At last, WhatsApp for iPad can be set up without another device

WhatsApp is making its iPad app work more like a standalone service by letting users create an account without first setting it up on a phone.

Meta is rolling out the change as part of a wider WhatsApp update that also expands CarPlay support, adds basic PDF tools and makes it easier to share music. Direct registration addresses one of the largest limitations of the iPad app since its 2025 launch.

WhatsApp for iPad previously relied on the company’s linked-device system, which required users to establish an account elsewhere before connecting the tablet. The new process lets users register, complete setup and begin using WhatsApp directly from the iPad app.

Meta hasn’t explained whether registration still requires a phone number capable of receiving a verification code or whether an iPad can remain the account’s only primary device. The change still gives iPad owners a more conventional signup process without first configuring WhatsApp on another device.

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