WhatsApp has announced a major update to its messaging service, allowing users to use their account on multiple devices. This new feature expands on the previous multi-device capability, which only allowed users to access and send messages from additional Android tablets, browsers, or computers alongside their primary phone. Now, users can link additional smartphones to their WhatsApp account, making it possible to use a single WhatsApp account across multiple phones.

To set up the multi-device feature, users will need to download the latest version of WhatsApp and tap the “link to existing account” option. This will generate a QR code to be scanned by the primary WhatsApp phone via the “link a device” option in settings. The new feature works across both iOS and Android devices.

WhatsApp is pitching this new feature as a useful tool for small businesses that might want multiple employees to be able to send and receive messages from the same business number via different phones. However, it should also be useful for anyone who uses multiple smartphones on a regular basis and wants them all to be associated with the same WhatsApp account.

Although the original phone that logged in to your account is considered the “primary” device, it doesn’t need to be turned on to receive messages across your other phones, Android tablets, or computers. However, if your primary device is inactive for over 14 days, WhatsApp says it’ll log out your other devices. You can also manually log out linked devices from your primary phone.

Once a secondary phone is linked to your WhatsApp account, users will be able to access and send messages from either phone. Messages will sync across devices, regardless of their operating systems, making it easy to keep track of conversations. Messages sync across phones regardless of their operating systems, whether it’s iOS to Android or vice versa.

Personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted, regardless of whether you’re using the multi-device feature. WhatsApp assures its users that this feature will not compromise the privacy and security of personal messages. This means that all personal messages sent and received will continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption.

While there have previously been workarounds to access the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones via WhatsApp Web in a browser, the experience has never been great. The official support for the multi-device feature should be far more seamless and useful, allowing users to use their account on multiple devices without any hassle.

Overall, this new feature from WhatsApp is a welcome addition, making it easier for users to manage their WhatsApp account across multiple devices. Whether it’s for personal or business use, the multi-device feature offers a convenient way to access and send messages from any device, without compromising the security and privacy of personal messages.