Guide
WhatsApp linked devices, explained simply.
Linked devices let you use WhatsApp on a computer, tablet or second phone without carrying your main phone around. Here's how they work and how to keep an eye on them.
The short answer
A linked device is a computer, tablet or other device that uses your WhatsApp account alongside your main phone. You can link up to four. They keep working when your phone is off, but log out if you don't use your main phone for about two weeks. Check the list now and then under Settings, Linked devices, and log out anything you don't recognise.
What linked devices are
- Up to four devices can be linked to your main phone: WhatsApp on a Windows PC or Mac, WhatsApp Web, a tablet, a second phone and more.
- They work without your phone being online.
- Your personal messages and calls stay end-to-end encrypted on each one.
- They log out if your main phone isn't used for more than 14 days, so open WhatsApp on your phone now and then.
How to link a device
- Open the other deviceFor example web.whatsapp.com on a computer. It shows a QR code.
- On your phoneAndroid: tap the three dots, then Linked devices, Link a device. iPhone: Settings, Linked devices, Link device.
- ScanPoint your phone at the QR code. Your phone may ask for your fingerprint, face or PIN.
Some devices also offer Link with phone number instead, where you type a short code into your phone rather than scanning.
Check and remove devices
On your phone, open Linked devices, tap any device and choose Log out. WhatsApp recommends:
- Keep WhatsApp's notifications on, so you're told when a device is linked.
- Check the list regularly and log out anything you don't recognise.
- If WhatsApp asks you to confirm a link you didn't start, tap Don't link.
Cyrano is a linked device too
Cyrano, the WhatsApp AI assistant, connects to your WhatsApp in exactly this way: you link it with a code or QR code, and it appears in your Linked devices list. That means you can see it there and log it out at any time, and it stops straight away.
To be clear: Cyrano isn't an official WhatsApp app, and WhatsApp advises linking only its own official apps. Read what that means for your number before you link.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help: about linked devices
- WhatsApp Help: how to link a device
- WhatsApp Help: how to log out of linked devices
Checked on 16 October 2026.
Questions people ask
How many devices can I link to WhatsApp?
Up to four, alongside your main phone, such as WhatsApp on a computer, WhatsApp Web, a tablet or a second phone.
Why did my WhatsApp linked device log out?
Linked devices log out if your main phone hasn't been used for more than 14 days. Open WhatsApp on your phone, then link the device again.
How do I remove a linked device on WhatsApp?
On your phone, open Settings (or the three-dot menu), Linked devices, tap the device and choose Log out.
Get your evenings back.
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