Meta’s popular messaging platform, WhatsApp, is gearing up to introduce a feature that will allow users to operate two WhatsApp accounts on one phone. The announcement was made by Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, this Thursday.
Zuckerberg expressed, “Switch between two accounts on WhatsApp. Soon you’ll be able to have two WhatsApp accounts on one phone within the app.” This anticipated update will eliminate the need for users to constantly log out of one account to access another or to carry two phones to manage different accounts.
The rollout for this new feature is expected to commence for Android users in the upcoming weeks. To activate a second account, users would need an additional phone number and SIM card, or a phone equipped to handle multi-SIM or eSIM. Setting up the secondary account is straightforward. Users just need to navigate to WhatsApp settings, tap on the arrow next to their name, and select “Add account”.
Furthermore, WhatsApp has ensured that users can independently manage the privacy and notification settings for each account. However, a word of caution has been shared by the company, urging users to only use the official WhatsApp application and avoid counterfeit versions to maintain the security and privacy of their messages.
In related news, WhatsApp is also phasing in a password-less passkey feature for all Android users. This update aims to phase out the traditional two-factor SMS authentication method, which many found insecure and cumbersome. The company shared on X (formerly Twitter), “Android users can easily and securely log back in with passkeys. Only your face, finger print, or pin unlocks your WhatsApp account.” Similar to the dual account feature, this will also be rolling out in the next few weeks.