3 min read
WhatsApp is testing a long awaited upgrade for iPhone users, introducing native support for switching between multiple accounts within a single app. The feature appears in the latest TestFlight beta and finally gives users the ability to manage different identities without using workarounds or installing WhatsApp Business as a second app.
Once enabled, users will find a new Account List section inside WhatsApp settings. From there, a second account can be added using a different phone number, a linked device or a companion device through QR code scanning. Each account maintains its own chat history, cloud backup options, notification settings and privacy preferences, ensuring that personal and professional conversations stay clearly separated. Notifications also indicate which account a message came from, reducing the chance of mixing up contacts or conversations.
Although the feature currently supports only two accounts, early testers report full compatibility with App Lock and biometric security tools such as Face ID and Touch ID. This means each account can be protected independently, preserving privacy even on shared devices.
WhatsApp has not yet announced a public release timeline, but the beta rollout suggests the feature is progressing toward wider availability. For many iPhone users, especially freelancers, business owners and people balancing multiple communication roles, this is a meaningful improvement. Until now, managing two WhatsApp numbers often required juggling multiple devices or relying on less convenient workarounds.
However, WABetaInfo explains how users will interact with the new feature:
Those who are part of this rollout will notice a new section called “Account List” available in the settings menu, or a dedicated button placed next to the QR code icon. This section gives users the ability to add a new account directly from the app without needing a secondary device or WhatsApp Business.
WABetaInfo also says that WhatsApp will also indicate which of the two accounts that notification came from, to avoid any confusion.
Over the past two years, the platform has added multi device support, enhanced privacy tools and begun exploring new identity features that may eventually reduce dependence on phone numbers. Native multi account support brings the app closer to a flexible messaging ecosystem, where users can switch contexts without friction.
As the feature moves through testing, several questions remain. Will WhatsApp expand support beyond two accounts? How will the feature interact with future identity options? And will it arrive on Android with similar functionality?
WhatsApp is also planning to add usernames in tandem with phone numbers at the dawn of 2026, along with other major changes to the platform for multiple device support to cater to an even larger audience. As of now, WhatsApp is daily used by more than 2 billion people worldwide.
