If you haven’t explored the latest WhatsApp updates yet, you’re leaving a lot on the table. The app has gone through one of its biggest transformation phases in recent memory, rolling out feature after feature that most users scroll right past without a second thought. From linking your WhatsApp account to a second device without scanning a QR code, to locking down your privacy in ways that weren’t possible just a year ago — 2025 is shaping up to be the most feature-rich year WhatsApp has ever had.
In this guide, we’re breaking down the best new tricks WhatsApp has introduced, walking you through step-by-step instructions for the ones that matter most, and highlighting the hidden settings that even power users tend to miss. Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android, there’s something here for you.
Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
- How to Link Your WhatsApp Account Remotely Without a QR Code
- Everything You Need to Know About Linked Devices in 2025
- New Privacy Settings You Should Turn On Right Now
- WhatsApp Channels: What’s New and How to Use Them
- New Chat Features That Change How You Communicate
- Hidden WhatsApp Settings Most People Don’t Know About
- WhatsApp Business Updates for 2025
- Power User Tips to Get the Most Out of WhatsApp
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to Link Your WhatsApp Account Remotely Without a QR Code
This is the feature everyone’s been talking about — and for good reason. WhatsApp now lets you link your account to a secondary device using a 12-digit numeric code instead of the traditional QR code scan. This is a game-changer for anyone who wants to use WhatsApp on a tablet, laptop, or second phone without needing both devices in the same room at the same time.
Here’s why this matters: the old QR method required you to physically hold your primary phone up to the secondary device’s screen. That’s fine when both devices are within arm’s reach, but it was a real pain when they weren’t. The new code-based linking method eliminates that friction entirely.
How It Works: Step-by-Step
On your secondary device (the one you want to add):
- Open WhatsApp on the secondary device.
- On the login screen, tap «Link a Device» or «Link to Existing Account» (depending on your version).
- Instead of scanning a QR code, tap the option that says «Link with Phone Number Instead».
- Enter your primary phone number when prompted.
- WhatsApp will display a 12-digit one-time code on your secondary device’s screen.
On your primary phone:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap «Linked Devices».
- Tap «Link a Device».
- When the QR scanner opens, look for the option to «Link with Phone Number» or enter a code manually.
- Type in the 12-digit code that appeared on your secondary device.
- Confirm, and your accounts are linked.
That’s it. Both devices can now send and receive messages independently, even if your primary phone is turned off or out of battery. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption applies across all linked devices, so your messages stay secure no matter which device you’re using.
Pro Tip: The linking code expires quickly — usually within a few minutes. Have both devices ready before you start the process to avoid having to generate a new code.
What Devices Are Supported?
As of 2025, you can link WhatsApp to:
- WhatsApp Web (via browser)
- WhatsApp Desktop (Windows and Mac apps)
- A second smartphone (iOS or Android)
- iPad (with the native WhatsApp iPad app)
- Meta Portal devices
You can link up to four companion devices to a single WhatsApp account simultaneously.
2. Everything You Need to Know About Linked Devices in 2025
The Linked Devices feature has matured significantly since it launched in beta. Here’s what’s changed and what you should know heading into 2025.
Your Primary Phone No Longer Needs to Be Online
This used to be one of the biggest limitations of WhatsApp Web and the desktop app — if your phone died or lost its connection, everything stopped. That’s no longer the case. With the updated multi-device architecture, your companion devices maintain their own connection to WhatsApp’s servers. You can be messaging on your laptop while your phone is sitting at home powered off.
Messages Sync Across All Devices
When you open WhatsApp on any linked device, you’ll see your message history synced across all of them. This includes group chats, individual conversations, and even status updates. Note that full message history from before you linked the device may not appear — sync starts from the moment you link.
How to See and Manage Your Linked Devices
Go to Settings → Linked Devices on your primary phone. You’ll see a list of every device currently connected to your account, along with the last time each one was active. If you see a device you don’t recognize, or one you no longer use, tap on it and select «Log Out» to remove it immediately.
Security and Encryption
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption on all linked devices. Each device maintains its own encryption keys, which means messages are encrypted and decrypted locally on each device rather than in the cloud. This is the same encryption model used on your primary phone.
Call Support on Linked Devices
Voice and video calls are now supported on companion devices. If someone calls your WhatsApp number, the call will ring on all your linked devices simultaneously — just like how calls work on Apple’s ecosystem. You can answer on whichever device is most convenient.
3. New Privacy Settings You Should Turn On Right Now
WhatsApp has been quietly rolling out privacy controls that give users an unprecedented level of control over who can see what. Here are the ones worth enabling today.
Protect IP Address in Calls
This is a big one that most people overlook. When you make a WhatsApp call, your IP address can technically be visible to the person on the other end. Enabling this setting routes your call through WhatsApp’s servers, masking your IP address entirely.
To enable it: Settings → Privacy → Advanced → Protect IP Address in Calls. Turn it on. The slight trade-off is a minor reduction in call quality, but the privacy gain is worth it for most users.
Silence Unknown Callers
Spam calls on WhatsApp are a real problem. The Silence Unknown Callers feature automatically silences calls from numbers not in your contact list. The call still shows up in your call log and you can call back if needed, but your phone won’t ring for unknown numbers.
To enable: Settings → Privacy → Calls → Silence Unknown Callers.
Who Can See Your Status, Profile Photo, and About
WhatsApp lets you customize each of these independently. You can set each one to:
- Everyone — anyone with your number
- My Contacts — people in your address book
- My Contacts Except… — everyone in your contacts except specific people
- Nobody — completely hidden
Go to Settings → Privacy to fine-tune each one individually.
Disappearing Messages: Set a Default
WhatsApp now lets you set a default timer for disappearing messages across all new chats. Options include 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. Once enabled, any new conversation you start will automatically have messages set to disappear after your chosen time period.
Enable it at: Settings → Privacy → Default Message Timer.
Chat Lock
You can now lock individual chats behind your device’s biometric authentication (Face ID, fingerprint, etc.). Locked chats are hidden from your main chat list and can only be accessed by opening the Locked Chats folder with biometrics.
To lock a chat: Press and hold the conversation → tap Lock Chat.
4. WhatsApp Channels: What’s New and How to Use Them
WhatsApp Channels launched globally in 2023, but the feature has received significant updates throughout 2024 and into 2025. If you haven’t used them yet, think of Channels as a one-way broadcast tool — similar to Telegram channels or Instagram broadcasts. Channel admins post updates, and followers receive them in a separate, dedicated tab called Updates.
What’s New in Channels
- Voice messages in Channels: Channel admins can now send voice notes to their followers, adding a more personal, podcast-like dimension to broadcasts.
- Polls: Admins can post polls to gather quick feedback from their audience without leaving the app.
- Reactions: Followers can react to channel posts with emoji — a lightweight way to engage without cluttering a feed with replies.
- Channel discoverability: WhatsApp has improved its directory so you can search for and discover channels by category — news, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, and more.
- Admin controls: Multiple admins can now manage a single channel, making it easier for teams and organizations to maintain a consistent presence.
How to Find and Follow Channels
Open WhatsApp and tap on the Updates tab (the icon that looks like a circle with a check mark). From there, tap «Find Channels» to browse the directory. You can search by name or explore by category. Tap «Follow» on any channel to start receiving its updates.
How to Create Your Own Channel
- Go to the Updates tab.
- Tap the + icon or «Create Channel».
- Add a name, description, and icon for your channel.
- Tap «Create Channel» to go live.
Channels are completely separate from your regular WhatsApp chats — your personal contacts won’t know you created or follow a channel unless you tell them.
5. New Chat Features That Change How You Communicate
Beyond the big headline features, WhatsApp has been rolling out a steady stream of quality-of-life improvements to the core chat experience. Here are the most impactful ones.
Chat Filters
The new Chat Filters bar at the top of your chat list lets you quickly sort conversations by:
- All — your full chat list
- Unread — only conversations with unread messages
- Favorites — chats you’ve starred
- Groups — group chats only
It’s a small change, but if you have hundreds of conversations, the ability to filter to just unread messages is a genuine time-saver.
Pinned Messages in Group Chats
Admins can now pin up to three messages at the top of any group chat. Pinned messages are visible to all members and are particularly useful for groups that share rules, links, or ongoing announcements. Tap the pinned message banner at the top of the chat to expand and view all pinned items.
Formatting Options
WhatsApp has expanded its in-message text formatting. You can now format text with:
- Bold: Wrap text with asterisks — *bold*
- Italic: Wrap text with underscores — _italic_
Strikethrough:Wrap text with tildes — ~strikethrough~Monospace:Wrap text with backticks — `monospace`- Bulleted and numbered lists
- Block quotes
- Inline code blocks
To access formatting without memorizing shortcuts, press and hold on any text you’ve typed to reveal the formatting toolbar.
High-Quality Media Sharing
WhatsApp used to compress images and videos aggressively, destroying quality in the process. You can now send photos and videos in HD quality by tapping the HD icon before sending. Senders choose the quality, and recipients get notified when they receive an HD file.
Message Reactions with Any Emoji
The original six-emoji reaction set has been replaced with open emoji reactions — you can now react to any message with any emoji from the full keyboard. Just press and hold a message, select React, and tap «+» to choose any emoji you want.
Edit Sent Messages
Made a typo? WhatsApp now lets you edit messages for up to 15 minutes after sending. Press and hold the message → tap «Edit» → make your changes → hit send. The message will display an «Edited» label so the recipient knows it was changed.
Share Screens During Video Calls
WhatsApp video calls now support screen sharing. During an active video call, tap the screen share icon to broadcast your screen to everyone on the call. This is perfect for sharing documents, walking someone through an app, or even watching content together.
6. Hidden WhatsApp Settings Most People Don’t Know About
These are the settings buried in submenus that most users never find — but that make a real difference once you know they exist.
Reduce Data Usage on Calls
If you’re on a limited data plan, go to Settings → Storage and Data → Use Less Data for Calls and toggle it on. WhatsApp will reduce the bandwidth used during voice and video calls. Call quality dips slightly, but it can make a meaningful difference for users on tight data budgets.
Auto-Download Controls
By default, WhatsApp auto-downloads photos, audio, videos, and documents — often eating through your data and storage without you realizing it. Go to Settings → Storage and Data → Media Auto-Download to customize exactly what gets downloaded over mobile data vs. Wi-Fi vs. when roaming.
Manage Storage Efficiently
Go to Settings → Storage and Data → Manage Storage. Here WhatsApp shows you exactly how much space each chat is using and lets you bulk-delete large files, forwarded media, or old conversations. It’s one of the most underused tools in the app.
Keyboard Shortcuts (WhatsApp Web and Desktop)
If you use WhatsApp on a computer, keyboard shortcuts dramatically speed up navigation:
- Ctrl + N — New chat
- Ctrl + Shift + ] — Next chat
- Ctrl + Shift + [ — Previous chat
- Ctrl + E — Archive chat
- Ctrl + Shift + M — Mute/unmute chat
- Ctrl + Backspace — Delete chat
Two-Step Verification
This one is less «hidden» and more «often skipped» — and skipping it is a mistake. Two-step verification adds a 6-digit PIN to your account that’s required when registering your number on any device. This makes it dramatically harder for someone to hijack your account even if they get access to your SIM card.
Enable it at: Settings → Account → Two-Step Verification → Enable.
Disable Read Receipts (The Blue Ticks)
Go to Settings → Privacy → Read Receipts and toggle it off. Note that disabling this means you also won’t be able to see read receipts from others in individual chats. Read receipts in group chats are not affected by this setting.
7. WhatsApp Business Updates for 2025
WhatsApp Business has been rolling out features that make it a legitimate small business tool, not just a messaging app with a different icon.
Meta AI Integration
Meta has been integrating its AI assistant directly into WhatsApp. Business users can set up AI-powered automated responses to handle common customer questions, process inquiries, and even route conversations — all without leaving WhatsApp.
Product Catalogs and In-Chat Payments
WhatsApp Business allows you to build a product catalog that customers can browse directly in the chat. In supported markets, payments can be processed without the customer ever leaving the conversation. It’s a frictionless e-commerce loop that’s driving adoption quickly in Latin America, India, and parts of Africa.
Broadcast Lists at Scale
WhatsApp Business now supports larger broadcast lists, making it easier to send updates to your customer base simultaneously. Combined with message templates and scheduling, it’s a solid tool for small businesses that don’t want to invest in more complex CRM software.
Verified Business Badges
WhatsApp has expanded its verified business badge program. A green checkmark next to a business name tells customers the account is officially verified by Meta. This builds trust and reduces confusion from impersonators.
8. Power User Tips to Get the Most Out of WhatsApp
Here’s a rapid-fire list of lesser-known tricks that will genuinely upgrade your daily WhatsApp experience.
Star Important Messages
Press and hold any message → tap the star icon. Starred messages are saved to a dedicated folder accessible from Settings → Starred Messages. It’s the easiest way to bookmark addresses, phone numbers, or anything you’ll want to find later.
Use the Search Function Effectively
WhatsApp’s search isn’t just for finding contacts — you can search for specific words or phrases within your message history. Tap the magnifying glass at the top of the chat list and type your query. You can filter results by media type: links, photos, documents, audio, and GIFs all have their own tabs.
Pin Important Chats
Press and hold any chat in your list → tap Pin. You can pin up to three conversations to keep them permanently at the top of your chat list regardless of when the last message was sent.
Transfer Your WhatsApp History When Switching Phones
If you’re switching phones, WhatsApp offers built-in tools to transfer your entire chat history:
- Android to Android: Use the in-app transfer tool over a local Wi-Fi connection or cable.
- iPhone to iPhone: Transfer via iCloud backup.
- iOS to Android / Android to iOS: Use the cross-platform Move to iOS tool or WhatsApp’s own direct transfer feature, available during the device setup process.
Create WhatsApp Shortcuts on Your Home Screen
On Android, press and hold any chat → tap Add to Home Screen. This creates a shortcut icon on your home screen that takes you directly into that conversation with a single tap — no opening the app, no scrolling through your chat list.
Send Messages to Yourself
WhatsApp includes a built-in «Message Yourself» feature. Your own chat functions as a personal notepad — great for saving links, jotting notes, or sending files to yourself across devices. Find it at the top of your contact list when starting a new chat.
Change Notification Tones Per Contact
If you want to know who’s texting you without looking at your phone, set custom notification tones for specific contacts. Open the chat → tap the contact name at the top → Custom Notifications → Notification Tone.
View Once Media
Send photos or videos that automatically disappear after they’ve been viewed once. When composing a message with media, tap the «1» icon (one-time view) before sending. The recipient can only open it once — after that, it’s gone.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use WhatsApp on two phones at the same time?
Yes. With the Linked Devices feature, you can link your WhatsApp account to a second phone. Both devices will be able to send and receive messages independently. You can link up to four companion devices total.
How do I link WhatsApp without a QR code?
On your secondary device, select «Link with Phone Number Instead» on the WhatsApp login screen. A 12-digit code will appear. On your primary phone, go to Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device, and enter the code when prompted. No QR scan needed.
Is WhatsApp safe to use?
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption by default for all messages, calls, and media shared in personal and group chats. This means only the sender and recipient can read the messages — not WhatsApp, not Meta, not anyone in between. For additional security, enable two-step verification and keep the app updated.
Can I use WhatsApp on my iPad?
Yes. WhatsApp launched a native iPad app that can be used as a linked device. Download it from the App Store and link it to your existing WhatsApp account via the Linked Devices process described above.
How do I know if someone has read my message?
Blue checkmarks (✓✓) indicate your message has been read. Two gray checkmarks mean the message was delivered but not yet read. One gray checkmark means the message was sent but hasn’t reached the recipient’s device yet — this can happen when the recipient is offline.
Can I recover deleted WhatsApp messages?
If you have a recent backup (via Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone), you can restore deleted messages by reinstalling WhatsApp and restoring from backup during setup. WhatsApp also recently introduced a feature that lets you recover accidentally deleted messages for up to five seconds after deletion — look for an «Undo» prompt immediately after deleting a message.
What’s the difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business?
WhatsApp is designed for personal use. WhatsApp Business includes additional features like a product catalog, automated messages, quick replies, business hours display, and a business profile page — all designed for customer-facing communication. Both apps can be installed on the same phone as long as they use different phone numbers.
How do I stop WhatsApp from saving photos to my camera roll?
Go to Settings → Chats and toggle off «Save to Camera Roll» (iPhone) or «Media Visibility» (Android). Photos and videos will still be accessible within WhatsApp but won’t clutter your phone’s gallery.
Final Thoughts
WhatsApp in 2025 is a fundamentally different app from what it was even two years ago. The linked devices architecture, the code-based remote linking, expanded privacy controls, the growth of Channels, and a wave of quality-of-life improvements have collectively made it one of the most capable messaging platforms available — and it’s still free.
The trick is knowing where to look. Most of these features don’t announce themselves with pop-ups or tutorials — they’re buried in settings menus or only accessible through gestures that aren’t immediately obvious. Now that you know where they are, you’re set.
Bookmark this page, share it with someone who still thinks WhatsApp is just for sending memes, and check back as we keep updating this guide whenever WhatsApp drops something new.
Last updated: May 2025. Feature availability may vary by device, operating system version, and region. Always keep your WhatsApp app updated to access the latest features.
