For about ten years, WhatsApp was like a clingy partner. It demanded total loyalty. “One Number. One Phone.” That was the rule. If you tried to log into your WhatsApp on a second phone, it would ruthlessly kick you out of the first one. It was a digital tug-of-war that you couldn’t win.
This was a nightmare for anyone who carries two phones. You know the struggle. You have the “Work Phone” (iPhone) and the “Personal Phone” (Android). You have to carry both. You have to charge both. And if you leave your main phone at home, you are cut off from civilization because WhatsApp won’t let you check messages on the spare.
But recently, Meta quietly flipped a switch. They didn’t make a huge announcement about it (which is weird, because it’s the best feature they’ve added in a decade), but they finally released “Companion Mode.”
It means you can now officially, legally, and easily run the exact same WhatsApp account on up to four phones at once. No hacks. No “GBWhatsApp.” No sketchy third-party tools.
Here is exactly how to set it up, and the few annoying limitations you need to know about.
The “Fresh Install” Trick (Crucial Step)
This is where everyone gets stuck. You grab your Secondary Phone (the spare one). You download WhatsApp. You open it.
The app asks you to “Enter Your Phone Number.” STOP. Do NOT enter your number. If you enter your number here, WhatsApp will think you are trying to transfer your account, and it will log you out of your main phone. We don’t want to transfer; we want to mirror.
Here is the secret handshake:
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On the “Enter Number” screen, look at the top right corner.
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Tap the Three Dots (Menu).
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You will see a new option: “Link as Companion Device” (or just “Link a Device”).
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Tap that.
Suddenly, the screen changes. Instead of asking for a number, it shows a QR Code. Now it looks exactly like the WhatsApp Web login screen you use on your computer.
The Connection (The Magic Moment)
Now, put the Secondary Phone down. Pick up your Primary Phone (the one that already has your chats).
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Open WhatsApp.
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Go to Settings (or the three dots on Android) > Linked Devices.
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Tap “Link a Device.”
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(FaceID/Fingerprint check).
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Scan the QR Code on the Secondary Phone.
Watch the Secondary Phone. It will say “Loading Chats…” It takes a minute to sync your history. But once it’s done? You have a fully functional clone. All your chats are there. All your stickers are there. Even your archived threads are there.
Why This Is Better Than “WhatsApp Web”
You might be thinking: “Rahul, isn’t this just WhatsApp Web on a phone?” No. It is much, much better.
1. It works offline. This is the game changer. With the old WhatsApp Web, your main phone had to be connected to the internet. If your main phone ran out of battery, your web session died. With Companion Mode, the phones are independent. You can turn off your main phone. You can throw it in a lake. The WhatsApp on your second phone will keep working. It talks directly to the server.
2. It’s a native app. WhatsApp Web on a mobile browser is ugly. It zooms in weirdly. The keyboard glitches. Companion Mode is the actual app. You get notifications properly. You can make voice calls. You can post Status updates. It feels native because it is native.
The Tangent (Don’t Use “GBWhatsApp”)
(I have to put this warning here. Before this feature existed, people used modded apps like “GBWhatsApp” or “WhatsApp Plus” to do this. Delete them. WhatsApp is currently on a banning spree. If their system detects you are using a modded app, they won’t just log you out they will permanently ban your phone number. It is not worth the risk just to change the color of your chat bubbles).
The Limitations (It’s Not Perfect)
Of course, there are caveats. It’s Meta; nothing is perfect. While the Secondary Phone can do almost everything, there are a few things that are locked to the Primary Phone only:
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Live Location: In my experience, viewing Live Locations works, but sending a Live Location from the secondary phone is glitchy.
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Status Updates: Sometimes, posting a Status from the second phone fails. It’s getting better with updates, but it’s hit-or-miss.
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The “14 Day” Rule: If you don’t use your Primary Phone for 14 days, WhatsApp will automatically log out all the companion devices. This is a security feature to make sure you didn’t lose your main phone. So you can’t abandon the main phone forever.
The Security Risk (Check Your Devices)
This feature is great for convenience, but it is terrifying for privacy. If someone (a jealous partner, a snooping parent) gets hold of your unlocked phone for 10 seconds, they can link their phone to your account. They don’t need your SIM card. They just need to scan that QR code once. Then, they can read all your messages from their phone, miles away, and you won’t even know.
How to audit yourself: Make it a habit to check your “Linked Devices” list once a month.
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Settings > Linked Devices.
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Look at the list.
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Do you see “Android 14” or “iPhone 15” that you don’t recognize?
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Tap it. Hit Log Out. That kicks them off instantly.
So, if you have an old Android lying in a drawer, go charge it up. Turn it into your dedicated “WhatsApp Machine.” It feels incredibly luxurious to leave your main phone in the other room and still be able to reply to the group chat. Just remember to log out if you sell the phone. Please.
