WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging platforms in the world, with over 2 billion active users. One of the handy features of WhatsApp is WhatsApp Web, which allows you to access your WhatsApp chats on your computer’s web browser.
To connect your WhatsApp account to WhatsApp Web, you need to scan a QR code using your phone’s camera. This generates a link between your phone and your computer. However, some WhatsApp users have experienced issues with their QR codes expiring after a certain period of time.
How does WhatsApp Web work?
WhatsApp Web provides a desktop version of the WhatsApp mobile app. It mirrors the chats and messages from your phone, allowing you to seamlessly switch between devices.
To use WhatsApp Web, you need to:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone
- Tap the 3-dot menu icon in the top right
- Select WhatsApp Web
- Point your phone’s camera at the QR code on the WhatsApp Web screen
- Your phone will scan the code and link your account
This QR code linkage process authenticates your identity and links your phone with your computer. The QR code helps establish an end-to-end encrypted session between the two devices.
Does the WhatsApp Web QR code expire?
Yes, the WhatsApp Web QR code does expire after a certain time. According to WhatsApp, the QR code expires after about 90 days if it is not used.
This expiration is a security measure implemented by WhatsApp. It prevents indefinite validity of QR codes, which could be potentially misused by others if left active for long periods.
Some key things to note about QR code expiration:
- The 90-day validity is for QR codes that are not scanned even once. If you scan a code once, the session remains active until you manually log out.
- Unscanned codes will show an ‘expired’ message when you try to scan them after 90 days.
- You will have to generate a fresh QR code if the old one has expired.
- Session expiration helps prevent unauthorized access if you leave a QR code enabled on a public computer.
- The 90-day period is based on your phone’s internal clock, not your computer’s.
Why does the WhatsApp Web QR code expire?
There are several reasons behind WhatsApp’s decision to impose an expiration period on unused QR codes:
- Prevent account misuse – Expired codes prevent indefinite QR code validity which could allow others to misuse your account if they get hold of the code.
- Enhanced security – Expiration provides additional security in case you accidentally leave a WhatsApp Web session active on a public computer.
- Force reauthentication – It requires periodic reauthentication of your devices for improved accountability.
- Maintain active device list – Expiration helps WhatsApp maintain a list of your currently linked devices only.
- Align with session timeouts – It is aligned to WhatsApp Web’s general session timeout policy after periods of inactivity.
Overall, this security policy limits vulnerability and makes it harder for others to gain unauthorized access to your WhatsApp account through an old QR code.
How long does the WhatsApp Web QR code take to expire?
According to WhatsApp, an unused WhatsApp Web QR code will expire after approximately 90 days.
Here is a breakdown of the QR code expiration timeline:
- Day 1 – QR code is generated when you link a new device to WhatsApp Web.
- Days 1-90 – QR code remains valid and can be scanned to authenticate and link devices.
- Day 91 – QR code expires if not used even once during the 90-day period.
- Day 91 onwards – Expired QR code cannot be scanned and will show an error.
The 90-day countdown begins from the moment the QR code is generated on your phone when adding a new browser session. The QR code validity reduces gradually during this period.
WhatsApp does not provide an exact expiration date and time. But you can expect the code to expire after approximately 3 months if fully unused.
What happens when the WhatsApp Web QR code expires?
Here is what happens when your unused WhatsApp Web QR code reaches its expiration date:
- The QR code becomes invalid and cannot be scanned.
- Scanning an expired code will show an error message that reads “QR code expired.”
- You will have to open WhatsApp on your phone and tap WhatsApp Web to generate a fresh code.
- All previously linked devices using the old QR code will remain linked and active.
- You can use the new QR code to link additional devices as required.
- The new QR code will have a fresh 90-day validity.
Essentially, an expired QR code only affects new linkages. Your active WhatsApp Web sessions will continue to work. You will just have to reauthenticate if you want to add another computer or device after the code expires.
Does the WhatsApp Web QR code expire if you don’t log out?
No, the WhatsApp Web QR code will not expire if you remain logged in without logging out.
The 90-day expiration time frame only applies to QR codes that are not scanned even once. If you authenticate a code by scanning it, the linked WhatsApp Web session will remain permanently active until:
- You manually log out or disconnect the session.
- Your phone or computer remains inactive for an extended time, causing a timeout disconnection.
- You log out of WhatsApp on your phone, which terminates all active Web sessions.
So if you actively use WhatsApp Web by keeping your session logged in, your QR code will not expire. The code only expires if left unused for 90 days after linking.
How long does an active WhatsApp Web session stay logged in?
An active WhatsApp Web session that has been authenticated via a QR code will remain logged in indefinitely until:
- You manually log out or disconnect WhatsApp Web.
- The session times out due to inactivity.
According to WhatsApp, an active Web session will automatically disconnect after 14 days of inactivity. This could be 14 days of no interaction on WhatsApp Web itself or no WhatsApp usage on your linked phone.
This inactivity timeout is designed to log you out and require reauthentication if you abandon an open Web session. But as long as you actively use WhatsApp on either device, your Web session will not timeout and disconnect.
WhatsApp Web session inactivity timeout periods
| Platform | Inactivity Timeout |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp Web | 24 hours |
| Linked phone (if not used) | 14 days |
So in summary, an authenticated WhatsApp Web session will stay logged in indefinitely until you manually log out or extended inactivity triggers an automatic disconnection.
Tips to avoid WhatsApp Web QR code expiration
Here are some tips to prevent your WhatsApp Web QR code from expiring:
- Scan new codes immediately – Don’t generate a code until you are ready to scan it. This maximizes the 90-day validity.
- Link frequently used devices first – Link your most used computers quickly so you don’t have to reconnect often.
- Log out when done – Disconnect your WhatsApp Web session instead of abandoning it.
- Scan code from primary phone – Generate your QR codes from the phone you use WhatsApp on most. This reduces disconnections caused by inactivity on a secondary device.
- Use WhatsApp frequently – Regularly use WhatsApp on your phone or Web to prevent inactivity timeouts.
- Do not delete QR code images – Keep previous codes as images in your gallery in case you need to reconnect a device.
Following these best practices will ensure your WhatsApp Web QR codes stay valid for as long as possible.
Can you reuse an expired WhatsApp Web QR code?
No, you cannot reuse a WhatsApp Web QR code that has expired. An expired code becomes permanently invalid and cannot be scanned again.
If your QR code has expired, you will have to:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone.
- Go to WhatsApp Web in your phone’s menu.
- Tap the ‘+’ icon to generate a new code.
- Scan the latest code using your phone’s camera.
This new QR code will have a fresh 90-day validity and allow you to authenticate and link a new Web session.
While it may seem inconvenient, the expiration policy is designed to improve security. Preventing reuse of old QR codes ensures each new linkage requires active reauthentication from your phone.
Can you extend the QR code expiration?
There is no way for users to directly extend the 90-day expiration period of an unused WhatsApp Web QR code. The expiration is hardcoded into WhatsApp’s systems.
However, there are a few indirect ways to maximize your QR code’s validity period:
- Only generate a code when ready to scan – Don’t create spare unused codes.
- Quickly scan new codes – This starts the countdown from day 1 again.
- Avoid inactivity timeouts – Regular WhatsApp usage prevents automatic disconnections.
- Manually log out – Disconnect sessions instead of abandoning them.
- Keep previously scanned codes – You can reuse images of old scanned codes to relink if needed.
While you cannot directly control the 90-day validity, following best practices allows you to avoid any premature expirations or disconnections.
Should you wait for the QR code to expire before generating a new one?
No, there is no need to wait for your WhatsApp Web QR code to fully expire before creating a new one.
As soon as an existing QR code is no longer required, you can generate a fresh code to link a new device. Some reasons why you may need a new code earlier include:
- Linking another computer or phone
- Previous code was compromised
- Lost access to a linked device
- Existing code has degraded and is hard to scan
Actively creating new codes as required allows you to maximize each code’s 90-day validity period.
You only have to wait for expiration if you want to reconnect a device that was already linked previously. For new devices, always generate and scan codes instantly when needed.
Conclusion
To conclude:
- Yes, WhatsApp Web QR codes do expire after approximately 90 days if unused.
- Expiration is a security measure to prevent account misuse from old QR codes.
- Linked devices stay connected until you manually log out or extended inactivity times out.
- You cannot reuse expired codes and must generate new ones when needed.
- Best practices like logging out and regular usage can maximize QR code validity.
So while WhatsApp Web QR codes aren’t permanent, a few handy tips can help you avoid expirations and seamlessly use WhatsApp across all your devices.