Your Android Tablet Could Soon Replace Your Phone on WhatsApp

News Desk

Islamabad: WhatsApp is taking another step toward making Android tablets more independent, introducing a new setup interface that allows eligible users to use a tablet as their primary messaging device instead of merely linking it to a smartphone.

The new feature, currently available to a limited number of beta testers, offers two setup options when WhatsApp is launched for the first time on an Android tablet. Users can either link the tablet to an existing WhatsApp account as a companion device or transfer their account to make the tablet the primary device.

Selecting the transfer option prompts users to enter their phone number and country code. A six-digit verification code is then sent to confirm their identity. Once verified, the tablet becomes the primary device for the account.

Users can also restore their chat history from Google Drive during the setup process, ensuring access to previous conversations after switching devices.

The update removes many of the limitations traditionally associated with companion mode. Once configured as the primary device, the Android tablet offers the same core WhatsApp experience available on smartphones, with no feature restrictions and without the 14-day inactivity logout that applies to linked devices.

According to WABetaInfo, the new setup screen is currently being tested with a limited group of Android beta users and is expected to roll out more widely in a future update.