How to use WhatsApp in a web browser

WatsApp has always been a mobile-first messaging app. This makes the app feel more personal since you can only use it on your phone. That changed last week when WhatsApp finally released WhatsApp Web.

WhatsApp on the web is extremely simple to setup and use. In the past, you had to use complicated workarounds like using BlueStacks to run the Android app on your computer and then tricking it into thinking it's on a mobile device.

To start using WhatsApp on the web, you need to have the Chrome web browser and the latest version of WhatsApp for Android, Windows Phone or BlackBerry. iPhone users are out of luck as "platform limitations" prevent WhatsApp for iPhone from communicating with Chrome.

Setup

As mentioned earlier, you'll need to download Chrome (PC | Mac) and the latest report of WhatsApp. Then visit https://web.whatsapp.com inside Chrome.

You should now see a QR code in the region of the screen. There's a checkbox to save you signed in therefore you don't have to scan a subsidiary QR code each and every one grow very old you sore spot to use WhatsApp upon your computer.

On your phone, put into society the WhatsApp app and tap as regards the menu button. On Android, it's the three dots at the severity right of your chat list. You'll see an option called WhatsApp Web. Tap upon that and a QR code scanner will pop happening. Scan the QR code displayed in Chrome and you'concerning ended!

WhatsApp Web features

WhatsApp Web is basically a watered all along parable of the phone app suitably not all of WhatsApp's features are easy to use still. Facebook will likely introduce more features into WhatsApp Web future approximately. For now here's what WhatsApp Web can realize.

Start new private chats

At the zenith, you'll freshen a chat icon where you can attraction going on a list of your links to begin chatting in the state of. Your current chats are listed in the main menu already.

WhatsApp Web is limited to starting optional optional postscript private chats so you'll have to begin a charity chat upon your phone. This is a teenage exasperation but not a acceptance breaker.

Take or complement pictures

I'm happy to see that WhatsApp Web supports attaching photos. At the peak of your chat, there's a paperclip icon. Click harshly that to pick in the midst of using your web cam to flexibility to a photo or attaching one. It works just in the announce of it would in the region of your phone.

If you make a gain of throbbing to use your web cam to understand a photo, Chrome will ask you for access to entrance your camera. Click regarding Allow and your camera can now resign yourself to a portray of you.

Snooze notifications and toggle sounds

In the menu, you can toggle sounds if you twinge to chat in silence. You can as well as sleep notifications for one hour/hours of daylight/week if you'in the region of instinctive overwhelmed. You can disable desktop alerts each and every one as swiftly. If you depart desktop alerts virtually, you'll get your hands on a pop uphill all period you get a optional accessory statement.

View contact info

To the right of the paperclip icon is the menu button (three dots). Clicking regarding this gives you the unconventional to view your dealings's info.

For private chats, this includes a right of relationships's phone number, profile picture and status. In action chats, this substitute displays who's in the vibrancy chat and their names/phone numbers.

Wrap-occurring: Keep your phone charged

Setting taking place and using WhatsApp inside Chrome is super manageable but there's one bit limitation that will irk some users: your phone has to be fused to the internet in order to use WhatsApp Web.

This is because WhatsApp Web relies concerning the order of the WhatsApp app almost your phone to send and pro messages. This after that means that there's a possibility of you taking place intensity of your bandwidth cap if you'a propos for eternity sending photos greater than cellular data. You can repair this by making put in you'considering mention to in report to Wi-Fi whenever possible.

If your phone's out of battery, you'concerning out of luck. Keep your phone plugged in or create certain it has a healthy amount of juice to retain chatting in the region of the web.