Having two WhatsApp accounts on one phone can be useful for keeping your personal and professional lives separate. While WhatsApp does not officially support multiple accounts on one device, there are some workarounds you can use to install two WhatsApp accounts on an Android phone.
Requirements for 2 WhatsApp Accounts on 1 Phone
Before looking at how to install two WhatsApp accounts, here are some requirements to be aware of:
- The phone must be running Android 5.0 or higher
- You need two different phone numbers – one for each WhatsApp account
- A dual SIM phone or a phone with dual SIM capability is recommended
- You’ll need to install a third party app like Parallel Space to create a cloned version of WhatsApp
Method 1: Use a Dual SIM Phone
One of the easiest ways to have two WhatsApp accounts on one Android phone is to use a dual SIM phone. Here are the steps:
- Get a dual SIM phone or a single SIM phone that supports dual SIM mode.
- Insert your primary SIM card into SIM slot 1.
- Insert your secondary SIM card into SIM slot 2.
- Install WhatsApp from the Play Store if you don’t already have it.
- Open WhatsApp and verify the phone number for SIM 1.
- Once verified, tap the 3 dots menu in the top right and select Settings.
- Tap on Account > Add Account.
- Enter and verify the phone number for your second SIM.
Once the number for SIM 2 is verified, you will now have two separate WhatsApp accounts running on your phone – one for each SIM card.
Pros of Using Dual SIM Method
- No need to install any third party apps
- Separate notifications for each account
- Can switch between accounts seamlessly
- Each account remains logged in
Cons of Using Dual SIM Method
- Need a dual SIM phone or dual SIM tray
- Only works if you have two active phone numbers
- Switching SIMs can be inconvenient
Method 2: Use a Dual Apps Feature
Some Android phones have a built-in Dual Apps or Dual Messenger feature that can clone certain apps like WhatsApp. Here is how it works:
- Go to Settings > Dual Apps/Dual Messenger on your phone.
- Enable the feature if it is disabled.
- Look for WhatsApp in the list of supported apps and enable it.
- A cloned version of WhatsApp will be created.
- Open the cloned WhatsApp and verify a different phone number.
The original WhatsApp will remain installed with your primary number. The cloned version can run a secondary number. Switch between them from the Dual Apps menu.
Pros of Using Dual Apps Feature
- Easy to use and set up
- Each account remains separately logged in
- No need to install third party apps
Cons of Using Dual Apps Feature
- Only available on some Android brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei etc
- Limited to cloning certain supported apps only
- Notifications may not be separate
Method 3: Use a Parallel Space App
For phones that don’t have a native Dual Apps feature, you can use a third party app like Parallel Space. Here are the steps:
- Download and install Parallel Space from the Play Store.
- Open Parallel Space and grant it the required permissions.
- Tap on the + button to add WhatsApp.
- You will see a cloned version of WhatsApp get installed.
- Open the cloned WhatsApp and verify a second number.
The original WhatsApp will keep running with your primary number. The cloned WhatsApp in Parallel Space will run with your second number.
Pros of Using Parallel Space
- Works on most Android phones
- Can clone many apps including WhatsApp
- Easy to set up
Cons of Using Parallel Space
- Need to install an extra app
- Notifications may not be separate
- Performance impact since it’s emulating apps
Method 4: Use Multiple User Profiles
Phones running Android 5.0 and above support multiple user profiles. This allows creating separate users for the same phone. Here are the steps:
- Go to Settings > Users & accounts on your phone.
- Tap Add user or profile.
- Set up a new user profile on your device.
- Switch to the new profile from the quick settings menu.
- Open WhatsApp and verify a new number.
Your original WhatsApp will stay logged in under your primary profile. The second profile will run a separate WhatsApp account.
Pros of Using Multiple Profiles
- Native Android feature, no extra apps
- Separate notifications and storage for each profile
- Better privacy separation between accounts
Cons of Using Multiple Profiles
- Performance impact from running dual profiles
- Need to switch user profiles to access second account
- Some app data does not carry over profiles
Comparison Between Methods
Here is a quick comparison of the different methods to help you choose the right one:
| Method | Set Up Difficulty | Privacy Separation | Notifications | Data/Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual SIM | Easy | Good | Separate | Shared |
| Dual Apps | Easy | Okay | May be combined | Shared |
| Parallel Space | Moderate | Okay | May be combined | Shared |
| Multiple Profiles | Moderate | Great | Separate | Separate |
FAQs about 2 WhatsApp Accounts on 1 Phone
Is having two WhatsApp accounts allowed?
WhatsApp’s terms of service only allow one account per phone number. However, there are no restrictions on using two accounts as long as you have two different phone numbers.
Can I use the same number for two WhatsApp accounts?
No, you cannot use the same phone number to verify two different WhatsApp accounts. Each account must have a unique phone number.
Will I get banned for using two WhatsApp accounts?
You should not get banned as long as you are using two different numbers and not violating any other terms. The dual account methods like Dual SIM are legitimate.
Can I use two WhatsApp accounts on an iPhone?
Unfortunately, you cannot natively install two WhatsApp accounts on a single iPhone. The dual SIM and dual apps options are only available on Android.
How do I switch between two WhatsApp accounts?
The method of switching accounts depends on how you set up the dual WhatsApps. For Dual SIM, switch SIMs from Settings. For Dual Apps, switch via App Info. For Parallel Space, select the cloned app. For multiple profiles, switch user from quick settings.
Will my chats sync between the two accounts?
No, the chats will not sync between the two WhatsApp accounts since they are treated completely separately with different numbers.
Can I use two WhatsApp accounts on one number?
No, WhatsApp specifically prohibits using the same number to verify multiple accounts. You need two different phone numbers – one for each account.
Conclusion
Having two WhatsApp accounts on one Android phone is possible through methods like Dual SIM, Dual Apps, Parallel Space apps, and Multiple Profiles. Each method has its own pros and cons. Using a dual SIM phone is the easiest option if you have two numbers. For privacy, multiple user profiles provide the best separation between accounts. Overall, with the right setup, you can efficiently run two Whatsapp accounts on a single phone.