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How does the app whatsapp work


What Is WhatsApp? How It Works, Tips, Tricks, and More

  • WhatsApp is a free, multiplatform messaging app that lets you make video and voice calls, send text messages, and more — all with just a Wi-Fi connection. 
  • With over 2 billion active users, WhatsApp is especially popular among friends and family who live in different countries and want to stay in touch. 
  • WhatsApp's global popularity is due in large part to its accessibility, cross-platform functionality, and simple, straightforward features.

WhatsApp might be a little-known messaging app in the US, but in many parts of the globe, it's an essential part of everyday life. The Facebook-owned app is easily one of the most popular messaging services in the world.

To understand WhatsApp's popularity, you need to understand it was one of the first mobile apps to offer free, internet-based messaging. Instead of sending texts using cellular-data networks, where fees may apply, WhatsApp primarily relies on a Wi-Fi connection to send and receive messages and calls for free.  

Fast forward to now: WhatsApp is preferred by over 2 billion users for its ability to streamline communications, no matter their device or location.

Not only is WhatsApp simple to use, it also offers far more features and customizations than traditional SMS messaging — all for free. If you're already familiar with the app, you may be interested in our favorite WhatsApp tips and tricks.

But if you're a newbie, you'll want to check out our guide below. From how to sign up to WhatsApp's best features, here's everything you need to know to get started.

How does WhatsApp work? WhatsApp can help you stay connected to your loved ones, no matter how far apart you are. Webfluential/Getty Images

The main draw of WhatsApp is it allows you to send and receive calls and messages using only an internet connection, which means it's virtually free to use and ideal for international calling. There are no fees to sign up, and no data plan allowances to worry about. 

While WhatsApp is similar to other messaging services like iMessage or Messages by Google, it still offers a few key advantages, the most significant being cross-platform functionality (between Android and iOS, for example). 

At a glance, WhatsApp may seem like nothing more than a text messaging app, but it can do much more. Here's a brief rundown of WhatsApp's core features:

  • Voice and video calls: In addition to voice calls, WhatsApp also offers video calls, including a group function, which allows up to eight participants on one call. 
  • Voice messaging: You can record and send voice messages to individual chats or group chats.
  • Secure messaging: WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, a secure communication standard where only the people who are messaging can read the messages. 
  • Photos and video sharing: You can send videos, photos, and GIFs without worrying that your images will be pixelated or not downloadable, which can sometimes happen across SMS messages between different mobile platforms and wireless carriers.  
  • Document sharing: WhatsApp lets you send all kinds of documents, such as PDFs, spreadsheets, and slideshows without the hassle of email or separate document-sharing apps. 
  • Desktop access: WhatsApp offers a desktop version for Mac and for PC. 
  • WhatsApp Business: WhatsApp's dedicated business account is designed so entrepreneurs can showcase their products and connect with their customers on a platform that's convenient and familiar.

How to use WhatsApp

Getting started

To get started using WhatsApp, you'll need to download the app (for iOS or Android) and create an account. 

After downloading the app, you'll notice you need your phone number to create your account. Unlike some other platforms, WhatsApp doesn't use special usernames. Instead, WhatsApp identifies people by their number. This means anyone who uses WhatsApp is automatically added to your contact list, which makes set up a breeze. 

Once you're up and running, you'll want to get familiar with what you can do with WhatsApp, from making international calls to sending voice messages. 

Sending messages and joining groups You can send text and voice messages to family and friends from the "Chats" screen. WhatsApp

Once you set up your WhatsApp account, you can begin sending messages through the platform either to individual contacts, or to groups. 

Starting a chat is easy: In the app, select the "Chats" icon from the menu at the bottom of the screen, then select the "New Chat" icon in the top right corner. From there, you'll just need to select a contact. 

If you're keen on getting a group chat started, you can host up to 256 participants. Learn how to start a WhatsApp group chat, whether you have an iOS or Android device. Conversely, you may want to know how to join a specific WhatsApp group chat. 

Making voice and video calls Place video and audio calls on WhatsApp for free. WhatsApp

In addition to text messaging, you can also make voice or video calls on WhatsApp. 

  • How to video chat on WhatsApp on an iPhone or Android device
  • How to make a call on WhatsApp and start individual or group calls

There are several ways to make calls on WhatsApp, though you can only place a call from the mobile app version of WhatsApp, not the desktop version. You can place individual calls or group calls, in both audio or video, for free on WhatsApp. 

Making free international calls Make international calls using only a Wi-Fi connection. MoMo Productions/Getty Images

As mentioned, free worldwide calling to family and friends is WhatsApp's most popular feature. As we outlined in our guide to using WhatsApp internationally, if you have access to Wi-Fi, you'll never have to worry about international restrictions or fees.

Even if you use WhatsApp without a Wi-Fi connection, you'll simply be dipping into your data usage, rather than accumulating SMS or cellular charges. And with so many mobile plans today offering unlimited data, you might not even need to worry about finding Wi-Fi access. 

Sharing photos and other media You can send all types of media, such as photos and videos, on WhatsApp. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a convenient and free way to send all kinds of media to your friends and family. You can send photos and videos via any individual or group chat, and because WhatsApp uses the internet rather than a cellular-data network, the images will maintain their original resolution quality. 

Files you can send on WhatsApp include:

  • GIFs: There are several different ways to send a GIF in WhatsApp, the easiest being selecting a GIF from within WhatsApp's internal library.  
  • Memojis: You can incorporate your personalized Memoji avatar into WhatsApp messages with iOS 13 or higher. 
  • Documents: From text documents to PDFs, you can send anything up to 100 MB.
  • Files of all types: In fact, WhatsApp supports all kinds of file types, from zip archives to HTML files. 

Sending voice messages You can send quick voice messages when you don't have time to text. WhatsApp

In any individual or group chat on WhatsApp, you can send voice messages — a convenient feature if you're not able to type text, or if you prefer to record your voice to get your point across.

To send a voice message, go to any WhatsApp chat, and hold down the microphone icon to the right of the type text box. You'll see the timer begin to tick upward as you record. Once you release your finger from the button, your message will immediately send. 

Read more about sending voice messages on WhatsApp. 

Your list of contacts appear in the "New Chat" screen. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

Now that you've got the basics down, WhatsApp offers a lot of features for managing your contacts and conversations. For example, you may notice one or two check marks appear beside your messages on WhatsApp. The number and color of the check marks indicate whether your message has been sent, delivered or read.

Here's a short list of some other useful tips: 

  • How to change the chat background: For those who prefer a customized experience, WhatsApp allows you to change the backgrounds of your messages. 
  • How to hide your online status: If you're concerned about privacy, you can hide your online, or "Last Seen" status.
  • How to block a contact: If you no longer want to receive messages or calls from a specific contact, there are a few ways you can block them, whether or not you've already chatted with them. On the flip side, there's no way to know for sure if someone blocks you, but there are ways you can make an informed guess.
  • How to find a contact: What's a messaging app without friends? 
  • How to add a contact on WhatsApp: Because WhatsApp uses phone numbers, contacts should automatically pull from your contact list. If not, you can manually add in a contact at any time.
  • How to delete a contact: If you prefer a neat and organized contact list, you can delete any contact on WhatsApp from the "Chats" screen. Keep in mind that number will also be deleted from your phone's contact list.
  • How to delete a group chat: If you are the administrator of a group on WhatsApp, you can delete that group, but only after you've removed every member of the group chat individually. 
  • How to delete a message: You can delete any message to remove it either just from yourself, or from everyone in the chat. If at any time you would like to recover deleted messages, you can do that, too. 

WhatsApp data usage

Manage your data and storage usage from the "Settings" menu in WhatsApp. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider


While WhatsApp's claim to fame is that it uses an internet connection to send and receive messages, you do have the option to use mobile data if you're without Wi-Fi.

This is when it pays to keep a close eye on your settings. Luckily, WhatsApp makes it easy to control your data usage. 

If you have a limited amount of data and don't want to be charged data overage fees, you can turn off WhatsApp's ability to use cellular data, so that it's only accessible when you have internet access. 

To check how much data the app is using, go to the app's "Settings" menu and select "Data and Storage Usage." Here, you can change the settings for "Media Auto-Downloads" so that media such as photos, videos, audio, and documents only download when you're connected to Wi-Fi.  

You can also choose to use WhatsApp on a "low data" setting by toggling the "Low Data Usage" switch to "on." For a more detailed breakdown of your data usage, click "Network Usage" to see how much data you're using by category, such as messages sent or received, bytes sent or received via chat media, and more. 

Privacy and security You can change your privacy and security settings from the "Account" page. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

One of the reasons WhatsApp is so popular is because, unlike SMS, it uses end-to-end encryption, which means nobody other than the message recipients can view your messages. When you make a call on WhatsApp, third parties are unable to listen in to your conversation. 

If you want added security, you can set up two-step verification in WhatsApp's settings menu. Here you can choose to add a PIN, or personal identification number, to prohibit anyone from maliciously accessing your account.

You can also share your location on WhatsApp, whether you're trying to meet up with friends or want someone to know exactly where you are. To share your location on WhatsApp, simply tap the "+" icon to the left of the type text box in any chat, and choose "Location." 

WhatsApp helped shape modern communications as we know it, and it continues to roll out updates that will only improve the experience. And as Facebook's second-biggest property with billions of dedicated users, it doesn't look like WhatsApp is going anywhere any time soon. 

Once you've got the basics down, be sure to check out our roundup of the 20 essential WhatsApp tips and tricks.

Grace Eliza Goodwin

Reporter

Grace is a Reporter on the Breaking News team at Insider. She was previously the Associate Producer of Insider's breaking news podcast, The Refresh. She has a Master of Science from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism with a focus on investigative journalism and audio/radio production. She has a background in arts nonprofit fundraising, event planning, and hotel management. She currently lives and works in NYC alongside her fur-child Catso Fatso.  Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @gracelizgood

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How Does WhatsApp Work? (A Beginner’s Guide)

Chat with friends and family in no time flat

Messaging apps are basic communication tools that everyone is familiar with. They’re a great way to stay in touch with your family and friends across the world, as well as keep up professional communications with your work colleagues. 

While there are a great deal of options to choose from, WhatsApp holds a top position among other messaging clients. This messaging app is secure, easy to use, and comes with a number of handy features for your daily communication. Plus, most of your friends are probably already using it, so why choose a different messenger? 

Table of Contents

    If you’re still new to the app and trying to figure out your way around it, here’s how WhatsApp works and everything you need to know as a beginner. 

    How Does Whatsapp Work And Why Use It??

    WhatsApp is considered one of the best messaging apps for many reasons. For starters, it allows you to communicate with other people in more ways than one: Through chats, audio and video calls, and through exchanging media files and documents. You can use it on your phone, your computer, and tablet. The app is also highly customizable, so you can choose what your WhatsApp app and your chats look like. 

    Aside from all the basic features, WhatsApp has some impressive add-ons. Live location sharing can help you keep track of your loved ones and vice versa. The ability to “unsend” messages will save you some embarrassing accidental texts that you meant to send to a different person.

    Switching from one phone number to another without losing your data is a great feature for anyone trying to keep their professional and personal communications separate. 

    If you want all that as well as end-to-end encryption for the messages you exchange with other people, here’s how to install and start using WhatsApp. 

    How To Install WhatsApp

    Before you get started using WhatsApp, you need to head over to the official website and download the free app for your device: Android, or iOS. Then follow the steps. 

    1. Launch the app and click Agree And Continue after you read the privacy policy agreement.
    1. Enter your phone number and click Next. WhatsApp will send an SMS with a code and link that you can use to verify your phone number. 
    1. If you’ve used the app before, WhatsApp will offer you to restore your backup from Google Drive and access your saved contacts and media.  
    1. Once your number is verified, WhatsApp will ask you to fill in your profile info by providing them with your name and picture (optional). You can always change either of those later.

    How To Use WhatsApp 

    After you sign in with your phone number, you can start using WhatsApp to call and chat with other people. You can either import your entire contact list to the app or add contacts manually. 

    Use WhatsApp To Chat With People On Your Mobile 

    When you open the app for the first time, you won’t have any active chats. 

    To get started, click on the green chat bubble in the bottom right corner of your screen. 

    Then select a contact and go to your private chat with the person. 

    Start by typing a message, adding emojis or gifs, attaching a media file, or recording an audio message. 

    When you send a message, you’ll see a single gray tick next to the text. That means your message is sent. Two gray ticks indicate that the message was received. The ticks turning blue indicates the other person has read your message. The clock appearing next to your message instead of the ticks means your message has not been sent yet. 

    Use WhatsApp To Call Others From Your Smartphone

    One of the things that makes WhatsApp so appealing to users is the ability to use it for free unlimited calls. Since it uses the internet connection over cellular data, you can call internationally and not have to pay anything for it.

    Open a chat with the person you’d like to call, and click the phone icon in the top right corner of your chat window. If you want to start a video call, opt for the video camera icon instead. 

    If you’re calling a group instead of a single contact, you’ll get to select how many people can join in before you start the call.  

    Use WhatsApp On Your Computer

    You can access WhatsApp from your computer via the PC version of the app – WhatsApp Web. You can either do it from your browser or by downloading the PC client from the official WhatsApp website. Then follow the steps.

    1. Open WhatsApp on your phone. 
    2. Click the Menu or Settings icon in the top of your window. 
    3. Scan the QR code from your computer screen.

    WhatsApp will then automatically log into your account.

    How To Get The Most Out Of WhatsApp

    WhatsApp has much to offer outside the basic features that most people use. Here are some WhatsApp tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of the app.

    Set Up WhatsApp Groups

    WhatsApp allows you to create groups of up to 256 people to discuss anything you like. Whether it’s a secret birthday planning, or a family chat that you’ll use to share funny pictures and videos, setting up a WhatsApp group is a skill you need to learn early on.  

    Customize Your WhatsApp

    When you get tired of the standard look of the app, you can customize it to your liking. One way to do it is to use WhatsApp Dark Mode. To switch it on, go to Settings > Chats > Theme. Switch to Dark and click Ok. 

    In the same menu you’ll find an option to change your WhatsApp Wallpaper. You can choose to use one of the default options or add a custom chat wallpaper. 

    Use WhatsApp Without a Phone Number

    Your smartphone and your computer aren’t all the devices you can use WhatsApp on. Learn how WhatsApp works without a SIM and you’ll be able to install it on your tablet. 

    Take Your Online Communication To The Next Level

    WhatsApp is a great all-in-one communication tool that enables you to do many things within one app. If you’re looking to unlock even more options for communicating with your friends and family like exchanging quality pictures and videos with them, check out our quick guides on how to use Instagram and TikTok.  

    Do you use WhatsApp? What’s your favorite WhatsApp feature? Share your experience with us in the comments below. 

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    Anya is a freelance technology writer. Originally from Russia, she is currently a full-time Remote Worker and Digital Nomad. With a background in Journalism, Language Studies, and Technical Translation, Anya couldn't imagine her life and work without using modern technology on a daily basis. Always looking out for new ways to make her life and location-independent lifestyle easier, she hopes to share her experiences as a tech- and internet-addict through her writing. Read Anya's Full Bio

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    What is WhatsApp and how to use it on your phone/smartphone?

    WhatsApp is a messenger or instant messaging system between users using the Internet. Allows you to send text messages, various kinds of images, audio and video recordings, etc. Supported by multiple platforms, including popular ones like Android, Windows Mobile, Nokia Symbian, iOS, Windows, etc.

    The first launch of the application took place back in 2009year. It is claimed that by April 2012, WhatsApp users were sending more than 2 billion messages daily, and by August of that year, the figure reached 10 billion.

    Unfortunately, the exact number of WhatsApp users is not disclosed, but, according to some reports, in the spring of 2016, more than 1 billion users used the application! Agree, the figure is impressive.

    It is believed that the emergence of instant messengers like WhatsApp or Viber has had a very negative impact on the profits of mobile operators around the world. Thus, their losses due to the fact that users use SMS messages less and less, amount to tens or even hundreds of billions of US dollars. However, telecom operators began to offer tariff packages with mobile traffic, which partly compensated for the loss of funds. nine0003

    Interestingly, until the beginning of 2016, WhatsApp was paid. True, the cost can be called symbolic - 1 US dollar per year, starting from the second year of connection. It is difficult to say why the messenger was paid, because it is unlikely that the creators tried to make money on it in this way. Whatever it was, now WhatsApp is free, as well as most other well-known instant messengers.

    WhatsApp has been and is often criticized for security algorithms, including encryption. So, it is alleged that, for example, until August 2012, messages were sent without encryption, as a result of which they could be intercepted. Despite this, WhatsApp is still one of the most popular instant messengers in the world. nine0003

    It's very simple. First you need to download the app on your smartphone. How to do this, we described in detail earlier.

    After installation, you need to launch WhatsApp and go through a quick registration. The peculiarity of the application is that the number of the user's mobile device is used as a login, and the application receives access to the phone book automatically. By going to WhatsApp contacts, you will immediately see the friends who use the application, after which you can start chatting with them. nine0003

    How does communication work? You can send messages or call them directly. There is no charge for this, except for mobile traffic.

    You can also use group chats that bring together several users at once, leave voice messages, send images or videos, etc.

    All this is so easy to do that you will immediately understand where and which buttons to press. That's what WhatsApp is good for. nine0003

    How does WhatsApp work on a phone without internet