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WhatsApp Rolls Out Multi-Device Support to All Users on iOS and Android

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WhatsApp has rolled out multi-device support to all users on iOS and Android, allowing WhatsApp to be used on up to four linked devices without users needing to be connected via a smartphone.

whatsapp-multi-device-support.jpg

To enable multi-device support, users need to join the multi-device beta. Launch WhatsApp on iPhone, then select Settings -> Linked Devices. Select Multi-Device Beta, then tap Join Beta. Once that's done, you'll be able to start linking devices.

After your devices are linked, messages can be sent and received using the WhatsApp desktop app or web-based service and your phone will no longer need to stay online, although it's not currently possible to delete messages or conversation threads from a linked device.

It's worth noting that you can't message or call from web, desktop, or Portal to users who have an outdated version of WhatsApp on their phone, and you can only have one phone connected to your WhatsApp account at one time. Personal calls and messages remain end-to-end encrypted across devices.

If you don't use your phone for over 14 days, your linked devices will be disconnected. Given the feature is still in beta, WhatsApp also cautions that the performance and quality of its service may be affected, although users can leave the beta at any time.

WhatsApp is reportedly working on an iPad version of its app, and the Meta-owned company has hinted that the rollout of multi-device support will bring the iPad version one step closer to release.

Article Link: WhatsApp Rolls Out Multi-Device Support to All Users on iOS and Android
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/11/08/whatsapp-multi-device-rollout-ios-android/
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It's worth noting that you can't message or call from web, desktop, or Portal to users who have an outdated version of WhatsApp on their phone
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Ah, so that's why none of my messages arrived that were sent from my MacBook Pro. Nice.

Anyway, would be nice if they actually introduced a native app instead of the current web wrapper.
 
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The elephant in the room is Apple Watch support. Probably the most requested Apple Watch feature here in Europe.

WatchChat works fine but it needs the phone to be nearby; does multi-device support bode well for a standalone version?
 
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ForkHandles said:
Does this mean that WhatsApp are now storing our messages on their servers, as opposed to the desktop version just reading the iPhone contents? Or am I being naive and they always were?
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No, there are ways to handle end-to-end encryption using cloud servers in which the servers can't decrypt your data. Signal does a more complete job of this including encrypting user profiles, and documents its details including open-source client and (sometimes outdated) server code if you're curious to read more.
 
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n-evo said:
Ah so that's why none of my messages were arrive sent from my MacBook Pro. Nice.

Anyway, would be nice if they actually introduced a native app instead of the current web wrapper.
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That's what I think.

Signal does it without issue; why not WhatsApp?
 
I’ve been using it on the beta for a while and it’s so annoying you have to delete both messages twice so if you set it up on your desktop if you delete a message on your phone it doesn’t sync so I’m always deleting them twice
 
Kylo83 said:
I’ve been using it on the beta for a while and it’s so annoying you have to delete both messages twice so if you set it up on your desktop if you delete a message on your phone it doesn’t sync so I’m always deleting them twice
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...I'm on the Beta and that doesn't happen with me?!

I am using this on my laptop and iPad and iPhone and it seems to work seamlessly fine.
 
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Whatsapp is trash, users just use it for ignorance and commodity, it is a mess for backup and features because it is client side. I don't know if they finally plan to go server side or just sync devices (more plausible). Telegram si ahead, much more advanced, no backup or forced sync needed, no space needed on device (if you configure that in the app settings). Anyway I'm interested to know if this new update means you can sync old messages so it is a way to backup data from Android to iPhone.
 
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Whatsapp is such a backward messenger with little to no improvements given the amount of users... on Telegram you get a new update like every week with a changelog of things that got improved/fixed.
"Meta" is lightyears behind that... not even having an iPad App in 2021 is just pathetic...

...the only reason WA still exists is that the average user is really damn slow adopting other services. Otherwise WA would have vanished years ago.
 
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Dino F said:
This hasn't JUST been rolled out..???!

This option has been in the Whatspp app on iOS for the past month - I joined over a month ago.....
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It was a rolling release. You may have gotten it last month, as did I, but some got it even earlier while others apparently still hadn’t gotten it.
 
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iHorseHead said:
You never know with any company.
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There is no end2end encryption on WA. At least that's what you have to assume. And it has been proven, that if the number gets abandoned and then picked up by someone else, that person may still get the messages. Proper E2E Encryption would prevent that as the private key is not supposed to leave the device at all or at least be stored encrypted on the server with a user set password.

Besides that, E2E doesn't stop Meta from sniffing your messages or photos right on device.
 
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Dino F said:
...I'm on the Beta and that doesn't happen with me?!

I am using this on my laptop and iPad and iPhone and it seems to work seamlessly fine.
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How when I use it on my mac and phone if I delete a message on the iPhone it doesn’t delete on the mac it’s like it’s independent
 
TwoBytes said:
so all we now need is an iPad app...Why it's taken years for one of the most popular messaging apps in
the world is beyond me.
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It is not the most popular everywhere and especially it is not the most popular for advanced users who know how tech works. Telegram is superior in every aspect (security and privacy too, don't listen to FUD).
 
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Kylo83 said:
How when I use it on my mac and phone if I delete a message on the iPhone it doesn’t delete on the mac it’s like it’s independent
Click to expand...

I've just tested this just now and it does delete everywhere for me. I opened the desktop app I have on my Windows 10 laptop (the beta version) and deleted a single message (there is ONLY the option to 'Delete for me' - there's no option to 'Delete for everyone' as there is in the non beta version).

I then went to the same chat thread on my app on my iPhone 13 Pro and the same message was no longer there.
 
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