WhatsApp for iPad Nears Release as Beta Testing Introduces Independent Usage

WhatsApp for iPad is inching closer to its official release. In the latest WhatsApp Beta for TestFlight, Meta has introduced an option that allows users to use WhatsApp on an iPad independently of an iPhone. This development is made possible through an update to the Link a Device feature.

WhatsApp currently permits users to link up to four devices to their account, even when their primary smartphone is offline. Each linked device operates independently with end-to-end encryption for messages, media, and calls. While this feature has been available for Macs, iPads were notably left out—until now.

In the latest beta, WhatsApp has initiated testing to enable iPads as linked devices. This new companion mode ensures that messages sent or received on an iPad sync with the user's primary phone, whether it's an iPhone or an Android device.

To facilitate testing of the companion mode, WhatsApp had previously launched a native iPad app using Catalyst. Now, a beta version compatible with iPads can be installed via the TestFlight app, accessible to all testers using the iOS beta app.

Although the exact release date for WhatsApp on iPad for the general public remains uncertain, its presence in the beta version signals its imminent arrival. This development is a response to longstanding user requests, as WhatsApp has not had native iPad availability despite Meta making Facebook available on the platform.