WhatsApp lets one phone hold two accounts and switch between them, but each account needs its own phone number. You add the second account inside WhatsApp, or you run it in the separate WhatsApp Business app. Either way, choose the second number carefully: WhatsApp can ask for a new code when you change phones, so a number you will still have next year is the safe choice.
Can one WhatsApp app hold two accounts?
- Yes, on your main phone
- WhatsApp's help centre describes two accounts on a single mobile device, each with its own number.
- Not on linked devices
- Account switching is not available on a computer or tablet linked to your phone.
- Not in WhatsApp Business
- The Business app does not offer account switching. Use it as the second account instead.
- Separate settings
- Each account gets its own photo, About, notifications and privacy settings. The idle one still alerts you.
WhatsApp Business as the second account
The other route is to install WhatsApp Business next to WhatsApp and register the second number there. It is a separate free app from the same company, built for businesses.
- Each app needs a different number. WhatsApp does not let one number run in both.
- Business also accepts a landline, verified by phone call. See which number to use for WhatsApp Business.
- Both apps show up separately, so you never post from the wrong one by accident.
Where the second number comes from
| Good for | Watch out for | |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM or second SIM | An account you will keep for years | Keep the plan active |
| Work phone number | Work chats kept apart from private ones | Move the account before you leave the job |
| Landline (Business only) | A shop or practice already known by that number | Code by call; the landline must answer |
| Temporary number for the code | A short-term second profile | A new phone will need a code to a number that is gone |
WhatsApp does not support VoIP numbers, so many internet-calling numbers fail here.
WhatsApp at a glance
- Virtual numbers
- Often refused: try another country
- Code sent by
- SMS · phone call
- Code length
- 6 digits
- Asks for the number again later
- Yes
- One number per account
- Yes
Step by step
- Open WhatsApp on your main phone Second accounts can only be created on the primary device, not on a linked one.
- Go to Settings and add an account Tap the arrow or the menu next to your name and choose Add account. The wording differs slightly between Android and iPhone.
- Enter the second number Select its country, type it without the leading zero, then wait for the six-digit code.
- Name it so you can tell them apart A different photo and name help you see at a glance which account is open.
If the second number is only needed for the code, the app below delivers it by SMS. WhatsApp is strict, so choose a country with a high success rate.
Keeping both accounts safe with two-step verification
- Turn on two-step verification separately in each account; the settings are per account.
- Use two different passwords, and add an email address to both so either one can be reset.
- Before you change phones, check that both numbers can still receive a code, or move an account to a new number first.
- Use your own WhatsApp on a computer by linking it, as described in WhatsApp on a PC or tablet.
Common questions
Can I have two WhatsApp accounts with one number?
No. Each WhatsApp account needs its own number, and WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business need different numbers too.
Can I use two WhatsApp accounts on an iPhone?
Look for Add account next to your name in Settings. If your version does not show it, WhatsApp Business is the reliable second app.
Do I get notifications from both accounts?
Yes. WhatsApp says the account you are not using still alerts you about messages and calls.
Is a temporary number enough for a second WhatsApp?
For registering, yes. For keeping the account through a phone change, no: WhatsApp will send a new code to the registered number.