All about WhatsApp’s Multi-Device Support

WhatsApp has gone through several changes lately, which includes the introduction of new features such as disappearing messages, voice notes, payments, etc. However, there are a lot of things in the beta phase available to be tried out, which may or may not make it to the next official version. To get the privilege of trying out the features before its official release, you must join WhatsApp’s beta program.

In the latest reports, the WhatsApp multi-device support has been released by instant messenger, and Beta program users are loving it. In this blog, we tell you all about this new feature of using WhatsApp on multiple connected devices.

Must Read: How To Use View Once Feature To Send Disappearing Photos and Videos in WhatsApp

WhatsApp’s Multi-Device Support – What’s this new feature?

WhatsApp is all about making communication easier for its users and hence it has introduced multi-device support for WhatsApp Web, Desktop, and Portal. More multi-device is seen with the beta users as they get to avail the service before it is officially released for all the WhatsApp users. In this new feature, you can link up to 5 devices. You can use your linked devices even when your phone is not nearby and that’s an advantage for the users as earlier you were required to keep your phone active with the internet connection.

Its Facebook post stated –

“With this new capability, you can now use WhatsApp on your phone and up to four other non-phone devices simultaneously — even if your phone battery is dead. Each companion device will connect to your WhatsApp independently while maintaining the same level of privacy and security through end-to-end encryption that people who use WhatsApp have come to expect. Importantly, we have developed new technologies to maintain end-to-end encryption while still managing to sync your data — such as contact names, chat archives, starred messages, and more — across devices.”

You can add companion devices by scanning the QR code from your registered phone. Once linked, you can use the devices to send messages, media files, and make calls. WhatsApp uses the end to end encryption to keep your chats safe. It will only keep the chats safe on its servers as long as the recent chat history is transferred to the linked device where it will be stored locally. Evidently, WhatsApp Desktop can save more recent chats than the WhatsApp Web. This is going to be a great step for all the users who are using more than one device and seldom find themselves switching between phone, Desktop, and portal.

Also Read: How to Logout of WhatsApp On Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp Web

Who can join?

If you are interested to find out how all the new features are available to some of the users, let us tell you about it and how you can also have WhatsApp multi-device support on your phone. All the new features are first tested among the developers and then rolled out in the beta program of the application. The beta program of WhatsApp is available for both Android and iPhone and you can join them to avail the new features before its public release. All you need to do is join the WhatsApp beta program from your Google Play Store or TestFlight respectively for Android and iPhone.

Also Read: How To Clear WhatsApp Storage From Your Phone?

How can you join??

To enjoy the WhatsApp multi-device support, you must join the beta program now. All you require to do is to get the latest version of WhatsApp on your Android or iOS and then join the Beta program on your device. The following steps will help you to have WhatsApp multi-device feature on Android –

1. Open WhatsApp on Android and go to More options.
2. Now, Tap on Linked Devices.
3. Next, Tap on  Multi-device beta.
4. Now, Tap on JOIN BETA.

Similarly, to have the WhatsApp multi-device support on iPhone, you need to follow these steps –

1. Go to WhatsApp Settings on your iPhone.
2. Now, Tap on Linked Devices.
3. Next, Tap on Multi-Device Beta.
4. Now, Tap on Join Beta.

Note that you will be required to relink your companion devices once again after you join the Beta program on your device.

Also Read: How to use WhatsApp Pay to Send and Receive Money?

How to leave the multi-device beta on your Android and iPhone?

If you are not interested in continuing the new features on the beta program and wish to leave the program, follow the steps –

Android users :

• Open WhatsApp and go to More options.
• Now, tap on  Linked Devices.
• Next, tap on Multi-device beta.
• Now, tap on LEAVE BETA.

iPhone users :

• Open WhatsApp and go to the Settings.
• Now, tap on Linked Devices.
• Next, tap on Multi-Device Beta.
• Now, tap on Leave the beta.

What are the limitations?

This feature might look like the one to help out a lot of users with the ease of usage on multiple devices at the same time, but it has its limitations. Unsupported features on the WhatsApp multi-device support currently-

1. Viewing live location on companion devices won’t be possible.
2. Pinning chats on WhatsApp Web or Desktop is also not available.
3. Joining, viewing, and resetting group invites from WhatsApp Web and Desktop is not available, therefore you’ll have to use your phone for this task.
4. Can’t text or call the users with the older version of WhatsApp while on the linked devices.
5. Similarly Calling from Portal or WhatsApp Desktop to linked devices that aren’t enrolled in the multi-device beta.
6. Other WhatsApp accounts on your Portal won’t work unless those accounts have joined the multi-device beta.
7. WhatsApp Business users will not be allowed to edit their business name or labels from WhatsApp Web or Desktop.

Other limitations of this new feature on WhatsApp are as such –

• Biggest drawback it seems is the one where you can only have one phone among the 4 linked devices.
• You can only join the new devices using your phone with the registered WhatsApp account.
• Importantly, if you do not use your phone for 14 days, your linked devices will become disconnected and you have to repeat the process for linking them again.

Must Read: Signal vs Telegram: Which Is The Best WhatsApp Alternative

Verdict-

Among other WhatsApp features soon, you will enjoy Vacation mode, Read Later which will replace Archived Chats, Join missed group calls, Fast forward audio messages, and moving chats from iOS to Android. WhatsApp is sure to keep its crown for the most popular instant messaging service and therefore keeps catering to its user’s needs. Let us hope this Whatsapp multi-device support is rolled out soon for all users and we can avail feature and take advantage of it. Meanwhile, let us know what you think about this feature and how it will be useful for you.

We hope this article will help you learn about WhatsApp multi-device support. We would like to know your views on this post to make it more useful. Your suggestions and comments are welcome in the comment section below. Share the information with your friends and others by sharing the article on social media.

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