WhatsApp Business tests multi-account support on Android

WhatsApp Business is rolling out multi-account support in its Android beta version 2.24.27.5, allowing businesses to manage two phone numbers without needing a spare device. The update lets users add and switch between two separate business profiles within the same app.

How the multi-account feature works

To enable the feature, users need to go to the Settings option. A "+" sign near the account indicates that more than one account can be added to WhatsApp. Tapping on it takes the user through a familiar registration process to add another number to their WhatsApp account.

According to WABetaInfo, both profiles exist within a single installation of the app, meaning no cloning software or parallel application is required. Users can switch between accounts using the overflow menu on the Chats tab. However, the feature currently supports a maximum of two accounts.

Previous limitations for multi-number businesses

Before this update, businesses running two numbers had limited options. They could either keep a second phone on hand or install WhatsApp Business as a workaround, even without a genuine business use for the second installation. Neither solution scaled well for companies split across departments or managing multiple brands under separate numbers.

Notifications for the idle account continue to come through, but reading them requires switching profiles first. This is a limitation that businesses managing high message volumes across both numbers will need to factor in.

WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business both run on the same messaging kernel, though new features are typically added to Messenger first before arriving on the Business variant later. The update is currently available only to select beta testers who upgraded their apps via the Google Play Store, with wider beta testing expected soon.