How to Know If Someone Is Using WhatsApp Web (and Check Yours)

This question comes up for two very different reasons. Some people worry that a stranger has got into their own WhatsApp through a computer. Others want to know whether a friend or partner is on WhatsApp Web right now. I'll be straight about both, using what WhatsApp's own help pages say, because the answers aren't the same.

Can you tell if another person is using WhatsApp Web?

No. WhatsApp's help pages don't describe any way to see whether someone else is logged in to WhatsApp Web, and the Online label isn't a clue. Online only tells you the person is active in WhatsApp, and it can't show which device they're using. If a website or app claims to reveal it, don't use it, because WhatsApp says unofficial apps and websites can put your account at risk.

What you can do, and what really matters for your safety, is check your own account. That's the part of this page that gives you a real answer.

How to check if someone is using your WhatsApp on a computer

When you log in to WhatsApp Web, the desktop app or another extra device, WhatsApp calls it a linked device. Your phone keeps a list of them, and it's the only place you can see exactly what's connected to your account. According to WhatsApp's help pages, you review the list from your main phone.

1. Open WhatsApp on your primary phone.
2. On Android, tap the three dots at the top, then Linked devices. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Linked devices.
3. Look at the list of devices. Each linked device shows up there.
4. If you don't recognise one, tap it.
5. Tap Log out.

Menus vary by app version, so if the words differ slightly on your phone, look for Linked devices under the main menu or Settings. If the list is empty, nobody is signed in to WhatsApp Web, the desktop app or any other extra device on your account.

What WhatsApp says about linked devices

A few facts from WhatsApp's help pages are worth knowing before you panic.

• You can link up to four devices at a time to your primary phone.
• Linked devices work without your phone online, but they log out if your phone is unused for over 14 days.
• WhatsApp automatically disconnects linked devices after 30 days of inactivity.
• Your personal messages, media and calls stay end-to-end encrypted on each linked device.
• A linked device can't be used as your primary device.

That third point is a useful reassurance. A device you forgot about, such as an old work laptop, doesn't stay connected for ever if it's idle.

Turn on push notifications so WhatsApp can alert you

WhatsApp's help pages recommend turning on push notifications on your phone. That way, if a device you don't recognise is linked, you can tap the notification to review and remove it. Do this today, because it's the nearest thing WhatsApp offers to a warning.

Signs someone else may have linked to your WhatsApp

The official help pages don't give a checklist of signs, so I won't invent one. What I'd do is simple: open the Linked devices list regularly, particularly after using a shared or borrowed computer, and log out of anything you don't recognise. If you recognise it all, there's nothing to fix.

If you're worried about the more serious problem, someone taking over your account, start with the basics. Keep your phone locked, and don't share any codes WhatsApp sends you with anyone. If you ever need to stop a specific person contacting you, my guide to blocking someone on WhatsApp takes you through it.

How to log out of WhatsApp Web from the computer itself

If you're sitting at the computer, you can also sign out there. WhatsApp's help pages say to go to your WhatsApp Settings on the linked device, then Log out, then confirm. That's handy when you've finished using a shared machine, and it's good practice in an office.

1. Open WhatsApp Web or the desktop app.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Choose Log out.
4. Confirm when asked.

Logging out on the computer removes that device from your Linked devices list. It's also worth doing before you hand a work laptop to someone else, or before you leave a computer in a public place, because you won't be there to notice if the window stays open.

WhatsApp Web for business owners and teams

Many small businesses use WhatsApp Web so they can type faster on a laptop. It's a sensible habit, but it brings a few risks you can manage easily.

• Only log in on WhatsApp Web or the desktop app from the official sites. WhatsApp says only link on WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp for Windows and Mac, or other official versions.
• Don't leave WhatsApp Web open on shared or public computers.
• Review your Linked devices list after anyone borrows your laptop or after a team member leaves.
• Remember the four-device limit, so remove old devices you no longer use.

If your chats are getting crowded when several people look at the same screen, hiding a WhatsApp chat can help keep private conversations out of sight.

If you can't find Linked devices on WhatsApp

• Update WhatsApp, because older versions can have different menu names.
• Check you're on your primary phone, not on a linked device, because the list is on the primary phone.
• On Android look under the three dots, and on iPhone look under Settings.
• If you still can't find it, check WhatsApp's help centre for the steps for your phone and app version.

Related guides live in the WhatsApp Help: 43 Guides to Transfers, Backups, Business and Privacy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see if someone else is using WhatsApp Web?

No. WhatsApp's help pages don't describe any way to see whether another person is logged in to WhatsApp Web. You can only check the devices linked to your own account.

How do I see which devices are linked to my WhatsApp?

Open WhatsApp on your primary phone and tap Linked devices. Android has it under the three dots, and iPhone has it under Settings.

How do I log someone else's device out of my WhatsApp?

Open Linked devices on your phone, tap the device you don't recognise, then tap Log out.

Do linked devices log out by themselves?

Yes. WhatsApp says linked devices are disconnected after 30 days of inactivity, and they log out if your phone is unused for over 14 days.

Is the Online label a sign someone is on WhatsApp Web?

No. Online only shows that a person is active in WhatsApp. It doesn't show which device they're using.