WhatsApp login: how to sign in to WhatsApp Web with QR or phone number (2026)
To log into WhatsApp Web in 5 steps:
- Open web.whatsapp.com in your browser
- Open WhatsApp on your phone → tap the three-dot menu (Android) or Settings (iPhone)
- Tap Linked devices → Link a device
- Point your phone camera at the QR code shown in the browser
- Session refreshes to your inbox in 1–2 seconds — you're in
WhatsApp login is the process of signing in to your WhatsApp account on a browser or computer at web.whatsapp.com. There are two ways to log in: scan the QR code with your phone (Settings → Linked devices → Link a device), or use the phone number method and enter an 8-character code — no QR needed.
WhatsApp Web mirrors your phone's chats to a desktop browser. It's free, personal, and rate-limited. The moment your business needs multiple agents, message templates, automation, or broadcast to 10,000+ contacts, WhatsApp Web is the wrong tool — you need the WhatsApp Business API. This guide covers exactly how to log in (with QR, with phone number, on mobile, in Chrome, Edge, and Safari), the 6 most common login problems and their fixes, and the honest cost of running your business on WhatsApp Web vs. an Official Business API platform.
The 30-second answer
WhatsApp Web login = QR scan or phone-number code. Open web.whatsapp.com, scan with your phone's Linked Devices menu, done.
Business Web login is the same UI. There's no separate "WhatsApp Business Web" URL — the same QR flow at web.whatsapp.com pairs to whichever app you have on your phone (personal or Business).
Common problems (in order of frequency): phone offline, expired QR code, browser cookies blocked, browser extension conflict, Meta-side outage, banned number.
WhatsApp Web is not built for business. One agent, one device, no automation, no templates, no analytics, no team inbox. When you outgrow it — and every serious business does — you move to the Business API.
How to log into WhatsApp Web — the 5-second version
WhatsApp Web is the browser-based version of WhatsApp. It shows the same chats as your phone in a desktop browser, so you can type on a keyboard instead of a touchscreen. Here's the exact login flow, whether you use personal WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business.
The QR-code login (default method)
- On your computer, open web.whatsapp.com in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Brave.
- On your phone, open WhatsApp (or WhatsApp Business).
- Tap the three-dot menu (Android) or Settings (iPhone).
- Tap Linked devices → Link a device.
- If Face ID / fingerprint prompts, authorise.
- Point your phone camera at the QR code on your browser.
- The browser refreshes to your inbox in 1–2 seconds. You're in.
The session stays active as long as you keep the "Stay signed in on this browser" checkbox ticked. Otherwise it expires after ~14 days of inactivity.
WhatsApp Web login with phone number (no QR)
In 2023 Meta added a phone-number login method — useful when your phone camera is broken or the QR won't scan. Here's how:
- On web.whatsapp.com, click the small "Link with phone number instead" link below the QR code.
- Enter your country code + phone number.
- The browser shows an 8-character code (e.g.,
ABCD-1234). - On your phone, go to Settings → Linked devices → Link a device → Link with phone number instead.
- Enter the 8-character code shown in your browser.
- Session opens.
WhatsApp Web login in mobile phone browser
You can open web.whatsapp.com on a mobile browser — but WhatsApp explicitly redirects you to download the app. If you need mobile web access (for example, on a shared or borrowed phone), request the desktop version of the site in your mobile browser settings. This works on Chrome, Safari, and Firefox mobile, but the layout is not touch-optimised and is not a supported flow. If you're doing this often, download the app instead.
WhatsApp Business Web login — the same URL, different app on phone
There is no separate URL for "WhatsApp Business Web." The web login at web.whatsapp.com pairs to whichever WhatsApp app is installed on the phone you scan with. If your phone has WhatsApp Business, that's the account that opens in the browser. If it has personal WhatsApp, that opens instead.
Business web login step-by-step
- On your phone, make sure WhatsApp Business (green icon, "B" mark) is installed and signed in with your business number.
- On your computer, open web.whatsapp.com.
- In WhatsApp Business on your phone: Settings → Linked devices → Link a device.
- Scan the QR shown on your browser.
- Your Business inbox opens — with your business name, catalogue, and quick replies visible.
What you can do on Business Web (and what you can't)
WhatsApp Business Web is the browser version of the free WhatsApp Business app. That means it can:
- Read and reply to inbound chats.
- Send quick replies you've saved on your phone.
- Use labels to organise chats.
- Access your catalogue.
It cannot do the things a real business needs at scale:
- No multiple agents — one browser session per phone.
- No message templates — cannot start conversations after 24 hours.
- No broadcast to 10,000+ contacts — the free WhatsApp Business broadcast list is capped at 256 contacts, and every one must save your number.
- No CRM sync — chats live in the app only.
- No AI auto-reply, no analytics, no team inbox, no bulk import.
- No API access — you cannot programmatically send or receive messages.
These aren't rate limits. They are structural — WhatsApp Business Web is designed for a solo business owner with a phone. The moment you cross ~50 conversations/day or need a second person to handle replies, you outgrow it. That's when the Official WhatsApp Business API matters.
WhatsApp Web login with phone number — no QR code needed
Since late 2023, WhatsApp lets you log in to WhatsApp Web using an 8-digit pairing code instead of scanning a QR. It's the same login — you just prove ownership of the number by typing a code on your phone instead of scanning a QR image.
When to use the phone-number method:
- Your laptop camera isn't working or is blocked by a work security policy.
- You're on a shared workstation and want to avoid pointing your phone at the screen.
- The QR code on the screen keeps expiring before you can scan it (common on slow public Wi-Fi).
Step-by-step, WhatsApp Web login with phone number:
- Open web.whatsapp.com in your browser. Wait for the QR page to load.
- Click the small link "Log in with phone number" under the QR code (top-right on desktop, below the QR on mobile).
- Pick your country code from the dropdown, then type your WhatsApp phone number (without the leading zero).
- The browser will display an 8-character pairing code — for example,
ABCD-EFGH. - On your phone: open WhatsApp → tap Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device → tap Link with phone number instead → type the 8-character code.
- Your phone confirms, and the browser tab logs in automatically. The whole thing takes about 30 seconds.
Common gotchas:
- The code is case-sensitive on some Android versions — type it exactly as shown.
- Pairing codes expire in about 3 minutes; if you miss the window, refresh the browser to get a new one.
- For WhatsApp Business, follow the same steps but tap Settings → Linked Devices inside the WhatsApp Business app.
Once you're in, WhatsApp Web works identically — chat, share files, send voice notes, everything. And if you close the browser tab, WhatsApp Web logs out automatically after ~14 days for security (unless you check "Keep me signed in").
WhatsApp Web QR code — where to scan, why it expires, how to refresh
The QR code is the fastest way to log in when your camera works. Here's how the QR flow works — and what to do when it fails.
Where to scan the QR code (on your phone):
- Personal WhatsApp: Open WhatsApp on your phone → tap the three-dot menu (Android) or Settings (iPhone) → tap Linked Devices → tap Link a Device → point your phone camera at the QR code on your browser.
- WhatsApp Business: Same path — Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device — but inside the WhatsApp Business app, not the personal one.
Why the WhatsApp Web QR code keeps expiring: WhatsApp regenerates the code every ~60 seconds for security. If the code disappears while you're fumbling with your phone, that's normal. Just click the refresh icon on the browser page — a fresh QR appears in one second. No login state is lost.
Why the QR scan fails even when you can see it clearly: Usually one of three things — your phone camera isn't in focus, the QR is partially covered by your cursor, or the browser page hasn't fully loaded. Wait a couple of seconds, refresh, and try again. If nothing works after 2-3 attempts, switch to the phone-number method above.
Security note: Never scan a WhatsApp Web QR code from an email, a Google search result, or a link someone messages you. WhatsApp Web only ever runs from web.whatsapp.com — anything else is a phishing attempt to hijack your account.
WhatsApp Web on Android — 3 ways to log in from your phone browser
You can use WhatsApp Web from an Android phone's browser — useful when you're on someone else's phone, when you want a full-screen chat view for typing, or when the WhatsApp app itself is misbehaving.
Method 1 — Desktop-mode WhatsApp Web on Chrome for Android:
- Open Chrome on your Android phone. Go to web.whatsapp.com.
- Tap the three-dot menu (top-right) → tick Desktop site. The page reloads in desktop layout with the QR code visible.
- You'll need a second phone to scan that QR — this is the constraint. If you only have one phone, use Method 2 or 3.
Method 2 — Log in with phone number (single-device, no second phone needed):
- Same desktop-site trick in Chrome as above.
- On the QR page, tap Log in with phone number.
- Enter your WhatsApp number. Get the 8-digit code.
- Switch to the WhatsApp app on the same phone → Settings → Linked Devices → Link with phone number instead → type the code.
- Switch back to Chrome. You're logged in. This is the cleanest single-phone method in 2026.
Method 3 — Use the official WhatsApp Business API on Android (business users):
If you're on Android and want WhatsApp Web because you're running a business inbox from your phone, the browser method is a workaround. The real solution is a WhatsApp CRM on the Official WhatsApp Business API — you get the same inbox on your phone, laptop, tablet, and shared with your team, all synced, no QR-scan gymnastics.
WhatsApp Web won't work on: the Android WebView (in-app browser inside Instagram, Twitter, etc.), older Android versions (<7.0), or phones where developer options block camera access. In those cases, use the pairing-code method (Method 2).
6 common WhatsApp Web login problems — and how to fix each
In our support inbox at Go4whatsup, these are the login issues customers migrating from WhatsApp Web ask about most often. The fix is usually in the first three items.
1. QR code won't scan / expires immediately
Cause: QR codes rotate every ~30 seconds. If your phone camera takes too long to focus, the code has already expired.
Fix: Refresh the browser page for a fresh QR. Clean your phone camera lens. Hold the phone 6–8 inches from the screen. Make sure your browser zoom is at 100%.
2. "WhatsApp is offline. Check your phone connection."
Cause: Since WhatsApp Web mirrors your phone, if your phone loses network the browser session goes offline. In 2021 Meta introduced multi-device mode which removes this dependency, but it's not enabled for every account.
Fix: On your phone, WhatsApp Settings → Linked devices → make sure multi-device is enabled. If it's not offered, keep your phone online during your web session.
3. Browser blocks cookies / third-party cookies
Cause: WhatsApp Web needs first-party cookies to keep your session alive. Aggressive privacy extensions (Ghostery, uBlock Origin in strict mode, Brave shields on high) block the storage.
Fix: Allow cookies for whatsapp.com in your browser settings. Whitelist web.whatsapp.com in your ad-blocker. Disable "block third-party cookies" for this session.
4. Browser extension conflict
Cause: Extensions that inject scripts into pages (Grammarly, Loom, Honey, WhatsApp Web Plus, dark-mode themes) can break the WhatsApp Web client and log you out on refresh.
Fix: Open web.whatsapp.com in an incognito/private window. If it works there, an extension is the culprit. Disable extensions one at a time to find which.
5. Meta-side outage
Cause: WhatsApp has downtime — check downdetector.com/status/whatsapp. When Meta's servers hiccup, the QR flow fails for millions at once.
Fix: Wait it out. Usually resolves within 20–60 minutes. Meta rarely acknowledges outages officially.
6. Number banned or restricted
Cause: If you were using WhatsApp for cold outreach, unsolicited broadcasts, or bulk send-from-personal-number tools, Meta bans the number. When banned, no login method works — QR, phone number, or the app itself.
Fix: Go to Meta's banned-accounts help page and appeal. If you were using unauthorised third-party bulk-send software, do not use it again — even after unban. Every serious business runs their bulk on the Official Business API. That's the whole point of the API — Meta sanctions high-volume sending only through their approved channel.
WhatsApp Web vs. WhatsApp Business API — the honest business comparison
Most guides that rank for "whatsapp web login" stop at "here's how to scan the QR code." That's fine if you're a personal user. If you're a business, the more important question is: when does WhatsApp Web stop working for you, and what comes next?
Here's the honest side-by-side.
| Capability | WhatsApp Web | WhatsApp Business API |
|---|---|---|
| Agents / users on one number | 1 | Unlimited (all included on Go4whatsup) |
| Broadcast limit | 256 contacts, all must save your number | 10,000+ contacts, no save required |
| Start conversation after 24hr | Not allowed | Yes, with approved templates |
| Auto-reply / AI drafts | No | Yes, built-in AI on every plan |
| CRM sync (Zoho, HubSpot, Odoo, Salesforce) | No | Native two-way |
| Team inbox with roles | No | Yes |
| Analytics + reports | No | Yes |
| Auto-translate (100+ languages) | No | Yes |
| Green tick (verified business) | No | Yes, via Meta |
| Cost | Free | ₹1,499/month + Meta conversation charges |
| Risk of ban for volume | High if you exceed personal-use patterns | None — the API is Meta's sanctioned high-volume channel |
When to upgrade from WhatsApp Web to Business API
The signal is usually one of these five moments:
- You need a second person to answer chats. Web only allows one active session per phone number. The moment you hire someone to help with support, the free version breaks.
- You want to send an offer to your customer list. The 256-contact broadcast limit + "customer must save number" requirement makes the free version unusable for real marketing.
- A customer replied 48 hours later and you can't message them back. Meta's 24-hour customer service window is a hard rule — the free version has no template messages to reopen a conversation.
- You want your WhatsApp chats to appear in your CRM. Web has no export, no sync, no webhook. The Business API syncs every message back to Zoho, HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and 20+ other CRMs.
- Meta banned your number. If you were sending volume through Web or the free Business app, this is when you learn about the API the hard way.
The upgrade path is straightforward. You keep your existing WhatsApp number — Meta migrates it to their Business API. The old Business app on your phone stops working (you use a web-based platform like Go4whatsup instead). Everything else — chats, contacts, verification — moves over. Read the migration guide if that's your situation.
Getting started with the Official Business API through Go4whatsup takes 24–48 hours (Meta reviews your business, we set up your number, you're live). See the get WhatsApp Business API guide for the full flow, or book a 20-minute demo with our team to walk through it live.
Ready to move from WhatsApp Web to a real business platform?
Official Meta WhatsApp Business API with AI auto-reply, unlimited agents, 10K broadcast, CRM sync, and green-tick verification. From ₹1,499/mo. 1,500+ businesses trust us.
Start Free → Book a DemoFrequently asked questions
What is the URL for WhatsApp Web login?
The official URL is web.whatsapp.com. There is no separate URL for WhatsApp Business Web — the same URL pairs to either WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business depending on which app you scan with on your phone.
Can I use WhatsApp Web without my phone?
Partially. Meta's multi-device mode (introduced 2021) allows web sessions to stay active for up to 14 days without your phone being online, provided you initially logged in with the phone. But the first login always requires scanning the QR (or entering the phone-number code) with an active phone.
Why does the QR code expire so quickly?
The QR code rotates every ~30 seconds as a security measure — it prevents a screenshot of your QR from being used later by someone else. If your camera is slow to focus, refresh the page for a fresh QR.
How do I log into WhatsApp Web in Chrome specifically?
Chrome has no special settings needed. Open web.whatsapp.com, scan the QR with your phone, done. If it fails: check that cookies are allowed for whatsapp.com (Settings → Privacy → Cookies), disable Chrome extensions temporarily, or try incognito mode.
Can I run WhatsApp Web on my mobile phone browser?
Not officially. WhatsApp explicitly redirects mobile browsers to download the app. You can force it by requesting the desktop version in your mobile browser settings, but the layout isn't touch-optimised. For real mobile use, install the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app.
Is WhatsApp Business Web free?
Yes, the free WhatsApp Business Web (same URL, personal-Business app on phone) is free. But it has structural limits — 1 agent, 256-contact broadcasts, no automation, no CRM sync. Businesses that need more move to the Official Business API, which starts at ₹1,499/month on Go4whatsup with AI, unlimited agents, and 10K broadcast included.
How many devices can be linked to one WhatsApp number?
WhatsApp supports up to 4 linked devices (multi-device mode) per phone number, in addition to your phone. So you can have web.whatsapp.com open on 4 different computers at once. But it's still 1 agent per session — you cannot have 4 people replying simultaneously to the same customer.
What's the difference between WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop?
WhatsApp Web runs in your browser. WhatsApp Desktop is a downloaded app (Windows/Mac). Both mirror your phone the same way. Desktop is slightly faster and can run when your browser is closed. Login flow is identical for both.