WhatsApp: Two accounts on one iPhone Apfelpatient

Anyone who wanted to be reachable on separate numbers for work and personal purposes previously had to use a second device or resort to workarounds on their iPhone. This necessity is now eliminated: WhatsApp is rolling out its multi-account support much more broadly via the App Store. Two completely separate accounts can now run simultaneously in a single app.

WhatsApp has been gradually expanding its iPhone app over the past few months – most recently with the paid WhatsApp Plus subscription on iPhones. The ability to manage multiple accounts within the same app was one of the most requested features. Multi-account support has been available on Android devices since 2023, while iPhone users were left out. The WhatsApp-focused service WABetaInfo had already discovered the first traces of the feature in the app's code – along with the foundations for the planned username system. A beta phase began on iPhones in November 2025, and the feature was officially announced a few months ago. Now it's reaching a significantly wider audience through the regular App Store version.

What the second account does

Multi-account support allows you to run two separate WhatsApp accounts on the same iPhone – without a second phone and without using the Business app. Both accounts remain strictly separate: each retains its own chats, notifications, settings, and privacy options. This makes the feature particularly useful for keeping professional and personal conversations clearly separated. The current limit is two accounts per device. Each second account requires its own phone number.

This is how you can set up a second account

To see if the feature is already activated, check the app settings: Under Settings → Account, you'll find the option to add another account. If it appears, the setup process is the same as when you first registered for WhatsApp. There are two ways: Either register a new phone number, or link an existing account as a connected device by scanning a QR code. After confirming with the verification code, the second account will be ready.

WhatsApp Multi-Account iPhone — Image: Apfelpatient

Quickly switch between accounts

Once setup is complete, switching between accounts is done directly in the account menu. WhatsApp clearly indicates which account is currently active, preventing messages from being accidentally sent from the wrong profile. For accounts with additional security measures, authentication via Face ID or Touch ID is used when switching. This ensures that access to the other profile remains protected, even if both are on the same device.

Why not everyone sees the function yet

Even though the feature was officially announced several months ago, not all users could immediately create a second account – availability was limited to a select group. This phased approach is typical for WhatsApp: features often reach the wider user base gradually. The Liquid Glass redesign took over seven months to reach a larger audience after the initial testing phase – and even now, it hasn't reached everyone. Those who can't yet find the multi-account option will likely just need to be patient.

A long-requested feature is finally reaching a wide audience

With this wider rollout, WhatsApp closes a loophole that, for years, could only be circumvented on iPhones using a second device or third-party apps. The supplementary username system is still under development, so further updates to WhatsApp accounts on iPhones are likely in the coming months. (Image: Shutterstock / Diego Thomazini)