WhatsApp Web – Complete Guide on web.whatsapp.com

WhatsApp Web along with WhatsApp is a multi-platform messaging and call service that boasts a whopping one billion daily active users. That means that 1 in 7 people worldwide use WhatsApp every single day. The Facebook-owned messaging titan is free to use, 100% secure, and incredibly versatile. You can use it on your mobile device, both Android and iOS devices, and your PC as well, either in a web-based application or a desktop app. All free; all completely secure; all totally seamless.

Your messages stay synced so you can switch from your desktop to your mobile device without missing a single text or call. And since security and privacy are an integral WhatsApp trait, the ability to sign off from any device is baked into the app’s basic function. Don’t worry if you forget to sign out of your PC; you can easily log out from any and all devices from your mobile app.

So if you already use WhatsApp on your mobile device and you’re looking to add the web or desktop app to your repertoire, we’ve outlined the step by step process for accessing the app, downloading the desktop application, and how to get the most of all the app’s many functions.

How to Use WhatsApp Web on PC?

WhatsApp Web allows you to chat on the WhatsApp platform directly from your web browser. The WhatsApp feature will mirror all of your conversations from the app, send push notifications to your desktop even while you aren’t using the app on your phone, and update all of your conversations in real-time.

how to use whatsapp web

  1. To use WhatsApp Web, you must first download WhatsApp on your mobile device and set up an account, if you haven’t already done so.
  2. Then in your browser window, navigate to https://web.whatsapp.com/
  3. The screen will prompt you with a QR code and instructions to open your mobile WhatsApp application.
  4. Tap Menu or Settings on your phone and select WhatsApp Web.
  5. Point the camera at the screen and once the app reads the QR code it will automatically open the browser application.

how to set up whatsapp web on your phone

All your chats will appear on the left. Just be sure to keep your phone connected, as the browser app syncs with your phone so all messages are congruent.

whatsapp web

How to Log Out of WhatsApp Web?

Using a Web Browser

To logout from the WhatsApp Web application, find and click on the 3 dots icon on the left side of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select Log out.

how to log out from whatsapp web

Using an iPhone/iOS Device

  1. Select Settings >
  2. Click WhatsApp Web/Desktop >
  3. Choose Log out from all devices >
  4. Choose Log out.

log out from whatsapp web on ios

Using an Android Device

Select Menu > Click WhatsApp Web > Choose Log out from all devices.

WhatsApp Web vs. WhatsApp Desktop

Using WhatsApp on your PC can unleash whole new levels of productivity. But what is the difference between the two, and which one should you be using? That depends, but ultimately you can’t go wrong with either one. If you are using WhatsApp on your PC only on rare occasions, the WhatsApp Web application will be just fine. But if you’ll be on the platform frequently, the desktop application has a few advantages that make it more ideal for the consistent user. Before we get into that though, let’s go over how to download the WhatsApp desktop application.

Downloading and Installing WhatsApp Desktop

1. First, navigate to https://www.whatsapp.com/download

download whatsapp

2. Choose either the Download for Windows (64-bit) option or Download for Mac OS X 10.0 and higher option. For this walk-through, we’ll be using a Windows PC.

3. A download will begin. Once it’s finished, open the .exe file by simply clicking on it. This will initiate set up of the app. This may take a few moments.

4. A similar screen as the one to connect to the WhatsApp Web app will appear, only this will be a window running from an application on the PC rather than in a browser window.

whatsapp desktop

5. Once again, open your mobile app > navigate to Menu (for Android) or Settings (for iOS), and select WhatsApp Web/Desktop. Scan the QR code and the WhatsApp desktop application will open.

The interface is very similar to the browser interface, though the desktop application has a few key features that are not supported in WhatsApp Web.

For example, the WhatsApp keyboard shortcuts are only available in the desktop application. Otherwise, functionality is pretty much identical to the WhatsApp Web app.

WhatsApp Web vs. WhatsApp App

The WhatsApp Web and desktop applications serve a unique purpose. Being able to type on PC keyboard rather than a mobile device can be preferable, especially for anyone using the application for business purposes. It’s a great tool for sending files and images from your desktop as well. And it can allow you to seamlessly transition between a chat and other projects on your PC, rather than opening the app on a mobile device.

But the mobile app does have a few additional features that the desktop and web applications don’t support which make it preferable in some situations.

  1. One key feature on the mobile app that the other versions are missing is the ability to change your status (which we’ll discuss in more detail later on).
  2. Moreover, the web and desktop apps do not support voice calls or video calls, so that’s something to keep in mind.

All in all, choosing between mobile or PC applications really just depends on what your needs are. And oftentimes utilizing both to meet the needs of various situations is best.

How to Turn on Desktop Notifications for WhatsApp Web

One cool feature on WhatsApp Web is the option for push notifications alerting you to new messages. The desktop alerts, when turned on, will pop up even when you aren’t using the WhatsApp Web app in your browser. There are a couple ways to turn them on.

First, if you’re just starting out with the web application, the interface will prompt you with the option to turn on desktop notifications.

get desktop notifications on whatsapp web

If you click on the link in the prompt, a new screen will open up with another prompt in the top right asking you to allow the notifications.

Simply choose Allow and every time you get a new message, the notification will appear in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. You can customize these alerts in your settings and turn them on or off as well.

So that brings us to the second way to turn on desktop notifications.

Simply navigate to the 3 dots icon, and from the drop-down menu, select Settings > Notifications. From there, you will check the boxes to specify your settings. You can turn on a notification sound alert, allow a preview of the message to appear beneath the sender’s name, and even mute notifications.

turn on notifications on whatsapp web

How to Mute Desktop Notifications

Muting WhatsApp desktop notifications is helpful for those times when you really need to stay focused. Constant alerts can distract from the task at hand and slow productivity.

To mute desktop notifications, choose the 3 dots icon and then select Settings, and then Notifications.

From there, choose the drop-down menu Turn off alerts and sounds for… > Select from the three options: 1 Hour, 1 Day, 1 Week.

turn off whatsapp web notifications

What You Can and Can’t Do with WhatsApp Web

If you’re new to WhatsApp Web, here are some tips for navigating the application.

Finding contacts and Sending Messages

In the left side panel, above your list of chats, select the chat bubble icon and a list of your contacts will appear for you to choose from. Select the contact you wish to start chatting with and send them a message. The new chat will appear in your list of conversations in the same panel.

Once you’ve selected a contact, the window on the right will appear as a message interface. Type into the chat box and hit Enter on your keyboard to send the message.

find contacts on whatsapp web

Sending pictures and files

To send a file or image through the WhatsApp Web app, simply open a chat with the intended recipient and click the paperclip icon in the top right corner. A drop-down menu will appear with 4 icons to choose from.

send pictures files on whatsapp web

The first icon is for sending videos and photos. When you click on it, your file explorer will open in a desktop window. From there you will search for the image or video you want to send and click Open.

If you want to take and send a photo using your computer’s webcam, select the second icon. The computer may prompt you to allow the app to access your webcam.

turn on camera in whatsapp web

Once you hit Allow, a webcam window will appear in the chat window and you can take a photo. After you snap a picture, the window gives you the option to send by pressing the green paper airplane button in the bottom left or to retake the photo with the button in the top right.

You can also add a caption to the photo by typing into the text box provided below the image capture.

The third option to send a document works just like sending an image or video file. The file explorer will launch, and you can search for the file, select, and send it.

The fourth icon is for sending contacts.

Group chats and audio messages

If you want to start a group chat among friends or coworkers, it’s really straightforward. Simply click on the New chat icon in the top of the left panel and then choose New group at the top of your list of contacts.

Then you can search for contacts or scroll through the list and click to add them to the chat. Once you’ve got all the contacts selected, click the green arrow at the bottom to get the chat started.

For audio messages, open up a chat and click on the microphone icon on the left side of your message box.

Again, the app may prompt you to allow access to the microphone. Click Allow.

The app will immediately start recording. Click the red X to delete the audio message without sending and the green check mark to send the audio message.

whatsapp for web audio messages

Seeing Online Status

Even though you can’t update or hide your status in the WhatsApp Web application, you can see the status of your contacts. To do so, you can click on a contact and their current status will appear below their name.

If you have an open chat with them, it will appear in the top right corner beneath their name.

Configuring app and profile settings

To configure your settings from the web app, click the 3 dots icon in the left side panel and choose Settings.

From here you can configure notification settings, choose and change your chat wallpaper, and block and unblock contacts.

change whatsapp web settings

To make changes to your profile, you can either click on your profile photo thumbnail in the top left corner or you can click on the 3 dots icon in the right corner and choose Profile from the dropdown menu.

From there you have the option to add or change your profile picture, edit your name as it appears in chats, and write your About section.

Be sure to hit the enter key on your computer after making any changes to your name or about section so that they will be saved.

change whatsapp profile picture and about section on browser

Questions about WhatsApp Web

Let’s address some of the common questions people have about the WhatsApp Web application.

Is there an APK for WhatsApp Web?

No! There isn’t an APK for WhatsApp Web.

Does WhatsApp Web work with WhatsApp Business?

Yep! If you have a WhatsApp business account, the web application is a great option for integrating your business communications onto your computer to improve efficiency!

What’s the link to access WhatsApp Web?

You can access WhatsApp Web over here – https://web.whatsapp.com/

Is WhatsApp Web safe?

WhatsApp is a safe and secure platform. One of the features that makes WhatsApp so popular and widely used is its end-to-end encryption. All messages are completely private; even the company isn’t able to access them. Calls are secure and encrypted as well.

One Response

  1. someone

    if i login whatsapweb on chrome on pc with google id on chrome and there is another pc with same google id who is using anyone else. can he open my whatsapp through google history?

    Reply

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