If you've ever wanted to use WhatsApp on more than four devices with just one account, now you can. Meta has released a feature called "companion mode" that's available to beta users for WhatsApp. The name might sound familiar, but that's because it's been around for a while now. It was spotted in previous beta builds and was released for a limited time a few months later. While it's still only available to those on the beta build, it could mean it's coming soon.
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If you use WhatsApp frequently, the chances of it trying to spread to other devices are high. While for many devices all you need to do is log in with the same account details, WhatsApp is a bit different, as it also requires authentication from the primary device. This involves logging in to the second unit and scanning a QR code with the primary device to log in. While not as convenient, it does keep the security in mind.
You can think of companion mode as the same process as above, except you can connect it to a second Android device. According to WABetaInfo, you can connect to up to four devices at once using the latest update. It's a great feature for someone who uses more than one device, but there are some limitations to the secondary ones, such as not having the full functionality of the primary device. Fortunately, you'll still have access to your chats and chat logs, which is probably what most users will be looking for in this feature.
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If you want to try it out, you can apply to be a beta member and download the app. Just make sure you download version 2.23.8.2 or later to get this feature. Additionally, if you want to try out the companion feature, your other devices will need to be running the same version. As mentioned earlier, this feature is only available for Android devices, such as smartphones and tablets, so iOS will have to be patient. The process is similar to connecting a primary device to your computer, requiring the user to connect the device and using a QR code. It’s important to note once again that all your conversations across all devices will remain encrypted, so you can still feel safe and secure when chatting with friends, family, and colleagues.
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information source: xda-developers.com
