iPad users can now use WhatsApp without a phone: here’s what to know
Last Updated: 2026-07-18 13:29:14
WhatsApp is rolling out an option that lets users register an iPad as their primary device, removing the need to keep an iPhone or Android phone as the account’s main device.
WhatsApp is reportedly introducing an option that allows users to register an iPad as the primary device for their account, expanding the messaging platform’s standalone functionality on Apple’s tablet.
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Until now, the native WhatsApp app for iPad primarily operated as a companion app linked to an account registered on an iPhone or Android phone. The reported change allows the iPad to become the account’s main device instead.
The feature has been spotted in WhatsApp Messenger version 26.25.74 and is reportedly being released gradually. WhatsApp has not formally announced its wider availability or updated all its support pages to reflect the change.
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iPad Can Become the Main WhatsApp Device
The new registration option reportedly lets users verify their phone number directly on an iPad and make the tablet their account’s primary device.
This means WhatsApp can continue operating on the iPad without depending on a linked smartphone. The option could be useful for people who rely on an iPad for everyday communication or temporarily do not have access to their phone.
An active phone number is still required to register and verify the account.
Existing Phone Will Be Signed Out
WhatsApp accounts can have only one primary device at a time. Making an iPad the primary device will therefore transfer that status from the existing iPhone or Android phone.
The previous primary phone will reportedly be signed out after the transfer is completed. Users can subsequently connect other supported devices through WhatsApp’s linked-device system.
People who want WhatsApp to remain active on both their phone and iPad can continue using companion mode instead. This keeps the phone as the main device while synchronising conversations with the tablet.
Companion Mode Remains Available
The reported update does not replace the existing companion-device system. WhatsApp will continue allowing users to link an iPad by scanning a QR code with their primary phone.
Companion mode supports access to messages and calls even when the primary phone is not continuously connected to the internet. WhatsApp currently allows an account to be connected to as many as four linked devices.
The iPad app also supports voice and video calls, screen sharing, Split View, Stage Manager, Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil.
Availability Remains Limited
WhatsApp introduced its native iPad app in May 2025 after an extended beta-testing period. At launch, the app required users to link it to an existing account on a phone.
Primary-device registration represents a significant expansion of that release. However, the option may not appear immediately for every user, even after installing a compatible app update.
A similar primary-device system is already available on Android tablets. WhatsApp is also testing a clearer setup interface on Android that lets users choose between linking a tablet and transferring their main account.