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WhatsApp Rolls Out Multi-Device Support to All Users on iOS and Android

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WhatsApp has rolled out multi-device support to all users on iOS and Android, allowing WhatsApp to be used on up to four linked devices without users needing to be connected via a smartphone.

whatsapp multi device support
To enable multi-device support, users need to join the multi-device beta. Launch WhatsApp on iPhone, then select Settings -> Linked Devices. Select Multi-Device Beta, then tap Join Beta. Once that's done, you'll be able to start linking devices.

After your devices are linked, messages can be sent and received using the WhatsApp desktop app or web-based service and your phone will no longer need to stay online, although it's not currently possible to delete messages or conversation threads from a linked device.

It's worth noting that you can't message or call from web, desktop, or Portal to users who have an outdated version of WhatsApp on their phone, and you can only have one phone connected to your WhatsApp account at one time. Personal calls and messages remain end-to-end encrypted across devices.

If you don't use your phone for over 14 days, your linked devices will be disconnected. Given the feature is still in beta, WhatsApp also cautions that the performance and quality of its service may be affected, although users can leave the beta at any time.

WhatsApp is reportedly working on an iPad version of its app, and the Meta-owned company has hinted that the rollout of multi-device support will bring the iPad version one step closer to release.

Tag: WhatsApp

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Top Rated Comments

sydneysider88 Avatar
sydneysider88
63 months ago
> Multi-device support
> Doesn’t support iPad
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shanghaichica Avatar
Shanghaichica
63 months ago
So still no iPad support. Nothing to see here then.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
n-evo Avatar
n-evo
63 months ago

It's worth noting that you can't message or call from web, desktop, or Portal to users who have an outdated version of WhatsApp on their phone
Ah, so that's why none of my messages arrived that were sent from my MacBook Pro. Nice.

Anyway, would be nice if they actually introduced a native app instead of the current web wrapper.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
scotty321
63 months ago
End-to-end encrypted. 😅 How do we know? Because Zuckerberg promises that it’s really really true! 😅
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
[AUT] Thomas
63 months ago
Whatsapp is such a backward messenger with little to no improvements given the amount of users... on Telegram you get a new update like every week with a changelog of things that got improved/fixed.
"Meta" is lightyears behind that... not even having an iPad App in 2021 is just pathetic...

...the only reason WA still exists is that the average user is really damn slow adopting other services. Otherwise WA would have vanished years ago.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vinay427 Avatar
vinay427
63 months ago

Does this mean that WhatsApp are now storing our messages on their servers, as opposed to the desktop version just reading the iPhone contents? Or am I being naive and they always were?
No, there are ways to handle end-to-end encryption using cloud servers in which the servers can't decrypt your data. Signal does a more complete job of this including encrypting user profiles, and documents its details including open-source client and (sometimes outdated) server code if you're curious to read more.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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