WhatsApp to let users link one account with up to four smartphones

Secondary devices will still be able to make calls, send and receive messages when connected to the Internet, even when the primary one is offline. — Photo by Bastian Riccardi on Unsplash

WhatsApp is finally allowing users to link their account to multiple smartphones at once.

This comes via a beta update to the messaging app that adds a “companion mode” that was previously only available to a select group of testers when it debuted late last year.

The companion mode allows for secondary devices (including Android smartphones, WhatsApp Web, and WhatsApp desktop apps) to make calls and chat as if it were the main device the account is tied to.

Secondary devices will still be able to make calls, send and receive messages when connected to the Internet, even when the primary one is offline. Up to four secondary devices can be added to a single account.

To link another Android device, simply install WhatsApp on the secondary device and tap “link a device” on the registration screen, after which a QR code will be displayed.

On the main device, navigate to “linked devices” in the menu, and select “link a device”, then all that’s left is to scan the QR code and the secondary device will be good to go.

Caveats for this is that secondary devices will not be able to edit contacts and post status updates, among other things.

According to leaker site WABetaInfo, the feature is only accessible to beta testers who install the latest beta app, but some users have reported access to the feature even without joining the beta program.

Those with the latest version of the app but without access to the feature can join the beta here, after which the option to download the beta version should be added to the Google Play Store.

The ability to use a smartphone as a secondary device is unfortunately limited to just Android smartphones at this point in time, however iOS devices can still be used as the primary without issue.

Another beta feature is also the ability to edit contacts directly via WhatsApp. This can be done by viewing a contact, then selecting the edit option in the top right menu.

Like the previous companion mode update, the ability to edit contacts is currently only available on Android devices.