Quick Answer
There are a few simple steps to disconnect WhatsApp on your computer from your phone:
- Open WhatsApp on your computer
- Click on the Settings icon in the top left
- Select WhatsApp Web/Desktop
- Click on Disconnect from phone
This will sign you out of WhatsApp on your computer while keeping WhatsApp on your phone connected. Your chats will remain intact on your phone. To reconnect in the future, simply scan the QR code on your computer using your phone’s WhatsApp.
Detailed Steps
Follow these detailed steps to disconnect WhatsApp on your computer from your phone:
- Open the WhatsApp application on your computer.
- Click on the Settings icon in the top left corner of the WhatsApp window. It looks like a gear or cog icon.
- From the menu that opens, select WhatsApp Web/Desktop.
- This will open a new window showing any connected devices. Your phone will likely be listed there if currently connected.
- To disconnect your phone, click on the Disconnect from phone button below its name.
- A confirmation message will appear telling you your phone is now disconnected.
- Click OK to confirm and complete the disconnection.
Once completed, WhatsApp on your computer will no longer be linked or synced to your phone. You will stay logged in on your computer but chat history will not update until you reconnect.
On your phone, WhatsApp will remain fully functional and your chats are unaffected by disconnecting your computer. You can continue using WhatsApp on your phone as normal.
Why Disconnect?
There are a few reasons you may want to intentionally disconnect WhatsApp on your computer from your phone:
- Privacy – Disconnecting stops message syncing across devices temporarily.
- Troubleshooting – If having connectivity issues, disconnecting and reconnecting can help.
- Use on multiple computers – Only one computer at a time can be connected to your phone.
- New computer – When moving to a new computer, you’ll need to disconnect the old one.
In most cases, it’s temporary and done when switching devices or troubleshooting. You’ll want to reconnect again in the future.
Will My Chats be Deleted?
Importantly, disconnecting WhatsApp on your computer does not delete or remove any of your chats or history.
Your entire chat history remains intact on your phone when disconnecting your computer.
No data is lost or deleted. Your chats are stored on your phone, not your computer.
The only difference is your computer will no longer mirror your phone’s chats until you reconnect it. So you can disconnect and reconnect as often as needed without losing anything.
How to Reconnect
If you want to reconnect WhatsApp on your computer to your phone in the future, simply follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp on your computer.
- Click on the Settings icon.
- Select WhatsApp Web/Desktop.
- Point your phone’s camera at the QR code on your computer screen.
- Your phone will scan the code and reconnect.
Once successfully reconnected, your chats will sync from your phone to your computer again. This includes all of your message history.
You can repeat this connect and disconnect process as often as needed. It only takes a few seconds to reconnect using the QR code scanner.
Alternative Ways to Disconnect
In addition to disconnecting from within WhatsApp’s desktop settings, there are a couple other ways to disconnect your computer:
- On your phone, go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices and click Disconnect next to your computer.
- Log out of your WhatsApp account on the computer by going to Settings > Log Out.
These achieve the same effect of disconnecting your computer from your phone. The simplest option is just going into WhatsApp Web/Desktop settings on your computer and clicking Disconnect from phone.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re having trouble disconnecting your computer from your WhatsApp on your phone, try these tips:
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version on both devices.
- Force quit and restart the WhatsApp desktop application.
- On your phone, go to Linked Devices and disconnect your computer from there.
- Log out then back into WhatsApp on your computer.
- Restart your phone and computer.
- Check your internet connection on both devices.
Most connectivity issues can be fixed by simply restarting the app, updating WhatsApp, or restarting your devices. Make sure you have a stable internet connection on both your phone and computer as well.
Disconnecting Other Devices
The same disconnecting steps can be used for other devices linked to your WhatsApp account:
- WhatsApp Web – Access WhatsApp Web settings and click Disconnect.
- Tablets – Go to Linked Devices and disconnect.
- Second Phone – Go to Linked Devices and disconnect.
You can only have WhatsApp connected on one phone at a time. But you can use WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop simultaneously on other devices. Just remember to disconnect old devices before connecting new ones.
Conclusion
Disconnecting your WhatsApp desktop app from your phone is simple:
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Select WhatsApp Web/Desktop
- Click Disconnect from phone
This temporarily disconnects your computer while keeping your phone connected and all chats intact. You can reconnect at any time with a QR code scan from your phone.
Disconnecting is recommended when switching computers or troubleshooting connectivity issues. Just remember no chat history is ever deleted when disconnecting a linked device.
| Platform | Disconnecting Method |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp Desktop | Settings > WhatsApp Web/Desktop > Disconnect |
| WhatsApp Web | WhatsApp Web Settings > Disconnect |
| Linked Tablet | Phone’s WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices > Disconnect |
| Second Phone | Phone’s WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices > Disconnect |
Key Points
- Disconnect via WhatsApp Web/Desktop settings on your computer.
- Your chats remain intact on your phone.
- Use QR code to easily reconnect any time.
- Troubleshoot by restarting app or devices if needed.
- You can disconnect all linked devices in the same way.
Following these steps will allow you to successfully disconnect your WhatsApp desktop computer client from your phone when needed. Just remember your chat history is not deleted and you can reconnect a disconnected device anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disconnecting WhatsApp on my computer delete my chats?
No, disconnecting WhatsApp on your computer does not delete or remove any chat histories. All your WhatsApp chats remain fully intact and stored on your phone when disconnecting your computer. No chats or messages are lost.
Can I reconnect WhatsApp after disconnecting?
Yes, you can easily reconnect after disconnecting. Simply open WhatsApp on your computer, go to WhatsApp Web/Desktop settings, and scan the QR code with your phone’s camera. This will instantly reconnect your devices.
Why is my phone still showing as connected in WhatsApp Web/Desktop?
If your phone is still showing as connected after disconnecting, force quit and restart the WhatsApp desktop application. This should clear the connection status and update it to properly show disconnected.
Is there a way to disconnect without accessing my computer?
Yes, you can disconnect your computer from your phone’s WhatsApp settings. Go to Settings > Linked Devices and select your computer name, then click Disconnect.
What happens if I get a new computer and want to connect it?
When getting a new computer, you will need to disconnect your old computer first before connecting the new one. Each WhatsApp account can only stay connected to one computer at a time.