3 Reasons Why You Won't Be Able to Use WhatsApp's New Desktop App

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 11 May 2016

The team behind the WhatsApp messaging app has recently announced that they rolled out a desktop app for Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s OS X operating system.

"Today we're introducing a desktop app so you have a new way to stay in touch anytime and anywhere - whether on your phone or computer at home or work," said the WhatsApp team.

Already heard about that and the thought of using WhatsApp on your desktop has you tingling with anticipation? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are 3 things you need to know about the new WhatsApp app for desktop and... they’re sure to curb your enthusiasm.

1. Still on Windows 7? You can’t use WhatsApp for desktop!



Windows 7 is great! I know that and you know that as well. Because it’s a great operating system, you refused to upgrade to Windows 8 or, god forbid, Windows 10. Your refusal to give up on Windows 7 means you won’t be able to use the new WhatsApp for desktop. You see...

WhatsApp for desktop supports Windows 8 and newer. If you have something older than Windows 8, like Windows 7, you won’t be able to use it.

On the Mac front, WhatsApp for desktop supports OS X 10.9 Mavericks and newer. If you’re still on OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, you can’t use WhatsApp for desktop.

In conclusion: you need Windows 8 or newer and OS X 10.9 or newer to run WhatsApp’s new desktop app.


2. You’re on a 32-bit OS? You can’t use WhatsApp for desktop!



When I found out about the new WhatsApp for desktop, I rushed to give it a try. It didn’t work. Thinking it was an isolated issue, I asked a friend to give it a try. It didn’t work on his PC either. Then I asked another friend to give it a try. Much to my surprise, it did not work on his PC either. Why? The answer is simple: we were all using lousy, old PCs with 32-bit operating systems.

In conclusion: you need a 64-bit version of Windows to run WhatsApp’s new desktop app.


3. Don’t have WhatsApp on your phone? You can’t use WhatsApp for desktop!



WhatsApp’s new desktop app can’t and won’t work on its own. It works like WhatsApp Web, meaning it mirrors what happens on your mobile. It natively runs on your desktop, mirroring conversations and messages from your mobile device.

“Like WhatsApp Web, our desktop app is simply an extension of your phone: the app mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device,” the WhatsApp team explained. “The new desktop app is available for Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+ and is synced with WhatsApp on your mobile device.”

In conclusion: you need to have WhatsApp on your phone to run WhatsApp’s new desktop app.


How to get started with WhatsApp for desktop


Your desktop ticks all the boxes, it has no problems running WhatsApp’s new desktop app, and you’re eager to get started. Here’s what you have to do:
  • Step 1 – Download the desktop app and install it on your PC or Mac.
  • Step 2 – you’ll be presented with a QR code. Scan it using the WhatsApp app on your mobile (you can do that from the WhatsApp Web menu).
  • Step 3 – Enjoy WhatsApp on your desktop, complete with native desktop notifications and better keyboard shortcuts.
Download WhatsApp’s new desktop app right here on FindMySoft.

Or go get it straight from the developer here.


Have you considered an alternative?



Telegram may not be as popular as WhatsApp (which has more than 1 billion users around the world), but that doesn’t mean it’s not a very good alternative.

Focusing solely on the desktop experience, there are two things I want to point out. One, Telegram did not wait for such a long time to release a desktop client. And two, Telegram’s desktop client can and will work on its own.

Get Telegram for Windows and Telegram for Mac right here on FindMySoft.

Get Telegram for other platforms from Telegram.org.



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