Smartphone users will soon be able to use two WhatsApp accounts on one device. WhatsApp parent Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the same in a Facebook post. “Today, we’re introducing the ability to have two WhatsApp accounts logged in at the same time. Helpful for switching between accounts – such as your work and personal – now you no longer need to log out each time, carry two phones or worry about messaging from the wrong place,” said Zuckerberg in a post.
How this feature will help users
This feature will save users from carrying around an extra device or continuously logging out of their accounts to switch between accounts. WhatsApp account switching feature also aims to make it easier for users to manage their conversations across multiple accounts.
For example, if a user has different WhatsApp accounts for work and for messaging friends and family members, this feature will allow them to switch between these accounts seamlessly on a single device.
What users need for WhatsApp account switching
The company has said that if users want to set up a second account, they will still need a separate phone number and SIM card (or a phone that accepts multi-SIM or eSIM). This means that the feature will run on dual-SIM phones only.
How this feature will help users
This feature will save users from carrying around an extra device or continuously logging out of their accounts to switch between accounts. WhatsApp account switching feature also aims to make it easier for users to manage their conversations across multiple accounts.
For example, if a user has different WhatsApp accounts for work and for messaging friends and family members, this feature will allow them to switch between these accounts seamlessly on a single device.
What users need for WhatsApp account switching
The company has said that if users want to set up a second account, they will still need a separate phone number and SIM card (or a phone that accepts multi-SIM or eSIM). This means that the feature will run on dual-SIM phones only.
Users will need a secondary device or an alternate SIM card to receive the one-time passcode. WhatsApp sends these codes via SMS to allow users access to their second account on a different device.
WhatsApp spokesperson Ellie Heatrick has also explained that the app will continue to work for both accounts without the second device or SIM once the initial verification is done.