How to use the WhatsApp multiple account feature

Thanks to WhatsApp’s Multiple Account feature, you don’t have to carry two smartphones to use the app for personal and work purposes. Rolled out in October 2023, this feature allows all Android users to use two accounts on one phone within a single app. You can easily switch between the accounts from within the app, without installing any third-party application or using the WhatsApp Business application. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the WhatsApp Multiple Account feature.

This multi-account feature is only open for Android users as of now, however, it is expected to roll out for iOS users soon. The rollout is also happening in a phased manner. So if the feature isn’t available in your region yet, don’t worry, it might be available soon. Till then, you can make do with Android’s Dual Apps feature or use separate numbers on the WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business apps. For those of you who can use it, keep reading our guide.

How to use WhatsApp’s multiple accounts feature

To use this feature, you need to have the following things: 

• A second phone number or SIM card
• A phone that supports dual SIM cards
• The latest version of the WhatsApp app.

Here are the steps to enable multiple accounts on your Android device: 

• Open the WhatsApp app on your phone, go to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Add account’.
• Enter your second phone number and tap on “Next.”
• You have to verify your phone number with the code sent to you via SMS.
• After the verification is done, you can easily set up your second WhatsApp account.

After setting up the second WhatsApp account, follow these steps to switch between profiles: 

• Tap on your profile picture in the top left corner.
• Choose the account you want to use.

With two WhatsApp accounts on your device, the notifications might get confusing and cluttered. However, WhatsApp has given the provision to modify and alter notification and privacy settings separately for each account. To differentiate between messages on these accounts, you can change the notification tone for each. Moreover, you can also make changes to the privacy settings for each account, choosing different profile pictures and statuses for each.

Hope this guide helps you make the most of WhatsApp’s interesting feature!

Hero image: Courtesy Anton/Pexels; Feature image: Courtesy Mika Baumeister/Unsplash

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Can I use two WhatsApp accounts in one phone?

With WhatsApp’s Multiple Accounts feature for Android, all Android users can use two WhatsApp accounts in one phone. 

– Which is the best app to run dual WhatsApp on one phone?

Multi Parallel, 2Accounts, DO Multiple Accounts and Multi Space are some of the best apps to run dual WhatsApp on one phone. 

– Can I use one WhatsApp on two phones?

Yes, WhatsApp’s Companion mode allows you to use a single account on up to five devices.