How to Try WhatsApp Beta for Multiple Devices Now
For months, WhatsApp has been teasing its multi-device feature – a feature that will allow you to use WhatsApp on your computer even if your phone is not permanently connected and nearby, using up to four devices. (And all your messages will still be protected with end-to-end encryption.) WhatsApp has been slow to roll out it, but after months of testing, the feature is finally available to all users as a public beta. Here’s how WhatsApp multi-device works and how to enable it.
How WhatsApp works for multiple devices
The WhatsApp multi-device feature allows you to use WhatsApp such as Telegram or Facebook Messenger. Well, sort of. You still need to manually pair devices using QR codes, and these devices must reconnect to your smartphone at least once every 14 days.
While you can use WhatsApp with four connected devices (including the Facebook portal), only one phone can be connected to your WhatsApp account at a time. Once enabled, WhatsApp Desktop will automatically and securely download the latest conversations from your WhatsApp account.
How to enable WhatsApp beta for multiple devices
If you want to give it a try, you can enable this feature in your WhatsApp settings. On your iPhone, go to the Settings tab and click on Associated Devices . Select the Multi-Device Beta option, then click the Join Beta button to get started. In the pop-up window, click the ” Continue ” button.
On an Android smartphone, click the three-dot menu button on the top toolbar and select the Paired Devices option. Then go to the Multi-Device Beta section and click Join Beta .
Once the process is complete, the multi-device beta will be enabled. WhatsApp will log you out of your current sessions on linked devices and you will have to reconnect to the WhatsApp Desktop app on your Mac or PC. To do this, open the WhatsApp Desktop app. On your smartphones, go to the Paired Devices section in WhatsApp and click the Pair Device button. Scan the QR code to link the device.
After scanning, it will take some time for the app to download the latest messages and media from your WhatsApp account. After that, you can continue to use WhatsApp as usual.
WhatsApp Beta Limitations for Multiple Devices (and How to Exit Beta)
Since this is a beta version, everything is not perfect or even complete. WhatsApp still has a long list of features that aren’t available if you’re running the multi-device beta in the WhatsApp Desktop app. According to WhatsApp , here are the features that are not supported:
- Clear or delete chats on companion devices if your primary device is iPhone.
- Send messages or call someone using a very old version of WhatsApp on their phone.
- Using tablets.
- View your current location on companion devices.
- Create and view a mailing list on companion devices.
- Call between portals that joined the multi-device beta and portals that did not join.
- Sending messages with preview links from WhatsApp Web.
If you are relying on one of these features or are having problems, you can always exit the Multi-Device Beta – just go back to the Connected Devices section in WhatsApp Settings , click Multi-Device Beta , then Leave beta version. “