WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the best features of WhatsApp is the ability to use it on multiple devices so you can stay connected no matter what device you’re using. For iPhone users, here is a guide on how to set up and use WhatsApp on multiple devices.
What are the requirements to use WhatsApp on multiple devices?
To use WhatsApp on multiple devices, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You must be using WhatsApp version 2.22.10.70 or newer on your iPhone
- Your iPhone must be running iOS 15 or newer
- You’ll need to link your WhatsApp account to your devices using QR codes
- Both your iPhone and secondary devices need to be connected to the internet
How do I link WhatsApp to a secondary device?
Here are the steps to link your WhatsApp account on your iPhone to another device:
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and tap Settings > Linked Devices
- Tap on “Add New Device” and point your iPhone’s camera at the QR code displayed on your secondary device
- Your secondary device will now link to your iPhone’s WhatsApp account
- Repeat this process for any additional devices you want to link
Once your devices are linked, your WhatsApp chats, contacts, and media will sync across them so you can pick up conversations seamlessly on each device.
What devices can I link to my iPhone?
You can link WhatsApp on your iPhone to the following devices:
- Android smartphones and tablets
- iPhone and iPad (separate to your main iPhone)
- Desktop – WhatsApp Desktop app for Mac or Windows PC
- Web – WhatsApp Web accessed via web browser
Each secondary device can only be linked to one iPhone at a time. You can link up to 4 devices in total.
How does using WhatsApp on multiple devices work?
When linked, WhatsApp synchronizes all of your data including messages, media, contacts, and chat history across your devices. This allows you to seamlessly switch between devices mid-conversation without losing any context.
Your iPhone acts as the primary device that the others link to. It will sync chat histories to the secondary devices when they come online. The secondary devices require an internet connection to send and receive messages.
What features are available on linked devices?
Here are the key features available when using WhatsApp across multiple linked devices:
- Send and receive messages
- Make WhatsApp calls
- Participate in group chats
- View full chat history and media
- See contact names and profile photos
- Get push notifications when messages are received
Some limited features like creating broadcast lists and messaging businesses are currently only available on your iPhone.
How do I unlink a device?
Follow these steps if you need to unlink a secondary device from your primary iPhone:
- On your iPhone, go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices
- Tap on the device you want to unlink
- Tap Unlink Device and confirm
- On the secondary device, open WhatsApp and tap Log Out to complete unlinking
This will remove the device from your WhatsApp multi-device setup. To link it again, you’ll need to scan a new QR code from that device.
Troubleshooting tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you encounter issues using WhatsApp on multiple devices:
- Check your internet connection on all devices. They all need to be connected for syncing.
- Make sure you’re running the latest version of WhatsApp on all devices.
- If a device isn’t syncing, try force closing and reopening WhatsApp.
- Restarting your iPhone can help if issues persist after linking devices.
- Check Linked Devices settings for any inactive devices and unlink them.
- As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp to reset multi-device.
Can I use WhatsApp on multiple iPhones?
Unfortunately, you cannot use WhatsApp on multiple iPhones at the same time. Each WhatsApp account can only be linked to one iPhone plus up to 3 other secondary devices.
If you need to use WhatsApp on two iPhones, here are a couple of options:
- Use each iPhone with a different WhatsApp account and phone number
- Temporarily link one iPhone to another secondary device like your iPad
- Forward chats from one iPhone to another via email or iCloud Drive
While not ideal, these provide some workarounds so you can access WhatsApp across two iPhones until official dual iPhone support is added.
Can I link WhatsApp Business and standard WhatsApp accounts?
No, you cannot link a standard WhatsApp account with a WhatsApp Business account. They operate as separate accounts and cannot be used interchangeably across devices.
To use both a personal and business WhatsApp account, you will need to set them up on different device pairs – for example, your personal account on your iPhone + iPad, and your business account on your old iPhone + Mac.
Useful WhatsApp tips
Here are some handy tips for using WhatsApp on your iPhone and linked devices:
- Customize notification settings on each device – mute groups/chats as needed.
- Star important chats to easily filter and find them on all devices.
- Create useful shortcuts like predefined replies and contacts.
- Enable chat wallpapers for a more personalized look.
- Use WhatsApp Web to conserve your iPhone battery if at your computer.
- Back up your chat history to iCloud or Google Drive for extra security.
Conclusion
The ability to use WhatsApp on multiple devices provides much more flexibility to stay connected. By linking your iPhone’s WhatsApp account to secondary devices like your iPad, PC, and mobile browsers, you can seamlessly message from whichever device is most convenient.
Just make sure your iPhone and secondary devices have the latest WhatsApp version installed, an internet connection, and have been linked properly using the QR code process. Follow the troubleshooting tips if you encounter any syncing issues.
While there are still some limitations, the multi-device feature takes WhatsApp’s connectivity and convenience to the next level. As more improvements roll out, the experience will only get better over time.