Linked devices and Coexistence: what gets unlinked

What happens to linked devices during onboarding?

They are all signed out. Meta's documentation states that once a business onboards to Cloud API with an existing WhatsApp Business app account and number, all companion apps are unlinked from the account, and the business can then re-link any supported companion apps.

Nothing is lost by this: the primary phone keeps the account and its conversations. But a front desk that answers from a browser or a second phone will find itself logged out the moment onboarding finishes, so it is worth telling the team before the QR code is scanned rather than after.

Which companion devices are supported afterwards?

All of them except two. Meta lists every companion client as supported on a Coexistence number apart from WhatsApp for Windows and WhatsApp for WearOS. Each supported one is linked again the usual way, by scanning a QR code with the primary phone, and counts toward the same device limit as before.

• WhatsApp Web in a browser: supported, link again with the QR code.
• Additional phones linked as companions: supported.
• WhatsApp for Windows: not supported.
• WhatsApp for WearOS on a watch: not supported.

How many devices can be linked?

Up to four besides the primary phone. WhatsApp's announcement of multi-device on phones described linking a phone as one of up to four additional devices, the same as web browsers, tablets and desktops, and named small business staff answering customers from their own phones as the use for it.

On a Coexistence number the cap is shared among whatever companion clients remain supported. An office that previously used the Windows app usually moves those desks to WhatsApp Web in a browser, which counts as one of the four like any other companion.

What keeps linked devices connected?

Two inactivity rules, one for each kind of device, and both appear as reasons in Meta's disconnection data.

PRIMARY_INACTIVITY covers the primary phone and fires after roughly 14 days without activity. WhatsApp also says that when the primary device is inactive for a long period it logs the account out of all companion devices, so an unused primary phone takes every linked device with it.

COMPANION_INACTIVITY covers a companion device on its own, after about 30 days of inactivity. A rarely used laptop at a branch office is the typical case.

Common mistakes

• Onboarding without warning staff who answer from WhatsApp Web. They are logged out when onboarding completes.
• Re-linking the WhatsApp for Windows app. Meta lists it as unsupported on Coexistence numbers.
• Leaving the primary phone in a drawer because everyone works on linked devices. Its inactivity disconnects the companions too.

Frequently asked questions

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