Use GB WhatsApp & WhatsApp On the Same Device.

Meta Description: Want to use GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp on the same Android device without losing chats or getting locked out? This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to run both apps simultaneously in 2025.

Let me guess you want GB WhatsApp for all its extra features, but you’re not ready to ditch the original WhatsApp completely. Maybe your work contacts are on regular WhatsApp and your personal circle uses GB. Or maybe you just want two numbers running on one phone without carrying two devices around like it’s 2009.

Whatever your reason, good news: you absolutely can run both GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp on the same Android phone at the same time. And no, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to pull it off.

I’ve done this myself, and in this guide I’ll walk you through the whole process clearly no fluff, no unnecessary detours.

What You’ll Need Before Starting

Before jumping in, get these things ready:

An Android phone (this won’t work on iPhone iOS doesn’t allow modded APKs)
Two active phone numbers or SIM cards one for each app
The GB WhatsApp APK downloaded from a trusted source
A backup of your existing WhatsApp chats, just to be safe

Once you have all four, you’re good to go.

Step 1: Back Up Your Existing WhatsApp Chats

This step isn’t optional do it before touching anything else.

Open WhatsApp, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings → Chats → Chat Backup, and hit Back Up Now. You can save to Google Drive or local storage. Either works fine. Just make sure it completes fully before you move on.

Why does this matter? Because once you start setting up a second WhatsApp account, things can get mixed up if your data isn’t secured first. Five minutes of backup now saves you a potential headache later.

Step 2: Download the GB WhatsApp APK

GB WhatsApp isn’t on the Google Play Store, so you’ll need to grab the APK file directly from a website. Use a well-known, reputable source there are fake versions floating around that can cause problems, so take a moment to verify where you’re downloading from.

Once you find a trustworthy source, download the latest version of the APK to your phone. It’ll land in your Downloads folder by default.

Step 3: Allow Installation from Unknown Sources

Since you’re installing an app outside the Play Store, Android needs your permission to do that.

Go to Settings → Apps → Special App Access → Install Unknown Apps. Find your browser or file manager in the list and toggle on Allow from this source. This doesn’t open your phone to every random app it just gives that one app permission to install APKs you’ve manually downloaded.

Step 4: Disable Google Play Protect Temporarily

Google Play Protect will likely flag the GB WhatsApp APK as suspicious and block the installation. To get around this:

Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select Play Protect, tap the settings gear, and toggle off Scan apps with Play Protect. Confirm when asked.

This is temporary. You’ll turn it back on right after installation more on that in a moment.

Step 5: Install GB WhatsApp

Now open your file manager, navigate to the Downloads folder, and tap the GB WhatsApp APK file. Follow the on-screen prompts and tap Install. The process takes about 30 seconds.

Once it’s done, don’t open it just yet.

Step 6: Re-Enable Google Play Protect

Go back to the Play Store → Profile → Play Protect → Settings and toggle Scan apps with Play Protect back on. Do this before opening GB WhatsApp. Your phone’s security should never stay lowered longer than absolutely necessary.

Step 7: Set Up GB WhatsApp with Your Second Number

Now open GB WhatsApp. It’ll walk you through a setup process similar to the original WhatsApp:

Enter your second phone number this is important. Do not use the same number you’re already using on regular WhatsApp. You need a different number here, whether that’s a second SIM, a virtual number, or a work line.

You’ll receive a verification code via SMS on that number. Enter it, set up your profile name and photo, and you’re in.

Step 8: Keep Regular WhatsApp Running on Your First Number

Here’s the beautiful part you don’t need to do anything special with your original WhatsApp. It stays exactly as it is, running on your first number, with all your chats intact.

Both apps will now run independently on the same device. They don’t interfere with each other, they don’t share data, and they each send and receive messages completely separately.

Using Both Apps Day to Day

Once everything is set up, using both apps together is surprisingly smooth. You’ll get notifications from both, you can switch between them like any two apps, and both will stay logged in even when you restart your phone.

A few things worth knowing for daily use:

Notifications work independently. Each app has its own notification settings. You can customize them separately so if you want GB WhatsApp to be silent at night but regular WhatsApp to buzz, that’s completely doable.

Storage is separate. Photos and media received on GB WhatsApp save to a different folder than regular WhatsApp media. This keeps things organized without any extra effort on your part.

Updates work differently. Regular WhatsApp updates automatically through the Play Store. GB WhatsApp doesn’t you’ll need to manually check for updates and download new APK versions when they’re released. Most people check every few weeks.

What If You Only Have One SIM Card?

This is the question that trips most people up. If you only have one physical SIM, you still have options.

Virtual numbers are the easiest route. Apps like TextNow, Google Voice, or 2ndLine give you a second phone number that can receive SMS verification codes. Sign up for one, use that number when setting up GB WhatsApp, and you’re good to go. Some of these services are free, some have a small monthly cost.

Dual SIM phones are the other option. If your phone has two SIM card slots which many mid-range and budget Android phones do just pop in a second SIM with any active plan and use that number for GB WhatsApp.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

GB WhatsApp says the number is already registered This means the number you’re trying to use is already active on a WhatsApp account somewhere. You need a fresh number that hasn’t been registered on WhatsApp before.

Both apps keep crashing or slowing the phone down Running two messaging apps simultaneously does use more RAM. If your phone has 3GB or less, you might notice some lag. Clearing the cache of both apps periodically helps.

Missing notifications from one app Go into your phone’s battery settings and make sure neither app is being restricted by battery optimization. Android sometimes aggressively kills background apps to save power whitelist both WhatsApp and GB WhatsApp to prevent this.

GB WhatsApp got logged out after a phone restart This occasionally happens with modded apps. Simply reopen GB WhatsApp and it should reconnect without needing to re-verify your number.

Is It Worth Running Both?

Honestly? For most people, yes.

The setup takes maybe 15 minutes total, and once it’s done you barely notice you’re running two separate apps. The workflow feels completely natural you just have two WhatsApp icons instead of one, each tied to a different number.

The people who get the most out of this setup are usually those juggling work and personal communication, people with family abroad who use different numbers, or anyone who wants access to GB WhatsApp’s extended features without giving up their main WhatsApp account entirely.

The main thing to be aware of is the account ban risk on GB WhatsApp. WhatsApp has banned accounts using modded clients before. It doesn’t happen to everyone, and many people use GB WhatsApp for years without issue but the risk exists. Using it on a secondary number rather than your main one is a smart way to manage that risk.

Final Thoughts

Running GB WhatsApp and regular WhatsApp on the same device isn’t complicated once you know the steps. The key things to remember: always use a different number for each app, back up your chats before you start, and re-enable Play Protect as soon as GB WhatsApp is installed.

After that, it’s smooth sailing. Two apps, two numbers, one phone exactly as it should be.

Use GB WhatsApp & WhatsApp On the Same Device.