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WhatsApp’s new iPhone update makes juggling two accounts much less annoying

Multiple accounts are now rolling out widely, with separate chats, notifications, and settings for each number.

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WhatsApp is finally making it easier to run two accounts on the same iPhone, which should cut down on the old workaround of keeping one number in WhatsApp Business or on another device.

Spotted by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp multiple accounts iPhone rollout is now widely available through version 26.22.76, after a slower release that didn’t reach everyone at once. Users can add a second number inside the main app, then keep chats, calls, alerts, and settings tied to the correct login.

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For anyone splitting work and personal messages, the update makes WhatsApp feel less like a single crowded inbox and more like two controlled spaces.

How the new iPhone setup works

Setup starts in WhatsApp settings with the “Add account” option. From there, users can enter another phone number or scan a QR code to connect that login as a linked device.

Switching doesn’t require logging out. Users can open the Account section and tap “Switch account,” press and hold the You tab for a faster jump, or tap the You tab once to see which logins are already registered.

There’s still a ceiling. WhatsApp currently supports up to two accounts at a time on iPhone, so this solves the common two-number problem rather than turning the app into a full account manager.

Why the old workarounds faded

Before this rollout, iPhone users had clumsy options. They could put a second number in WhatsApp Business, even without business needs, or keep the other login on a different phone.

The new setup keeps the split inside one app. Chat history, calls, notification choices, privacy settings, profile information, and other preferences stay with their own profile. A custom alert tone on one number won’t carry over to the other.

WhatsApp also keeps watching the inactive login. When a message or call comes in there, the app can send a push notification, and the user can open that profile from the alert before responding.

When the feature reaches everyone

WhatsApp says multiple accounts are available to all users through the latest App Store version, with iOS 26.22.76 listed as a compatible update. Beta testers can also get the feature through the latest TestFlight build.

Anyone who doesn’t see it yet should update WhatsApp from the App Store and check settings for “Add account.” Removing a login from the device won’t delete groups or channels, but WhatsApp recommends backing up chats first because unbacked-up messages and data can be lost.

The practical move is simple enough. Update the app, add the second number, and let WhatsApp handle the split that used to require a workaround.

Paulo Vargas
Paulo Vargas is an English major turned reporter turned technical writer, with a career that has always circled back to…
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