WhatsApp Desktop App: How to Get It on Windows and Mac

If you spend your working day at a laptop, picking up your phone every time a client replies on WhatsApp gets old fast. The WhatsApp desktop app puts your chats on the big screen, with a full-size keyboard for long replies and drag and drop for files. I'll walk through what WhatsApp's help centre says about getting the app on Windows and on a Mac, what it can do, and the limits worth knowing before you rely on it for business.

What the WhatsApp desktop app is and what it isn't

According to WhatsApp's help centre, the desktop app lets you use WhatsApp on your computer without a browser. It isn't a separate account. It's a linked device, which means it connects to the WhatsApp account on your phone, and your phone stays your primary device.

That has two practical consequences. First, you need WhatsApp already installed on a phone with an active phone number before the desktop app will do anything. Second, a computer can't become the main device for an account. The help centre says linked devices on Windows, Mac, Web, iPad and wearables can't be used as the primary device.

Getting the WhatsApp desktop app on Windows

1. Open the Microsoft App Store on your PC and find the official WhatsApp Desktop listing.
2. Download the app and follow the prompts to finish the installation.
3. Open it and link it to your phone with the QR code (steps further down).

WhatsApp lists the system requirement as Windows 10 64-bit version 1903 or later. If your computer runs something older, the help centre points you to WhatsApp Web in your browser instead.

Getting the WhatsApp desktop app on a Mac

WhatsApp's help centre gives you two routes on a Mac, and both lead to the same app.

• From WhatsApp's official download page: open it in your browser, choose the Desktop Mac file, then open the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
• From the Apple App Store: find WhatsApp, download the Desktop Mac file and follow the prompts.

The requirement is macOS 11 or later. As with Windows, anything older is steered towards WhatsApp Web. I'd always start from the official page or the official store listing, and never from a link in a message or an email, because fake WhatsApp installers do exist.

Linking your WhatsApp desktop app to your phone

Once the app is installed it shows a QR code. On your phone, open WhatsApp, go to Linked devices and choose Link a device, then point the phone at the code on your screen. On Android you reach Linked devices from the three dots menu, and on iPhone from the Settings tab. If WhatsApp asks you to verify it's you, it'll use your biometrics or the PIN you use to open your phone.

My walkthrough on adding a contact on WhatsApp is a handy next step once you're linked, since saved names make a big chat list far easier to scan on a large screen.

What you can do in the WhatsApp desktop app

The help centre lists a good deal under the heading of productivity and collaboration. Here's the short version:

• Reply from a full keyboard and handle several chats at once.
• Drag and drop files and media straight into a chat.
• Receive notifications and messages even when your phone is offline.
• Make voice and video calls with up to 32 people on Windows, plan calls with call links and share your screen on a video call.
• Preview and edit PDFs, with drawing, highlighting and underlining, then share them back to the chat. WhatsApp says this is powered by Adobe Acrobat.
• Post and view Status, follow Channels and join Communities.

For a small business owner or a freelancer, the file handling alone is the reason to bother. Sending a quote or a proposal from your computer means no emailing it to your phone first. If you run WhatsApp for a small company, my guide to setting up WhatsApp Business explains how the business side fits together.

Limits of the WhatsApp desktop app you should know about

• You can link up to four devices to one primary phone.
• Your phone needs to log in at least every 14 days, otherwise linked devices disconnect.
• Linked devices are also disconnected automatically after 30 days of inactivity.
• Some features aren't supported on linked devices yet. The help centre names viewing live locations, creating and viewing broadcast lists, and using business Flows.

Messages, media and calls on linked devices are end-to-end encrypted, and WhatsApp says each linked device connects independently while keeping the same level of privacy. That's reassuring, but it also means a computer you link is a door into your chats. Don't link a shared or public computer.

Keeping your WhatsApp desktop app account safe

WhatsApp's guidance on linked devices is practical. Turn on push notifications on your phone so you can spot a device you don't recognise, and check your linked devices list now and then. To log out a device, tap it in the list and choose Log out.

The help centre also warns that linking through unofficial apps or websites can put your account at risk and may lead to a temporary or permanent ban. If a site you found offers a clever WhatsApp for desktop with extra features, steer clear and stick to the official app.

If the WhatsApp desktop app won't install or connect

• Check your Windows or macOS version against the requirements above.
• Check your internet connection, since WhatsApp says poor connection is the most common cause of trouble.
• Update WhatsApp on your phone and on the computer.
• Log out of the desktop app and link it again.

My WhatsApp help guides list the other everyday settings if you want to tidy up your account while you're at it.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a WhatsApp desktop app for Windows and Mac?

Yes. WhatsApp's help centre describes a desktop app for Windows 10 64-bit version 1903 or later and for macOS 11 or later.

Do I need my phone to use the WhatsApp desktop app?

You need it to set up the link, and it stays your primary device. Once linked, the app works even when your phone is offline, but you need to log in on the phone at least every 14 days.

Where should I get the WhatsApp desktop app?

From the Microsoft App Store on Windows, and from WhatsApp's official download page or the Apple App Store on a Mac.

How many devices can I link?

WhatsApp says you can link up to four devices to your primary phone at the same time.

Can I use WhatsApp on an older computer?

If your system doesn't meet the requirements, WhatsApp's help centre suggests using WhatsApp Web in your browser.