How to Use WhatsApp on iPad: Link Your Phone Account

To use WhatsApp on iPad, install WhatsApp from the App Store, open it, then on your phone go to Linked devices, tap Link device and scan the code on the iPad screen. The iPad needs iOS 15.1 or newer, and it works as a linked device, never as your main account.

For a long time the honest answer to this question was 'sort of, through the browser'. That's changed. WhatsApp now has an app built for the iPad, and if you spend your day on a tablet, whether that's answering client messages from the sofa or running a stall with a tablet on the counter, it's a far better experience than squinting at a phone.

The part that catches people out is that the iPad doesn't get its own separate account. It works as a linked device that borrows your phone's account. Here's how WhatsApp's help pages say to set it up, what you'll get, and the limits worth knowing before you rely on it.

What you need before you install WhatsApp on iPad

An iPad running iOS 15.1 or newer, which is the compatibility line in WhatsApp's help pages.
WhatsApp already set up on your phone, because that phone stays your primary device.
Your phone close by, since you'll scan a code with it.

The help page for the iPad app puts it simply: it brings the features you know to a larger screen. Search for WhatsApp in the App Store on your iPad and install it from there. Be wary of anything else claiming to be WhatsApp for tablets, and I'll come back to why in a moment.

Logging in to WhatsApp on iPad step by step

Once the app is installed, open it on the iPad and it shows a QR code. Then switch to your phone. WhatsApp's steps are:

Open WhatsApp on your iPad so the code is on screen.
On an iPhone, tap Settings or your profile picture, then Linked devices, then Link device, then OK. On Android, tap the three dots, then Linked devices, then Link a device.
If your phone asks you to confirm it's you, do that with your face, fingerprint or PIN.
Point your phone at the code on the iPad screen.

Your chats then appear on the iPad. WhatsApp says linking lets you sync up to a year of your most recent chat history, and everything you've saved is still on your phone.

What you can do on WhatsApp for iPad

The help page lists a good set of features. Taking WhatsApp's wording and putting it into plain English, you can:

Chat with your contacts and with businesses.
Make voice calls with up to 32 people, including inviting others with a call link.
Share your screen while you're on a call.
Send and receive documents, photos and videos.
Lock specific chats so nobody else who uses your iPad can read them.
Create events and polls directly in a chat.

It's also built around the iPad itself. WhatsApp mentions Stage Manager, Split View and Slide Over so you can keep a chat open beside another app, and it works with external keyboards and Apple Pencil. For anyone typing long replies to customers, a full-size keyboard is a big deal.

WhatsApp on iPad is a linked device, so here are the limits

Because the iPad is linked rather than separate, a few rules apply, all from WhatsApp's help pages on linked devices:

Rule	What it means for you
Four linked devices	You can link up to four devices at a time to your primary phone
The iPad can't be your primary device	Linked devices such as the iPad, Windows, Mac and Web can't act as the main device on an account
14 days	Linked devices log out if your phone goes unused for over 14 days, so open WhatsApp on the phone now and then
30 days	WhatsApp also disconnects linked devices after 30 days of inactivity
Fewer features	WhatsApp warns that linked devices may not have every feature found on your phone

The practical point: you don't need to keep your phone switched on for the iPad to work, but you do need to keep the phone's WhatsApp alive. If you travel for a fortnight and leave the phone in a drawer, expect to be logged out.

Keeping WhatsApp on iPad private when others use the tablet

A family iPad or a shared work tablet is where the chat lock feature earns its keep. WhatsApp says you can lock specific chats so that no one else using the iPad can view them. I've also written about hiding a WhatsApp chat, which is worth a read if you share devices with children or colleagues.

Your messages and calls stay end-to-end encrypted on the iPad. WhatsApp's help pages say each linked device connects independently and keeps the same level of privacy and security.

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Checking and removing WhatsApp iPad logins from your phone

It's good housekeeping to look at what's linked to your account. WhatsApp says to open Linked devices on your phone, tap the device, then choose Log out. If you sell or give away the tablet, do this first. WhatsApp also suggests turning on push notifications on your phone, so you get a prompt if a device you don't recognise is linked and can remove it.

The same help page warns that linking through unofficial apps or websites may put your account at risk, because those are fake WhatsApp versions made by third parties. Stick to the official App Store app and to WhatsApp Web.

If WhatsApp on iPad won't link or load

Check the iPad is on iOS 15.1 or newer.
Make sure your phone has an internet connection and WhatsApp is up to date.
Try opening the iPad app again to get a fresh code before you scan.
Check you haven't already used up all four linked device spots, and remove one you don't need from Linked devices.
If you still can't log in, WhatsApp points you to its help article on connection issues for linked devices.

If you'd like a wider tour of the app after you've got the iPad running, my WhatsApp help guide collects the most-asked setup and privacy questions in one place.

Using WhatsApp on iPad for small business chats

If you run a small business, the iPad is a comfortable way to handle a busy inbox. You can reply with a real keyboard, keep a document open in Split View while you chat, and share files straight from the tablet. Just remember that the app is still tied to your phone's account, so the number customers see is your phone's number.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a WhatsApp app for iPad?

Yes. WhatsApp's help pages describe a WhatsApp for iPad app that works as a linked device, so you log in by scanning a code with your phone.

What version of iOS does WhatsApp on iPad need?

WhatsApp says the iPad app is compatible with iOS 15.1 or newer.

Can I use WhatsApp on my iPad without my phone?

Not as a standalone account. The iPad is a linked device, and WhatsApp says linked devices can't be the primary device. It keeps working without the phone being online, but it logs out if the phone goes unused for over 14 days.

How many devices can I link to WhatsApp?

WhatsApp says you can link up to four devices to your primary phone at a time.

Will I see my old chats on the iPad?

WhatsApp says linking syncs up to a year of your most recent chat history. Everything you've saved is still on your phone.

Can I make calls on WhatsApp for iPad?

Yes. The help page lists voice calls with up to 32 people and screen sharing during a call.

Published and maintained by the Lilach Bullock team, covering marketing, AI and business growth.