The app used to require your phone to be switched on and connected to the Internet, but as of an update in late 2021, this is no longer a requirement, and you can connect to WhatsApp Web on up to five devices without having to have your phone on (though you’ll need your phone to make that initial connection).
Before We Start
It’s worth noting that you can’t use WhatsApp on your PC without first setting it up on your mobile phone. As you’ll soon see, it’s impossible to use WhatsApp on a desktop PC without having the mobile app on your phone. As such, if you don’t have a phone with WhatsApp installed, you’ll find it difficult to follow these steps. If you do, be sure to have it on hand before you get started.
How to Set Up WhatsApp on Your Desktop
If you want WhatsApp as a desktop app, you can download it from the download page. At the time of writing, you can download it for both Mac and Windows. Once you download and install WhatsApp, boot it up. You’ll be greeted with the following screen. This screen tells you everything you need to know to get started, but in case you need a little help finding all the settings, continue with this guide. Go to your phone and open WhatsApp. Tap the three dots at the top right, then “Linked devices.” Point the camera so that the highlighted box is over the QR code area, then click the button to generate a new QR code. Once your phone scans the code, your computer will automatically sign you in and show your contacts.
How to Set Up WhatsApp in Chrome
If you can’t download WhatsApp on your PC, you can access WhatsApp on the Web. This works identically to the PC version, except it’s a website instead of a downloadable app. Setting up WhatsApp in Chrome is even easier than on desktop. Visit WhatsApp Web, then follow the steps as directed. These steps are identical to the desktop version, so refer to the information above for the full guide and screenshots.
What WhatsApp Web Can and Can’t Do
Unfortunately, this Web version of WhatsApp doesn’t contain all the features of the mobile app. For instance, you can’t make audio or video calls via the web app. You can’t export your Whatsapp chat history either. However, other features, such as changing profile pictures, setting a status image, and attaching images, are still there. They may be in different locations than on the mobile app, but they’re there.
Learning What’s Up with WhatsApp
If you like talking to people on WhatsApp but are not a big fan of mobile keyboards, you don’t have to be stuck on your phone all the time. Now you know how to put WhatsApp on your PC, whether it’s via the official desktop app or the Web. Want to have some fun with WhatsApp? Check out our WhatsApp sticker guide. We can also help you out if WhatsApp isn’t working for you.
