If you already use WhatsApp on your phone, or via the WebApp extension for either iOS or Windows, it’s pretty much more of the same.
In real terms, the desktop app is just WhatsApp installed on your Pc or laptop, an extension of your smartphone, and works exactly the same. And that’s not a bad thing.
The new desktop app is available for Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+ and is synced with WhatsApp on your mobile device. Because the app runs natively on your desktop, you'll have support for native desktop notifications, better keyboard shortcuts, and more.
But, unfortunately, you do need your phone to access WhatsApp for desktop, and yes, your phone needs to be connected to the internet for it all to work. But for most people, this won’t be an issue, as let’s be honest, these days most people are hardly ever without their phone, so it’s only a minor issue, if an issue at all.
For what's it worth, the new app - essentially a Node-Webkit wrapper - comes with a few keyboard shortcuts, and does have low memory consumption. On Windows, you can archive a chat by pressing Ctrl + E, mute it with Ctrl + Shift + M, change the read status of message with Ctrl + Shift + U and delete it with Ctrl + Backspace. Press Ctrl + F and you'll be taken directly to the search bar, while Ctrl + N and Ctrl + Shift + N help in starting a new chat or group respectively. On Mac, the shortcuts remain the same except you'll need to replace Ctrl with the Command key.
But it does have some quirks. While the Web version of WhatsApp works on any browser across all operating systems, the native app is limited to Windows 8 64-bit and newer, Mac OS X 10.9 and newer. Roughly 45 percent of the desktop world still works on Windows 7, so it's anybody's guess what the WhatsApp team was thinking.
To download the app, visit WhatsApp-Download Page from your desktop browser. To log in to the app, you'll need to scan a QR code using the WhatsApp mobile app. Once you do, all your chats will load. Benefits of using the web app include desktop notifications and access to all your favorite keyboard shortcuts.
In real terms, the desktop app is just WhatsApp installed on your Pc or laptop, an extension of your smartphone, and works exactly the same. And that’s not a bad thing.
The new desktop app is available for Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+ and is synced with WhatsApp on your mobile device. Because the app runs natively on your desktop, you'll have support for native desktop notifications, better keyboard shortcuts, and more.
But, unfortunately, you do need your phone to access WhatsApp for desktop, and yes, your phone needs to be connected to the internet for it all to work. But for most people, this won’t be an issue, as let’s be honest, these days most people are hardly ever without their phone, so it’s only a minor issue, if an issue at all.
For what's it worth, the new app - essentially a Node-Webkit wrapper - comes with a few keyboard shortcuts, and does have low memory consumption. On Windows, you can archive a chat by pressing Ctrl + E, mute it with Ctrl + Shift + M, change the read status of message with Ctrl + Shift + U and delete it with Ctrl + Backspace. Press Ctrl + F and you'll be taken directly to the search bar, while Ctrl + N and Ctrl + Shift + N help in starting a new chat or group respectively. On Mac, the shortcuts remain the same except you'll need to replace Ctrl with the Command key.
But it does have some quirks. While the Web version of WhatsApp works on any browser across all operating systems, the native app is limited to Windows 8 64-bit and newer, Mac OS X 10.9 and newer. Roughly 45 percent of the desktop world still works on Windows 7, so it's anybody's guess what the WhatsApp team was thinking.
To download the app, visit WhatsApp-Download Page from your desktop browser. To log in to the app, you'll need to scan a QR code using the WhatsApp mobile app. Once you do, all your chats will load. Benefits of using the web app include desktop notifications and access to all your favorite keyboard shortcuts.
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