Explained: Know all about WhatsApp’s multi-device tool

WhatsApp recently announced that the multi-device support tool is no longer in its beta phase. This tool named “Linked Devices” in the settings section of the Facebook-owned messaging platform is now available offline. Users who wanted to try this tool had to join the beta programme and were required to have internet connectivity on their primary phone to test the tool. Now, users won’t have to worry about internet connectivity on their main phones. This tool has now rolled out to iOS users and will soon be released for Android. However, WhatsApp also revealed that it saw “an increase in people accessing” the service directly through their web browser since it was introduced in its beta phase.
WhatsApp’s multi-device support tool allows users to access the messaging platform on four other devices excluding their phones. Users can now access WhatsApp Web on devices like laptops and desktops without having to worry about internet connectivity on their phones. However, it is important to note that if you don’t access WhatsApp on your for over 14 days, all the linked devices will be disconnected. Including the phone, users will be able to use this tool on five devices, at the same time.
How does it work?
WhatsApp has launched a new Code Verify extension for the new version of the tool to allow users to verify the code’s authenticity they are scanning. Go to web.whatsapp.com on your desktop or laptop browser and use your mobile device to scan the shown on your PC display. For Android devices, open the WhatsApp app and tap on the three-dot menu. This will lead you to a menu where you can find the ‘Linked Devices’ option and tap on it. The ‘Linked Devices’ option is available in settings on iOS. Here you will be asked to scan the code and make sure your phone and PC both have internet connectivity, at least for the first time. The company mentioned on their FAQ page that after users link their phone to another device, the device “sends an end-to-end encrypted copy of your most recent message history to your newly linked device.” More recent messages will be stored locally but not all messages will sync with WhatsApp Web or Desktop. In some cases, the messaging platform may ask you to go to your phone to see the full message history.
Features that are not supported
WhatsApp’s FAQ page has mentioned some features are not supported in the ‘Linked Devices’ tool. These features include — deleting chats on linked devices if you’re using an iPhone, texting or calling someone using an old version of WhatsApp, no support for tablets, the ability to track live location on linked devices, option to create and view broadcast lists on linked devices and sending texts with link previews from WhatsApp Web.
How to get the tool on iOS?
Make sure you have updated to the latest version of WhatsApp on your primary device if you can’t find the linked devices tool on your iOS or Android device. Once updated, restart the app and you will be able to find the tool among the settings options.