WhatsApp officially rolled out the Companion mode for Android users, allowing linking up to five Android phones to a single account. On November 10, 2016, WhatsApp launched a beta version of two-factor authentication for Android users, which allowed them to use their email addresses for further protection. In November 2023, WhatsApp added a “voice chat” feature for groups with more than 32 members.
In September 2017, security researchers reported to The New York Times that the WhatsApp service had been completely blocked in China. In April 2017, nearly 300 WhatsApp groups with about 250 members each were reportedly being used to mobilize stone-pelters in Jammu and Kashmir to disrupt security forces’ operations at encounter sites. In December 2015, it was reported that terrorist organization ISIS had been using WhatsApp to plot the November 2015 Paris attacks. In its revelation via documents received via court, the group claimed that the lawsuit brought against the company by WhatsApp threatened to infringe on its clients’ “national security and foreign policy concerns”. In May 2019, WhatsApp was attacked by hackers who installed spyware on a number of victims’ smartphones.
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In April 2022, WhatsApp announced undated plans to roll out a Communities feature allowing several group chats to exist in a shared space, getting unified notifications and opening up smaller discussion groups. In October 2023, support for logging in to multiple (meaning two) accounts was added, allowing users to switch between different WhatsApp accounts in the same app. In April 2023, the app rolled out a feature that would allow account access across multiple phones, in a shift that would make it more like competitors.
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WhatsApp has been officially supported for iPads and its iPadOS since May 27, 2025. The Windows version is based on UWP while the Mac version is a port of the iOS version using Catalyst technology. Later on, it also added support for iOS, Nokia Series 40, https://pin-up-download.in/ and Nokia S60 (Symbian). Originally it was required for the primary phone to keep an online connection to WhatsApp for linked devices to work, but now WhatsApp can run on linked devices without such requirement. Linked devices allow the service to be used on multiple other platforms like desktop computers and smartwatches (e.g. WhatsApp Web, Facebook Portal), but also on other smartphones (called companions).
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- To remove a chat from this section, long-press it and select Unlock chat.
- For security purposes, since February 1, 2020, WhatsApp has been made unavailable on smartphones using legacy operating systems like Android 2.3.7 or older and iPhone iOS 8 or older that are no longer updated by their providers.
- The WebView2-based app has been criticised for its sluggish performance, high RAM usage, and requirement to keep the app running in the background to receive push notifications, compared to the previous native version.
- WhatsApp is your place for private chats with family and friends.
- In August 2022, WhatsApp launched an integration with JioMart, available only to users in India.
In December 2021, the Swiss army banned the use of WhatsApp and several other non-Swiss encrypted messaging services by army personnel. On May 9, 2014, the government of Iran announced that it had proposed to block the access to WhatsApp service to Iranian residents. Another application called GB WhatsApp is considered malicious by cybersecurity firm Symantec because it usually performs some unauthorized operations on end-user devices.
On July 1, 2025, a new pricing tier system came into effect which charges per-message rather than per-conversation. In 2015, some third-party WhatsApp clients that were reverse-engineering the WhatsApp mobile app, received a cease and desist to stop activities that were violating WhatsApp legal terms. In July 2021, the Cuban government blocked access to several social media platforms, including WhatsApp, to curb the spread of information during the anti-government protests. Once again, the block was lifted following an appeal, after less than 24 hours.
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Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Sanuj is a tech writer covering smartphones, tablets, and wearables for Tom’s Guide. Enter your secret code, and the chat will move back to the normal conversation list. To remove a chat from this section, long-press it and select Unlock chat.
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- The company also announced plans to implement reactions, the ability for administrators to delete messages in groups and voice calls up to 32 participants.
- Three days after announcing the Facebook purchase, Koum said they were working to introduce voice calls.
- This lets you keep certain chats private and protected behind a lock while still using the rest of the app normally.
- In September 2017, security researchers reported to The New York Times that the WhatsApp service had been completely blocked in China.
- Previously, users could opt-out of such data sharing, but the new policy removed this option.
Many people use multiple numbers on the same phone, such as a work number and a personal number. Here are some of the hidden or lesser-known WhatsApp features I use regularly and think you’ll find helpful, too. That said, for an app we use dozens of times every day, WhatsApp still has a lot of built-in tools that most people don’t know about. The app is available on almost all devices — including a dedicated iPad app — and it’s is easy to use. Join the Tom’s Guide Club for quick access.Enter your email below and we’ll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter. We’re always introducing new features and updates to help you better express yourself and have more engaged conversations.
To cover the cost of sending verification texts to users, WhatsApp was changed from a free service to a paid one. The idea started off as an app that would display statuses in a phone’s Contacts menu, showing if a person was at work or on a call. I gained a deep appreciation for the importance of patient education and am committed to actively listening to my patients while fostering a collaborative approach to help them achieve their goals. Select Medical provides equal employment and affirmative action opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. The centers offer a wide range of general physical therapy services such as hand therapy, sports medicine and work injury prevention and management. Dr. Jackson provides telehealth services.