WhatsApp now supports multiple devices for everyone who opts in

Whatsapp Message Hero (Image credit: Luke Filipowicz / iMore)

What you need to know

WhatsApp is now allowing everyone to use multiple devices with a single account.
Users can opt into the new public beta feature now.

Popular instant messaging service WhatsApp is now allowing anyone and everyone to enable public beta access to a feature that will allow them to use their account across multiple devices for the first time.

The new feature dubbed the "multi-device beta," can be enabled on a per-device basis and will allow access on up to four companion devices — although people can only use one phone at a time.

The multi-device beta is an opt-in program that gives you early access to try a new version of WhatsApp for Web, Desktop, and Portal. If you join the multi-device beta, you'll be able to use linked companion devices without the need to keep your phone connected. Your personal messages, media, and calls are end-to-end encrypted.

There are however three caveats to note:

You can use WhatsApp on up to four companion devices at one time, but can only have one phone connected to your WhatsApp account at one time.
You'll still need to register your WhatsApp account and link new devices with your phone.
If you don't use your phone for over 14 days, your linked devices will become disconnected.

Those looking to set up multi-device support can read more about what's required in the WhatsApp FAQ. WhatsApp is very much one of the best iPhone apps for people who have green bubble friends, and features like this will undoubtedly help make it an easier service for people to use, too.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.