Why WhatsApp Linked Devices Log Out Automatically
WhatsApp Web, the desktop app or a tablet was working yesterday and today it's asking you to scan a code again. Why did the linked device log out automatically? WhatsApp says linked devices "will log out if your phone is unused for over 14 days." Removing the device from the phone also logs it out, and a linked device that sits inactive for 30 days is disconnected too.
So the answer to "how long does WhatsApp Web stay logged in" depends first on how often you use WhatsApp on your phone, not on the computer. This guide covers the three rules WhatsApp documents, how to check which one hit you, and how to get back in.
The rules in one table
| What happened | What WhatsApp says |
|---|---|
| Your phone wasn't used for over 14 days | Linked devices log out. You need to log in to WhatsApp on your primary phone every 14 days |
| The linked device itself sat inactive | WhatsApp automatically disconnects linked devices after 30 days of inactivity |
| Someone removed the device | On the phone, tap the device in Linked devices, then Log out |
The same help page also says linked devices "work without your phone online." So a phone with no signal for a day doesn't log anything out. The clock is about the phone going unused, not about it being connected at every moment.
The 14-day rule
Your phone is the primary device. WhatsApp says linked devices (Windows, Mac, Web, iPad and wearables) can't be used as the primary device on an account; an Android tablet can be primary only if you registered the account on it. WhatsApp's linking page puts the rule plainly: "You'll need to log in to WhatsApp on your primary phone every 14 days to keep linked devices connected to your WhatsApp account."
If you use WhatsApp on your phone every day, you'll never notice the rule. It bites when the phone is a spare: an old handset on a shelf, a second SIM that only gets used for the shop number, or a phone left in a drawer during a holiday.
The 30-day inactivity rule
Separately, WhatsApp says it will "automatically disconnect linked devices after 30 days of inactivity." It sits in the advice on checking your linked devices, apart from the 14-day phone rule, and the page doesn't define inactivity further. A computer or browser where nobody has opened WhatsApp for a month is the case it fits, and once disconnected it needs a new scan.
Someone removed it
Anyone with the phone can remove a linked device. To review them:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone. On Android tap More options (three dots), then Linked devices. On iPhone, tap Settings (the gear), then Linked devices.
- Tap the device you want to check. The list shows the devices currently linked to the account.
- Tap Log out to remove one.
If a device is missing from this list and you didn't remove it, someone with the phone may have, or the 14-day or 30-day rule applied. WhatsApp also suggests enabling push notifications on your phone: with them on, you're told when a device is linked, and you can remove devices you don't recognise.
How to get back in
Linking again is the fix in every case above.
- On the phone, open Linked devices and tap Link a device. On Android that's More options > Linked devices > Link a device, and on iPhone Settings > Linked devices > Link device.
- Verify your identity if asked: biometrics or the PIN you use to unlock your phone, and on a web browser you may be asked to create or use a passkey.
- Scan the QR code shown on the computer or tablet, or use the phone-number option WhatsApp offers instead of the QR code.
WhatsApp lets you link up to four devices at a time. If you already have four, log out one you don't use before adding another. If linking itself fails, the page on why WhatsApp says it's linked to another device covers the related error, and using WhatsApp on two phones covers what your options are when you want a second phone rather than a computer.
If messages on a linked device show "Waiting for this message", WhatsApp's fixes include switching to your primary phone or unlinking and relinking the device; see what "waiting for this message" means.
Check what you're linking
A relink is a moment to look at the list. Only scan a code you started yourself, for a service you chose, and log out any device in the list you don't recognise.
Where Tenashi fits
A business number is the worst place for this rule to hit quietly. The anchor phone sits switched off in a drawer, the linked devices fall away, and the inbox goes quiet in a way that looks just like a slow day.
Tenashi connects your own WhatsApp number as a linked device, scanned from the phone under Linked devices > Link a device, so the phone stays the main device and should stay online and charged, as for WhatsApp Web. If the number stops delivering, Tenashi shows a banner on every page, with states such as Active, Connecting, Offline and Logged out, and the number won't connect guide walks you through reconnecting. It covers your own connected business number, from the day you connect it. More on running a team on one number is in our guide to WhatsApp for business.
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FAQ
How long does WhatsApp Web stay logged in?
WhatsApp Web stays connected as long as you use your phone. WhatsApp says linked devices work without your phone online but log out if the phone is unused for over 14 days. A linked device that is inactive for 30 days is also automatically disconnected.
Why does my WhatsApp linked device keep logging out?
Check the three documented causes: your phone hasn't been used for over 14 days, the linked device itself was inactive for 30 days, or someone removed it from Linked devices on the phone. Then link the device again and open WhatsApp on the phone regularly.
Does WhatsApp Web need my phone to be online?
No. WhatsApp's help center says linked devices work without your phone online. The condition is that the phone is used, meaning you log in to WhatsApp on it at least every 14 days, or the linked devices are logged out.
How do I log back in after WhatsApp Web logged me out?
On your phone, open Linked devices and tap Link a device, confirm with biometrics or your phone PIN if asked, and scan the QR code on the computer. WhatsApp allows up to four linked devices at a time, so remove one you don't need if you hit the limit.
Why does my WhatsApp Business linked device keep logging out?
The WhatsApp help center describes the rules for linked devices on your account in general, and doesn't list a separate rule for the Business app. Check the same causes: the phone unused for over 14 days, a device inactive for 30 days, or someone removing it from Linked devices.
Linked devices live and die by the phone they're tied to, so a business number is only as steady as its anchor phone. To see when a number drops without waiting for a customer to tell you, get started with Tenashi.