WhatsApp users can now link their accounts to up to four phones, the messaging service announced today.
The feature, which was previously available for web browsers, tablets and desktops, allows users to access and send messages from multiple devices without needing their primary phone to be online.
The multi-device feature is useful for small businesses that want to communicate with customers from different phones using the same WhatsApp Business account, or for anyone who uses more than one phone regularly.
Users can link their phones by scanning a QR code generated by the app on their secondary devices, or by entering their phone number on WhatsApp Web and receiving a one-time code.
WhatsApp said that the feature is rolling out to users globally in the coming weeks, and that personal messages will remain end-to-end encrypted across all devices.
The company also said that it is introducing an alternative way to link devices using a phone number instead of a QR code, which will be available for more companion devices in the future.
The multi-device feature has been in the works for a long time, and was first tested by WhatsApp last year. It is one of the most requested features by users, who have been looking for a way to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones without relying on workarounds.
WhatsApp CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the feature’s rollout on Facebook and Instagram, saying “Starting today, you can log into WhatsApp with your phone number across multiple phones” 1.