WhatsApp allows you to link your account to multiple devices so you can access your chats from different places. However, over time you may accumulate many linked devices you no longer use or recognize. To maintain security and privacy, it’s important to periodically review your linked devices and remove any you don’t need.
Viewing Your Linked Devices
WhatsApp makes it easy to see all the devices linked to your account. Just follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
- Tap the 3 dot menu icon in the top right.
- Go to Linked Devices.
This will open your list of linked devices. You’ll see each device’s name, when it was last used, and the operating system.
Removing a Linked Device
If you see any linked devices you don’t recognize or are no longer using, unlink them right away:
- Tap on the device you want to unlink.
- Tap Unlink.
- Confirm you want to unlink the device.
That device will no longer have access to your WhatsApp account. You can repeat this process to remove any linked devices you don’t need.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips for managing linked devices on WhatsApp for Android:
- If you lost a linked device, unlink it as soon as possible. This prevents unauthorized access to your account.
- When unlinking an old phone, be sure to back up your chat history first. The backup transfers to your new device.
- If you see an unknown linked device, change your WhatsApp password for added security.
- Always keep your WhatsApp updated to the latest version. Updates often include security fixes.
Limiting Linked Devices
For extra security, you can limit WhatsApp to linking only one device at a time. To enable this option:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices.
- Tap Link new device.
- Toggle on Only one WhatsApp device can be linked at a time.
With this setting enabled, unlinking a device will automatically log all other devices out of your account. Only your newly linked device will be able to access WhatsApp until you add or switch to another device.
Managing With Account Switcher
Account Switcher is a free app that manages your linked devices across various social and messaging platforms. Using Account Switcher can help simplify linked device management for WhatsApp and other services.
To use Account Switcher for WhatsApp:
- Download and install Account Switcher.
- Open the app and link your WhatsApp account.
- View and manage devices right within Account Switcher.
- Easily unlink devices you don’t recognize or need.
Account Switcher provides a centralized dashboard for all your linked devices. It eliminates the need to manage them within each app individually. Many users find this convenient for maintaining security across multiple messaging services.
Using WhatsApp Web/Desktop
WhatsApp Web and Desktop provide a way to use WhatsApp on your computer browser or Windows/Mac apps. However, they still require linking your phone in most cases:
- To use WhatsApp Web, scan the QR code from your computer with your phone camera. This links the browser session to your phone.
- WhatsApp Desktop requires linking your phone the first time you install it. After setup, you can use the desktop app while your phone is offline.
Sessions started in WhatsApp Web or Desktop will show up in your list of linked devices. Make sure to close out of these sessions when you’re done using them to maintain security.
Using Multi-Device Beta
WhatsApp is testing a new multi-device capability that allows you to use WhatsApp Web, Desktop, and Portal without needing your phone connected. This feature is currently in beta but expected to roll out more broadly in the near future.
With multi-device enabled, you can link up to 4 additional devices to your WhatsApp account. They will stay connected even when your phone loses connectivity. To try this beta capability:
- On your phone, go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices.
- Tap Multi-device beta.
- Activate the option.
Multi-device allows greater convenience in linking devices. However, you still want to unlink old or unrecognized sessions for optimal security.
Using QR Codes to Link Devices
WhatsApp provides a QR code linking option to easily link devices without typing in a 6-digit verification code. To use it:
- On your new device, install WhatsApp and start the linking process.
- When prompted, tap Link a Device.
- On your old phone, go to WhatsApp > Linked Devices > Link a Device.
- Point your old phone’s camera at the QR code on your new device.
- The device will now link.
QR code linking allows you to conveniently move your WhatsApp account between devices. It’s faster and more secure than manually typing in the verification code.
My Contacts Aren’t Showing Up!
If you link a new device to your WhatsApp account, your contact list may not automatically transfer over. Don’t worry, there are a couple easy ways to restore your contacts:
- Restore from Google Drive backup – Open WhatsApp, tap More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup and tap Restore.
- Transfer from old device – Turn on WhatsApp Web on your old device, scan the QR code with your new device, and tap IMPORT when prompted.
- Manually add – Open your phone’s contacts, select the contacts you want to add, tap export, then share the .vcf file to WhatsApp on your new device.
As long as you have your contacts backed up or still have access to your old device, you can easily restore them when linking a new device. This ensures you don’t lose contact information.
Conclusion
Managing your linked devices on WhatsApp is simple and important for privacy and security. Just remember these tips:
- Periodically review linked devices and remove any you don’t use.
- When linking a new device, move or back up your chat history and contacts.
- Enable security options like only linking one device at a time.
- Use Account Switcher or QR codes to conveniently link new devices.
- Always keep WhatsApp updated and unlink Web sessions when finished using them.
Following these best practices helps ensure you have full control over your WhatsApp account. With a few simple taps, you can securely manage and sync across the various devices linked to your account.