Instant messaging app WhatsApp, owned by Meta, officially announced the launch of the 'Standalone Mode' feature dedicated to tablets running Android and iPadOS, allowing users to operate the account as a completely separate primary device without needing to link it to an active smartphone to send and receive messages.

According to WABetaInfo, a website specialized in tracking WhatsApp updates, this technical update completely ends the dependency on the phone, as users get rid of the previous restrictions of the companion mode, such as the inability to share live location, or the account automatically disabling on the tablet if the smartphone is not used for 14 consecutive days.

The new feature gives tablets the full phone application experience, including the ability to create group message lists and communicate directly with business accounts, with the possibility of direct registration with the phone number from within the tablet.

Moreover, the feature supports an advanced and secure cloud sync system based on end-to-end encryption to transfer the entire chat history and media securely and instantly once the verification code sent via SMS to the user's number is entered.

WhatsApp indicated that the feature is currently available to some beta testers, ahead of its official rollout to all users in the coming weeks.