WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the handy features of WhatsApp is WhatsApp Web, which allows you to access your WhatsApp account through a web browser on your computer. With WhatsApp Web, you can conveniently chat with contacts without having to pick up your phone.
A common question people have is whether you can link devices like tablets and multiple phones to the same WhatsApp Web account. The short answer is yes, WhatsApp allows you to link multiple devices to one WhatsApp Web account. However, there are some limitations.
Linking a Phone and Computer
Let’s start with linking your phone and computer. To use WhatsApp Web, you need to have the WhatsApp app installed on your phone:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone and tap the More Options (3 dot) menu.
- Select Linked Devices > Link a Device.
- Point your phone’s camera at the QR code displayed on the WhatsApp Web page on your computer.
- Your phone will now be linked to your computer through WhatsApp Web.
That’s all there is to it! Once linked, you can access your WhatsApp messages and contacts from your computer. Your phone needs to remain connected to the internet for WhatsApp Web to work.
Linking Multiple Phones
You can link up to 4 phones to the same WhatsApp account at once. This allows you to seamlessly switch between phones without losing your chat history. To link another phone:
- On your old phone, open WhatsApp and go to Linked Devices in settings.
- Tap on the new phone you want to link.
- Open WhatsApp on your new phone and tap Link a Device.
- Point the camera at the QR code displayed on the old phone to link the devices.
Your chat history will automatically sync across the newly linked devices. You can unlink a phone at any time from the Linked Devices menu.
Linking Tablets and Computers
In addition to phones, you can link WhatsApp to up to 4 other non-phone devices. This includes tablets, computers or Portal devices. The steps to link additional devices are similar:
- Open WhatsApp Web on the browser or tablet you want to link.
- On your phone, go to Linked Devices and select ‘Link a Device’.
- Scan the QR code on your tablet/computer using your phone’s camera.
Once linked, you can access your WhatsApp account from the tablet or computer even when your phone is not connected. However, if you log out or unlink your phone, all linked devices will be unlinked as well.
Limitations
While WhatsApp allows multiple devices, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- You can only link up to 4 devices in total at once, including phones.
- Your phone must remain on and connected to the internet for other linked devices to receive messages.
- Calls can only be made or received on your phone, not on linked tablets/computers.
- If you log out of your phone, all other linked devices will be automatically logged out.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you face any issues linking devices to WhatsApp Web:
- Make sure your phone and computer are connected to the internet.
- Check that you are scanning the correct QR code displayed on your computer/tablet.
- On your phone, double check that WhatsApp Web is enabled under Linked Devices in Settings.
- Restart your phone and relink to your computer/tablet.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies and try relinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use WhatsApp Web without my phone?
No, you still need your phone to be connected to the internet to use WhatsApp Web on other devices. Your phone is the primary device that must stay linked.
Can I link WhatsApp Web to multiple computers?
Yes, you can link up to 4 additional non-phone devices like computers and tablets to one WhatsApp account.
Is my chat history synced across devices?
Yes, your entire chat history including messages, photos and videos is synced and available across all linked devices.
Can I make WhatsApp calls from my computer?
Unfortunately no, WhatsApp calls can only be made or received through your phone, not on WhatsApp Web or other linked devices.
What happens if I log out of my phone?
Logging out of WhatsApp on your phone will automatically log you out of all linked devices as well. You will have to scan a QR code again to link devices.
Conclusion
Linking devices to your WhatsApp account provides greater flexibility to access your chats and stay connected from anywhere. While there are some limitations, being able to seamlessly switch between your phone, computer and tablet using WhatsApp Web is a useful feature for people who are on-the-go. With a few quick steps, you can scan a QR code and link up to 4 additional devices to your WhatsApp account.