Before you start
- A second phone number (a second SIM, an eSIM, or a number that can receive an SMS or call)
- The latest version of WhatsApp
Method 1 Add a second account inside WhatsApp
You can have up to two accounts this way. Both receive notifications, which show which account the message is for.
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Step 1: Update WhatsApp
Update WhatsApp from Google Play or the App Store. Multi-account is built in on Android, and has been rolling out on iPhone during 2026.
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Step 2: Open Settings
On Android, tap ⋮ > Settings. On iPhone, tap the Settings tab.
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Step 3: Tap Add account
Tap the arrow (or +) next to your name, then Add account.
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Step 4: Verify the second number
Enter the second phone number and verify it with the 6-digit code sent by SMS or call. Set up the name and photo for this account.
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Step 5: Switch accounts
To switch, go back to Settings, tap the arrow next to your name and choose the other account. Each account has its own chats, notifications, privacy settings and backups.
Method 2 Use WhatsApp Business for the second number
This works on any phone, including iPhones without the multi-account update. Despite the name, you don’t need to be a business.
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Step 1: Install WhatsApp Business
Install the free WhatsApp Business app from Google Play or the App Store. It runs next to normal WhatsApp.
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Step 2: Register the second number
Open it and verify your second number. It looks and works like WhatsApp, with a few extra business tools you can ignore.
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Step 3: Keep them apart
Business has a slightly different icon (a “B”). Put it in a separate place on your Home Screen so you don’t mix them up.
Method 3 Samsung Dual Messenger
Other brands have the same feature under a different name: Dual Apps (Xiaomi), App Cloner (Oppo, Realme), Parallel Apps (OnePlus) and App Twin (Huawei, Honor).
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Step 1: Open Dual Messenger
Go to Settings > Advanced features > Dual Messenger.
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Step 2: Turn on WhatsApp
Turn on the switch next to WhatsApp and confirm. A second WhatsApp icon with a small orange badge appears.
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Step 3: Set it up
Open the second WhatsApp and register your second number. Choose whether it can access your full contact list or only selected contacts.
Troubleshooting
The second number can’t receive the verification code
Choose Call me instead of SMS. If the number is on a different phone, you can receive the code there and type it in. Landlines can use the call option.
I only get notifications from one account
Open each account’s Settings > Notifications and make sure they’re on. On Android, also check notification permissions for WhatsApp in phone settings.
My backups mix up
Each account backs up separately. Check Settings > Chats > Chat backup in both accounts, and use different Google accounts if you want them in separate Drive storage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use two WhatsApp accounts with the same number?
No. Each account needs its own phone number. To use one number on several devices, link them instead with Linked devices.
Do I need two SIM cards?
No. You only need to receive a verification code once on the second number. An eSIM, a second phone or a landline (call option) works.
Can I add a third account?
Not in the same app. You could combine multi-account in WhatsApp with WhatsApp Business to manage up to four numbers on Android.
Is this the same as linking WhatsApp to a second phone?
No. Linked devices let one account be used on up to four extra devices. Multi-account means two different accounts on one phone.
Summary
The simplest way is WhatsApp’s built-in Settings > Add account. If it isn’t available yet, install WhatsApp Business for your second number, or use your phone’s Dual Messenger feature. Avoid unofficial clone apps.
