WhatsApp, the popular messaging service with over one billion global users, recently unveiled apps for Windows and Mac that are similar to WhatsApp Web but offer keyboard shortcuts and native notifications.
Use one or more of these new apps to easily link up to four devices with WhatsApp without using your phone, keeping all personal messages private due to end-to-end encryption.
WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp is an extremely popular messaging service that lets you send text messages, pictures, audio files and video. Available free of charge both online and through desktop applications, WhatsApp allows users to easily and conveniently stay in contact with friends and colleagues by keeping in touch through text messaging, pictures and audio/video files. However, users with limited mobility may find accessing and replying to messages difficult on mobile devices – thus the ease and convenience of being able to use WhatsApp from a computer makes life simpler for keeping in touch.
WhatsApp Web is a web-based version of WhatsApp messaging service that enables you to access your chats from any web browser on a PC or laptop, including Mac and Windows systems. Offering many similar features as its mobile equivalent (message composition, reading/sending media files and group chat functionality), as well as sharing files/locations between contacts using WhatsApp Web is possible.
If you want to protect your privacy when using WhatsApp on PC, a screen lock can help. Simply select Lock Screen in the main three-dot menu of WhatsApp Web to set one up. After doing so, your session will remain active on your computer until either logging out or entering a new password – an invaluable feature for those using their computers for work or school that want to ensure that their privacy remains safe.
WhatsApp Web provides an effective means of staying in touch with family and friends; however, it doesn’t permit the creation of groups, voice/video calls, saving attachments or editing chat history. If security is an issue for you, two-factor authentication on your phone linked with WhatsApp Web may help protect it against unauthorized access to your account.
WhatsApp Web also supports multi-device login, enabling you to use WhatsApp simultaneously on up to four different devices at the same time while using one password across them all. This feature is especially helpful for businesses that must communicate among multiple team members at once.
WhatsApp Desktop
WhatsApp recently unveiled an official desktop application that allows you to access their instant messaging service without the need to keep your phone nearby. With a similar user experience to WhatsApp Web, this new desktop app enables you to read and respond to messages while typing using full keyboard, as well as record voice messages via microphone button and use device camera capabilities for video calling.
WhatsApp Desktop is available on both Mac and Windows computers, with installation procedures that are identical for each platform: downloading an appropriate app from WhatsApp’s download site and installing it onto your computer. Once connected, everything syncs automatically; conversations and new messages will appear as soon as they come through!
Not only can WhatsApp’s desktop application give you access to messages on a larger screen, it allows you to send files and photos from your hard drive directly into chat rooms. In addition, the desktop version also lets you search your computer for videos, documents, or photos you can share via chat rooms; use its microphone button for voice-recorded voicemail messages; create groups/rooms; edit your display name/picture; archive/star messages as well as view archived/starred messages!
WhatsApp Desktop was initially created for Windows 10, though soon-after there will also be a native macOS version. WhatsApp Web, on the other hand, works seamlessly across browsers; by contrast, installing and running an application may make using WhatsApp less convenient for some. Furthermore, its use consumes more resources so it may be wiser to close other programs prior to utilizing this one.
WhatsApp Desktop offers more security than WhatsApp Web. The desktop application utilizes its own encryption key that differs from that used on your mobile phone and doesn’t require your device to remain online in order to sync messages. Furthermore, it’s possible to log out completely from the application on your computer preventing anyone else from gaining access to your private messages.
Syncing Your Conversations
If you use WhatsApp on both a phone and computer, synchronizing conversations may be possible. This means receiving and reading messages as well as making voice calls or video chats on both devices – especially useful if you need to leave your phone for long periods or want to continue a discussion while working at your laptop.
WhatsApp for PC is free and requires no extra software to run smoothly. To get started, visit the WhatsApp Web website using any web browser and look out for a QR code displayed there; when your phone scans it with its camera lens, WhatsApp Web will display all of your WhatsApp conversations in a web browser on your computer screen. WhatsApp desktop applications for Windows 10 and macOS are available; to use WhatsApp on Linux systems third-party applications such as Squeezebox Server may be needed instead.
Web and desktop versions of WhatsApp allow you to send text messages, make voice or video calls, share files and create group chats – as well as use emoticons in messages and set your status! Both versions offer additional features not found on web browser versions such as keyboard shortcuts and notifications for desktop notifications.
To use WhatsApp on a computer, it’s essential that you’re connected to both Wi-Fi and mobile data networks, with an ideal router or modem ideally offering strong signal strength. In order to synchronize chats between phone and desktop versions, log into both accounts simultaneously on each phone by opening and closing WhatsApp on each one separately; alternatively if using multiple phones with the same account at once you may manually sync conversations by opening and closing WhatsApp individually on each phone device.
WhatsApp web and desktop versions are compatible with most modern internet browsers; however, the desktop program requires an operating system more recent than Windows 8 or macOS 10.9. In order to run WhatsApp desktop properly on your computer, at least Windows 8 or macOS 10.9 must be installed first.
Using WhatsApp on Your PC
WhatsApp Web and desktop application give you access to WhatsApp messages on your computer from anywhere, syncing conversations across devices seamlessly. When first setting up WhatsApp on a computer, simply link it with your phone via scanning a QR code – this process should only take minutes – after which both platforms will work simultaneously allowing up to four devices at the same time, though one device will be unlinked after 14 days without use.
WhatsApp for PC requires both Wi-Fi and smartphone access; both must remain paired to each other so notifications and messages can be delivered and received by both devices. If you prefer not keeping your phone within reach while chatting, keyboard shortcuts on the right-hand side or menu in the corner offer quick access to various functions – replying, creating group chats or sending files – without keeping your phone nearby. Its desktop version has proven more stable than its web equivalent which occasionally crashes; its keyboard shortcuts support can make chat easier as well as installing on both platforms: PC or Mac PC computer systems.
Logging into WhatsApp on a PC is similar to signing in through its Web version: simply visit either website/app, click “Settings”/”Linked Devices,” and see your QR code appear; to continue access, your phone needs to remain online at all times for continuous access. You may link up up four devices simultaneously but each will require its own QR code scan with mobile phone.
AirDroid Web provides another option for accessing WhatsApp from a PC without using a browser, offering similar features as WhatsApp Web. Available for Android, iOS and Windows computers it enables remote control of Android phones directly from desktop computer – though less convenient than using browser. It allows remote management from desktop PC; not quite as convenient but better than manually opening and closing WhatsApp app!
