WhatsApp Web and Linked Devices: Logged Out, Can’t Link or Missing Chats

Does this match what you see?

• WhatsApp Web or the desktop app logged you out.
• You can’t find how to scan the QR code.
• Older chats don’t show on your computer or tablet.
• You see an unfamiliar device in Linked devices.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on WhatsApp Help Center “About linked devices” and “How to link a device” and “About passkey linking on WhatsApp Web” (supplied by the site owner, 2026-10-30; Android and iPhone tabs).

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why linked devices log out or behave differently. From WhatsApp’s pages.

• Your phone hasn’t been used for over 14 daysCheck this first

  WhatsApp says you need to log in to WhatsApp on your primary phone every 14 days to keep linked devices connected.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Passkey prompt, or WhatsApp Web won’t link

WhatsApp says it may require a passkey when you link WhatsApp Web. A passkey uses your phone’s fingerprint, face or screen lock. If prompted on your phone, follow the steps (you might be asked to create a passkey first). If prompted in your browser, click Continue and follow the passkey prompts. You may need to scan an extra QR code if your passkey isn’t synced to that device.

WhatsApp says passkey linking needs iOS 16+ or Android 9+ with Google Play Services, and Chrome 109+, Safari 16+, Microsoft Edge 109+ or Firefox 122+, with JavaScript and WebAuthn turned on. If linking fails, WhatsApp suggests:

• Update WhatsApp on your phone and on the device you’re linking.
• Chrome with an Android phone: sign in to the same Google Account on both. Mac with an iPhone: sign in to the same Apple account on both. If you use Google Password Manager, be signed in to your Google Account in the browser.
• Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
• Using a password manager on your phone? Install its browser extension so the browser can reach your passkey.
• Avoid incognito or private browsing, which may interfere.
• Work or school computers: some corporate browsers block WebAuthn by default.
• Make sure you’re on the official WhatsApp Web, not an unofficial app or website.
• Still stuck? Check your connection with WhatsApp not connecting.

Create or delete a WhatsApp passkey

iPhone: WhatsApp says you need an iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or higher. Tap Settings or your profile tab > Account > Passkeys > Continue, then Continue again (you may be asked to tap Use screen lock).

Android: WhatsApp says you need Android 9 or later, a lock screen, and a password manager account set up and linked to your phone (such as Google Password Manager or Samsung Password Manager; check Settings > Passwords > Passkeys & accounts). Then in WhatsApp, tap the menu icon > Settings > Account > Passkeys > Create passkey > Continue, and tap Continue again (you may be asked to tap Use screen lock).

WhatsApp says to change a passkey, delete it and create a new one. To delete it: on Android, tap the menu icon > Settings > Account > Passkeys > Delete > Delete; on iPhone, tap your profile tab > Account > Passkeys > Delete > Delete. If you reinstall WhatsApp, you might be asked to use your existing passkey when you register.

Why your linked device logged out

• WhatsApp says linked devices work without your phone online, but log out if your phone is unused for over 14 days. Open WhatsApp on your phone regularly.
• WhatsApp also automatically disconnects linked devices after 30 days of inactivity.
• “Your devices were logged out”: WhatsApp says this means it logged you out of your linked devices because of an unexpected problem syncing data from your phone. When it can’t verify your data is syncing properly between devices, it logs you out automatically as an extra precaution to protect the privacy of your messages. Our note: link each device again using the steps above.
• “Devices out of sync”? WhatsApp says check your phone’s clock. See Devices out of sync.
• If you logged a device out from your phone, link it again using the steps above.

Logged out on your phone too? See WhatsApp hacked. Our note: re-registering WhatsApp on a phone logs out every linked device, so you’ll need to link them again.

Older chats missing on a linked device

WhatsApp says there’s a known issue where some linked devices don’t show up to one year of chat history, and it’s working on a fix. Your chat history is still on your primary phone. WhatsApp recommends keeping WhatsApp updated on the linked device, since updates can include fixes.

Our note: this isn’t lost data, so don’t delete or re-register WhatsApp on your phone to “fix” it.

Features that don’t work on linked devices

WhatsApp says these aren’t currently supported on linked devices:

• Viewing a live location.
• Creating and viewing broadcast lists.
• Interacting with businesses using WhatsApp Flows.

WhatsApp says you also can’t back up or restore chats from a linked device; see WhatsApp backup not working. WhatsApp says the Windows and Mac apps can make voice and video calls with up to 32 people.

Check and remove linked devices

• Review them: on your phone, open Linked devices (Android: menu icon > Linked devices; iPhone: Settings > Linked devices).
• Log one out: tap the device > LOG OUT (iPhone: Log out).
• Turn on push notifications on your phone: WhatsApp says if you don’t recognize a device, tap the notification to review and remove it.

WhatsApp says if you think someone has access through WhatsApp Web, you can log out of all your active WhatsApp Web sessions from your phone. On a shared or public computer, uncheck “Stay logged in on this browser” before scanning the QR code, so you’re logged out when you close the tab or browser. Two-step verification adds extra security. WhatsApp also says it can’t tell you who accessed your account, or when or where.

Worried someone else is using your account? See WhatsApp hacked.

Which devices can be linked

WhatsApp lists Windows, Mac, Web, Android tablets, iPad, Wear OS, Apple Watch (on its iPhone page), companion phones, Meta AI glasses and VR. Each one connects independently, and personal messages, media and calls stay end-to-end encrypted.

WhatsApp says Windows, Mac, Web, iPad and wearables can’t be your primary device. To use an Android tablet as your primary device, register your account on the tablet itself.

How to know it worked

• Our check: your linked device stays signed in and shows new messages.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. WhatsApp Web says “Computer not connected” or won’t load? See WhatsApp not connecting.

Frequently asked questions