To log in to WhatsApp Business on the web: open web.whatsapp.com on your computer, then on your phone open the WhatsApp Business app → Linked Devices → Link a Device, and scan the QR code on the screen. No camera handy? Click "Link with phone number" on the web page instead, enter your number, and type the 8-character code shown on your computer into your phone. You can link up to 4 devices, and they keep working even when your phone is offline.
Method 1 — QR code (the fast way)
- On your computer: open web.whatsapp.com in any browser — Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. A QR code appears.
- On your phone: open the WhatsApp Business app → tap the ⋮ menu (Android) or Settings (iPhone) → Linked Devices → Link a Device. Your phone may ask for your fingerprint or PIN first.
- Scan: point the camera at the QR code on your computer screen. The code refreshes regularly for security, so scan the one currently displayed.
- Done: your chats load in seconds. Tick "Keep me signed in" only on your own computer — never on a shared one.
Method 2 — Link with phone number (no camera needed)
Added after 2024 and now standard in 2026 — useful when the camera is broken, the screen is cracked, or you simply find codes easier than scanning:
- On web.whatsapp.com, click "Link with phone number".
- Enter your full WhatsApp Business number with country code (e.g. +91…) and click Next.
- An 8-character code appears on the computer screen.
- Your phone shows a prompt — "Are you trying to link a device?" Open it and type the code from the screen.
- Your account links instantly and chats load in the browser.
Important: this links a device — it does not create a second independent login. A WhatsApp Business number can be registered on only one phone at a time; entering the same number on another phone transfers the account rather than duplicating it.
The limits — what web.whatsapp.com gives you, and what it doesn't
| Capability | WhatsApp Business app + Web | WhatsApp Business API |
|---|---|---|
| Linked devices | Up to 4 (incl. browsers/desktops) | No device linking needed — cloud-based, any number of agents |
| Works with phone off | ✅ Yes (multi-device) | ✅ Yes — no phone involved at all |
| Multiple team members replying | Awkward — everyone shares one identity, no ownership | ✅ Shared team inbox with agent assignment |
| Broadcast size | 256 contacts per list | ✅ Tiered: 1K → 10K → 100K → unlimited/day (see broadcast limits) |
| Automation & sequences | Greeting + away message only | ✅ Full automation, chatbots, drip sequences |
| Calls from Web | Limited — Desktop app is better for calls | Handled by your platform's tools |
| Cost | Free | Platform fee + Meta per-message rates |
When login fails — the five common problems
1. QR code won't load or keeps refreshing. Refresh the page, and if you're on a VPN, switch it off temporarily — corporate VPNs and proxies are the most common cause. Clear the browser cache if it persists.
2. "Phone not connected." The first link requires your phone online. After linking, the session works independently — but if the phone stays offline for around 14 days, linked devices are disconnected and you'll need to re-link.
3. You keep getting logged out. Either "Keep me signed in" wasn't ticked, the browser clears cookies on exit, or someone logged your session out from the phone (Linked Devices → tap the session → Log out). Re-link and check the browser's cookie settings.
4. Device limit reached. Four linked devices is the ceiling. Open Linked Devices on the phone and log out of sessions you no longer use — old office computers are the usual culprits.
5. Can't log in on a second phone. By design. One number registers on one phone; a second phone can only be linked as a companion device (Link a Device → scan from the primary phone), not logged in independently.
Security habits worth keeping
- Review Linked Devices monthly — anything you don't recognise, log it out immediately.
- Turn on two-step verification (Settings → Account) — the single best protection for a business number.
- Never tick "Keep me signed in" on shared computers — cyber cafés, co-working desks, a colleague's laptop.
- Log out from the browser when done on any machine that isn't yours — or remotely from the phone if you forgot.
📌 The honest limit of web.whatsapp.com
WhatsApp Web is excellent for what it is: one person, a real keyboard, chats on a big screen. Where it breaks is the moment WhatsApp becomes how your business runs — three people sharing one login with no idea who replied to which customer, broadcasts capped at 256 contacts, every follow-up depending on someone remembering.
That's the point where businesses move to the official WhatsApp Business API: a shared team inbox with agent assignment, broadcast limits that scale to unlimited, and automated sequences that follow up while you sleep. If you're comparing platforms for that step, start with our AiSensy vs Gallabox comparison — or see how FLO Konnect handles the whole journey with implementation done alongside you, not left to you.
Book a 20-Min Demo →Common questions
Can I use WhatsApp Business Web without my phone?
Yes — after the first link. Linking requires your phone online once; from then on, the web session works even with the phone switched off. If the phone stays offline for around 14 days, linked devices disconnect and you'll need to re-link.
How do I log in to WhatsApp Business Web without scanning a QR code?
Use the "Link with phone number" option on web.whatsapp.com: enter your number, then type the 8-character code shown on your computer into the prompt on your phone. No camera involved.
How many devices can I link to WhatsApp Business?
Up to 4 linked devices (browsers, desktop apps, or a companion phone) alongside your primary phone. Hitting the limit? Log out of old sessions under Linked Devices.
Can two people use the same WhatsApp Business number?
Through linked devices, yes — but you share one identity: no record of who replied, no assignment, no accountability. For an actual team, that's what the WhatsApp Business API's shared inbox is for, where every agent has their own login on the same number.
Why does WhatsApp Web keep logging me out?
Usually one of three: "Keep me signed in" wasn't ticked, your browser clears cookies on exit, or the session was logged out remotely from the phone. If your phone has been offline for ~14 days, sessions also disconnect automatically.
Is WhatsApp Business Web free?
Yes — web.whatsapp.com is free with the WhatsApp Business app. Costs only enter when you move to the WhatsApp Business API, which involves a platform fee and Meta's per-message rates.
What's the difference between WhatsApp Web and the WhatsApp Business API?
WhatsApp Web mirrors your phone's app in a browser — fine for one person. The API is a cloud service built for teams: shared inbox, automation, integrations, and broadcast limits that scale to unlimited once your number is verified.