How to Get WhatsApp on Your iPad
WhatsApp is the go-to app for most of us to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues. It’s available on all major mobile platforms, and there’s even a web version for those who wish to use it in a browser on a computer.
But what if you’re an iPad user? Well, WhatsApp doesn’t offer a native client for iPad yet. And although reports suggest the company’s working on one, there’s no official word on when it’ll be available.
As a result, your best bet right now to access WhatsApp on the iPad is via WhatsApp Web. Let’s see how.
Get WhatsApp on the iPad Using WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp Web is a web-based solution that allows you to access your WhatsApp account on any device using a web browser. With it, it’s possible to link up to four devices—besides your primary phone—and use them to send and receive messages from your WhatsApp account, even when the primary device doesn’t have an internet connection.
Linking a device via WhatsApp Web involves a one-time setup. Here’s how to do this and use WhatsApp Web on your iPad.
Step 1. Link the iPad to Your WhatsApp Account
First up, you need to link your iPad to your WhatsApp account. So, open Safari on your iPad and go toWhatsApp Web.
Any other browser would also do, but we recommend Safari since it offers the option toadd a shortcut to a website on the Home Screenfor quick access, which we’ll need later.
Now, open WhatsApp on your primary phone. It can be either an Android device or an iPhone. On iPhone, go to theSettingstab, selectLinked Devices, and tap onLink a Device.
On the other hand, if you’re using an Android phone, tap on the ellipsis button in the top-right, selectLinked Devices, and tap onLink a device.
Depending on the device you’re using and the authentication method you have in place, authenticate yourself with a PIN orbiometrics.
Finally, take your primary device and scan the QR code displayed on the WhatsApp Web page. Wait for WhatsApp to download your messages; you should’ve successfully linked your iPad to your WhatsApp account.
Step 2. Use WhatsApp Web on Your iPad
Once your iPad is linked to your WhatsApp account, you could start using it immediately. All you need to do is open Safari (or your browser of choice) and visit theWhatsApp Web page. Let it finish loading your conversations, and you should be able to see all your existing and new messages.
Step 3. Add a WhatsApp Web Shortcut on Your Home Screen
Opening Safari and visiting the WhatsApp Web website works fine but involves a few steps. An alternative way to this is to add a quick-access shortcut on one of youriPad’s Home Screen pagesand use it to access WhatsApp Web. Although this is optional, we insist you do this as it’ll make accessing WhatsApp easy and save you time.
To add the shortcut, open WhatsApp Web in Safari on your iPad, tap theShareicon in the toolbar at the top, and selectAdd to Home Screenfrom the context menu.
In theAdd to Home Screenpop-up, tap onAdd, and you’ll see an app-like icon for the shortcut on your Home Screen.
Move the shortcut to whichever Home Screen page you think is convenient, and simply tap on it whenever you want to use WhatsApp on your iPad. From there, you can see new messages you’ve received and reply to them, among other things.
The Limitations of WhatsApp Web on the iPad
As soon as you link your iPad to your WhatsApp account, WhatsApp will import all your messages—in anE2E encryptedmanner—to your iPad.
Hereon, you’re able to view all of your conversations, send messages, view new messages, see people’s statuses, and start a new chat/group/community. However, there are a few things you can’t do with WhatsApp Web on your iPad.
Accepting or making voice/video calls, adding a status, or permanently deleting a message or conversation are some of the actions you may’t perform on WhatsApp Web on your iPad. Similarly, you can’t search for a message beyond a couple of months back. In addition, WhatsApp currently doesn’t support browser notifications. So you’ll have to go back to the tab to check for new messages.
Leverage iPad’s Bigger Screen Estate to Interact Better With Messages
WhatsApp Web has been around for a while. However, it only recently received the ability to use linked devices without needing the primary phone to be active, making it convenient to use on the iPad.
Sure, there are limitations—and there’s only so much you can do in WhatsApp on your iPad—but for those who need to respond to several messages, this can be a great productivity hack. Simply pair a Bluetooth keyboard to your iPad, and you’re ready!
Now that you have WhatsApp Web on your iPad, you may want to check out some of its tips and tricks to get more out of the platform.
Here are several useful WhatsApp Web tips and tricks, whether you’re a beginner or experienced WhatsApp Web user!
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