However, users can only have up to four devices connected to WhatsApp at any given time. The feature first made its way with WhatsApp Beta recently and is now rolling out via the stable channel. Android users can access this feature through “Linked Devices,” which can be found by tapping the three-dot icon on the top right of the WhatsApp homescreen. Here, users will find the option to “Link a Device.” Some users may also find an option stating “Join Multi-Device Beta.”
The new multi-device update does not support tablets
When enabled, all previously paired devices will be disconnected, while a notification will appear as well. This also means that you will have to sign in to WhatsApp on other devices using the QR code from your smartphone. One caveat here is that this feature won’t work on tablets. As GizChina notes (via), calls or messages from devices running older versions of WhatsApp won’t work either. Additionally, connected devices cannot start broadcasts, nor can they access real-time location data shared by others. These are some crucial omissions, though WhatsApp ensures users that its standard encryption protocols will be in place across devices. Despite the relative freedom this new feature brings, users must log onto their primary device every 14 days. Failure to do so will result in the disconnection of all paired devices, WhatsApp said. This comes over a month after we first learned of WhatsApp’s plans to bring a “multi-device 2.0” update. Although details were scarce at the time, we’re now getting a better understanding of this feature. In September, WhatsApp finally introduced end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for chat backups on the cloud. This covers both iCloud (iOS) and Google Drive backups on Android, thus offering an additional layer of security for users. WhatsApp could also be working on a new “Community” feature for its app, as per a recent leak. The feature was first mentioned in WhatsApp beta v2.21.21.6 and could make its way to the stable version soon.
