A WhatsApp account can be used on four smartphones at the same time. Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced the change on Tuesday on Facebook with a one-liner known. Previously, users had to log out in order to be able to switch phones.
According to a WhatsApp press release, the update will be made available to all users worldwide in the coming weeks. The improvement should also be useful for business customers, where a small business owner and his employees can use a WhatsApp account together and reply to customer messages.
Chats are end-to-end encrypted
Last year, WhatsApp introduced the ability to use one account with multiple devices, although this was only possible on non-phone devices in addition to the smartphone as the main device. The beta test for this had already started in 2021. The current extension continues this function. Chats started on one device can be seamlessly continued on all other linked devices.
The link works just like that of a web browser or tablet. Each device creates its own connection to WhatsApp. As a result, messages, media and calls are end-to-end encrypted. If the main device is inactive for a longer period of time, the users are automatically logged out of all companion devices.
New way to link
An alternative, more accessible way to connect to companion devices will also be introduced in the next few weeks. After entering the phone number in WhatsApp Web, a one-time code will appear. This can be used to link devices. It is then no longer necessary to scan the QR code.
(mki)