California Consumer Privacy Act or the European General Data Protection Regulation. 

If you want to guarantee data protection and use WhatsApp Business on multiple devices, the WhatsApp Business Platform is the better solution for you.

WhatsApp Business Platform: Properly scaling WhatsApp communication 

The WhatsApp Business Platform is another business solution from WhatsApp that allows companies to integrate WhatsApp into their customer communication. This version of WhatsApp is meant for businesses that really want to get the most out of their WhatsApp customer communication. 

That's why the Business Platform offers more features like chatbot integrations, push notifications, and you can add ten agents or even more. 

However, this WhatsApp solution for businesses doesn't work through a smartphone app, but directly through WhatsApp's API.

You can develop a software around the interface with your own IT team. However, this requires continuous IT resources. 

The simpler alternative for most businesses is to use an out-of-the-box software developed by a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider. With these tools from official WhatsApp partners, you don't need any special programming skills and can get started right away.  

Take for instance Sinch Engage. We've been partnering with WhatsApp for years and have developed a ready-to-go WhatsApp software that allows you to immediately take off with WhatsApp. 

What's even better, our software solution is not just limited to WhatsApp. You can also use other messenger apps, such as Instagram Direct, Telegram, Viber, or iMessage (Apple Messages for Business) for your customer communication from the same platform — and even integrate chatbots.

This not only allows you to communicate via WhatsApp and other messaging app (and stay 100% data compliant), but also gives you many other options that improve your customer communication and significantly reduce the workload on your team.

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