Do you regularly walk around with two smartphones? From now on you can use one WhatsApp account on both.

WhatsApp is more flexible by now allowing two smartphones with one account. This is finally good news for users who have a private phone in addition to a business phone. However, both devices are not equivalent, one of them is the main device. For example, backups are created and new registrations of devices are made.

See your second smartphone as a WhatsApp web variant, but integrated into the app so everything works more smoothly. Just like the web variant, you can scan a QR code before you can use the device. As with WhatsApp Web, your main device does not require an active internet connection. You can also get a message on your second device first because, for example, your work phone is switched off at the weekend.

Android only, not iOS yet

The dual smartphone system only works if your main device is an Android smartphone. WhatsApp on iOS doesn’t support the feature yet, even if you’re running the beta version there. In addition to an iPhone, you can also connect an Android smartphone as a second device, because that’s where the test runs. The other way round is not (yet) possible.

WhatsApp reserves the new feature only for beta testers (via WABetaInfo) to iron out any creases. A broad rollout for all users is then planned. To become a beta tester, you can register here with your Android device.

Get started with the new feature

Are you a beta tester or just registered? Then go to the first Load gamesearch for Whatsapp and check if you don’t need to update the app first. No update available? Then you can get started immediately with the following step-by-step list.

• Download WhatsApp on your second smartphone from the Google play store.
• Start app, click Agree and continue After that, you need to enter a phone number.
• Here, tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Pair a device.
• Go to your main device, tap the three dots in the top right and select Linked Devices, Pair a device and scan the barcode on your second smartphone.
• The chat messages are all loaded onto your second smartphone.

Chat history is instantly synced. After that you can use WhatsApp on both devices without missing a function anywhere. Only posting a status update and managing lists will not work in the beta for the time being. This should be the case later in the public rollout.

Maybe interesting for you: You can link up to four devices with one account. Do you still have a tablet or do you go through life with three smartphones, we won’t stop you.