Your phone stays the main device. WhatsApp for Windows, Mac or the web version links to it, and you need the phone to register the account and to link anything new. Once linked, the computer keeps working with the phone switched off, for a while.
WhatsApp Web and the Windows and Mac apps count as linked devices, like tablets, Wear OS watches, companion phones, Meta AI glasses and VR headsets.
The limits
| Limit | What WhatsApp says |
|---|---|
| Linked devices | Up to four at a time, on top of the phone |
| Phone unused | Linked devices log out if it's unused for over 14 days |
| Linked device unused | WhatsApp disconnects it after 30 days of inactivity |
| Computer as main device | Not possible; you need the phone to register and link |
The Windows and Mac apps also do voice and video calls with up to 32 people.
WhatsApp's fix for the logout is to open it on the phone at least once every 14 days. Leave the phone in a drawer for longer and the laptop signs out too.
Linking a computer
On Android, tap the three-dot menu, then Linked devices, then Link a device. On iPhone, tap Settings or your profile picture, then Linked devices, then Link device. Scan the QR code on the computer's screen, or link with your phone number instead. You may be asked to confirm it's you with biometrics or your phone's PIN, and a web browser may ask you to create a passkey.
If WhatsApp doesn't recognize the device, the phone asks you to confirm. Tap Link device to go ahead or Don't link to cancel.
To remove one, open Linked devices on the phone, tap the device, and choose Log out.
What a linked computer can't do
- View live location
- Create or view broadcast lists
- Interact with businesses that use WhatsApp Flows
Link only through WhatsApp's own web page or apps. WhatsApp says linking through an unofficial app or website may get the account temporarily or permanently banned.
Missing history
Some linked devices don't show up to a year of chat history. The full history is still on your phone, and WhatsApp lists this as a known issue it's working on. Keeping WhatsApp updated on the computer is its suggested fix for bugs like this.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help Center — About linked devices (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- WhatsApp Help Center — How to link a device (checked Nov 9, 2026)