Meta is adding multi-user support to WhatsApp, allowing you to switch between two accounts on the same iPhone without using WhatsApp Business.
You’ll be able to add a second account in the app and switch between multiple accounts easily. This is a welcome improvement that will cancel the need to use a second account with WhatsApp Business due to a lack of multi-account support.
WABetaInfo spotted this feature in WhatsApp beta v25.9.10.70 so it’s only available to beta testers, but its existence in code means it won’t be long before it expands.
WhatsApp is gaining multi-user support to use two accounts on the same device
Maybe you have more than one mobile phone number for personal use. I do. I use the primary line to communicate with friends and family and business colleagues. My second line is for chats with brands, verification codes and the like. WhatsApp has pretty robust multi-device support via the Linked Devices feature that lets you use WhatsApp with the same phone number on companion devices, like my iPad.
Upcoming multi-account support will make managing multiple accounts easier without relying on WhatsApp Business for a secondary number. The Settings tab in the WhatsApp Beta displays the profile picture of the currently selected account. This lets you quickly differentiate and switch between accounts.
Of course, each account gets its own settings and chat history, so you can personalize notifications, backups, media and other settings for each account separately—including different tones and alert settings for each account.
WhatsApp is currently working on two primary methods to add a second account. The first option will allow users to set up the second account as a new profile by registering with a phone number, just like they did with the primary account. The second option will enable users to link a new account by scanning a QR code from their primary device, effectively turning the second account into a companion account that is synced with the main one.
WABetaInfo doesn’t mention whether the beta version in testing supports adding more than two accounts at the same time. If the screenshots that the publication shared are anything to go by, this looks like a true multi-account support.
There’s a new Account List section in your profile settings that lists existing accounts and provides the option to add a new account. On the screenshot seen above, there are already two registered accounts listed, and the option to add a new one seems active instead of being grayed out.
As mentioned, adding and managing multiple user accounts is currently under development. It will be available sometime later in a future update to WhatsApp.
More new features coming to WhatsApp
WhatsApp has been testing usernames that’ll let you use the app without revealing your actual mobile phone number. Meta recently launched a native WhatsApp iPad app and released a bunch of enhancements like voice chat in group conversations, AI wallpapers, message summarization and new privacy controls, plus nearly a dozen enhancements across the Chats, Calls and Updates tabs.
These recent features are being released in stages, so you may not have them already. To ensure you have the latest version of the app, visit the WhatsApp page on the App Store and choose “Update.” If you don’t see the option, you’re up to date.