- You can use WhatsApp Web from your computer's browser or the WhatsApp desktop app.
- WhatsApp Web will mirror your conversations on your smartphone.
- WhatsApp Web only works with your mobile phone nearby.
Most people are familiar with using WhatsApp via a mobile app on their phone, but not everyone is aware that it's also possible to use WhatsApp on the computer desktop — either in a web browser or using a desktop app. The main difference? You still need to log into WhatsApp on the computer using your WhatsApp mobile app.
How to access WhatsApp Web or the desktop app
There are two ways to access your WhatsApp account on your PC or Mac computer:
- Use the web app. Go to web.whatsapp.com in a web browser.
- Use the desktop app. Install the WhatsApp desktop app on your Mac or Windows computer from the WhatsApp download page.
How to set up and use WhatsApp Web or the desktop app
1. Once you've opened the webpage or installed and run the desktop app, you should see a QR code on your computer.
2. Start WhatsApp on your phone.
3. Tap Settings and select Linked Devices.
4.Tap Link a Device.
5. Point your phone's camera at the QR code in WhatsApp on your computer.
How WhatsApp Web differs from the mobile app
Once you've linked your computer and mobile app, you should see your WhatsApp Chats page in the web app or desktop app. Everything you do on either the computer or mobile app will be kept in sync and mirrored on the other device. New messages will appear in bold and you'll hear a notification on your computer. Click any conversation to reply from your computer.
WhatsApp offers other features on the computer as well:
- Click your own account icon to change your profile details like display name and About message.
- Click any contact icon to control your interactions with that user. You can start an audio or video call, for example, mute notifications, block or report the user, and delete the chat.
- At the top of the window you can also start a new chat (including start a new group chat) and see starred messages.
There are some significant advantages to using WhatsApp Web or the desktop app. It's often easier to type using a real mouse and keyboard, for example, and you can keep WhatsApp on the screen, side by side with other windows to copy and paste information into chat messages. And you can easily log into more than one WhatsApp account at the same time just by opening them in different WhatsApp Web browser windows.
Correction: October 16, 2023 — An earlier version of this story stated that your mobile phone must be nearby to access WhatsApp Web. However, a WhatsApp software update in 2022 removed this requirement.
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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