How does the whatsapp work
What is WhatsApp? | Digital Trends
Launched in 2009, WhatsApp is a free, multi-platform messaging app that lets users make video and voice calls, send text messages, share their status, and more with just a Wi-Fi connection. Part of what makes this app appealing is that it works on various phone and computer operating systems, so you can continue your conversation anytime, anywhere. It can also take advantage of Wi-Fi and cellular data to make one-on-one or group calls, reducing the need for expensive calling charges. If this sounds exciting so far, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about WhatsApp.
Contents
- Free international calls
- Easy chatting and calling over most platforms
- Security
- Global reach versus the competition
- WhatsApp Mobile updates
- Web version
- Downsides of WhatsApp
Free international calls
WhatsApp uses your phone’s cellular or Wi-Fi connection to facilitate messaging and voice calling to nearly anyone on the planet, alone or in a group, and is especially nice for families and small collaborative workgroups. The app lets you make calls, send and receive messages, and share documents, photos, and videos. WhatsApp is completely free — with no fees or subscriptions — because it uses your phone’s 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G, EDGE, or Wi-Fi connection instead of your cell plan’s voice minutes or text plan. If you’re connected via Wi-Fi, it won’t eat into your data plan, either.
Easy chatting and calling over most platforms
WhatsApp is platform agnostic. You do not need to own the same brand of the phone as your call recipient or be on a specific platform — the app works with iPhone and Android phones and Mac or Windows desktop or laptop computers, which you can use to send and receive messages, but not make calls. Like any other SMS messenger, you can initiate a conversation with an individual or a group and video chat with up to eight people. The iOS version also has in-app support for video playback from both Instagram and Facebook. You can also share your location, broadcast your status to your contacts, share contacts, set customized wallpapers and notification alerts, email chat history, use the camera to shoot photos and videos from within the app, and simultaneously broadcast messages to multiple contacts.
You are always logged in so you never miss messages, but even if you miss notifications while your phone is off, the app saves recent messages for when you re-open the app.
Like iMessage for the iPhone, WhatsApp has a simple interface that showcases your chats in text bubbles complete with a timestamp and notifies you when your recipient has viewed your text.
WhatsApp can identify people in your contact list who currently use the app, so you typically don’t have to add them manually. You can also invite people who don’t have WhatsApp or connect with other users you know but who aren’t on your contact list. WhatsApp lets you create work, friends, or family groups to communicate with up to 256 participants. The app also lets you change your background and send your GPS location to the group through an interactive map. Additionally, you can type in a status message or upload a photo in your status that will last up to 24 hours. It’s also quite adaptable, as you can block contacts from within the app or send a friend’s information to another user within the app.
The app has a search function that lets you search by keyword, group, contact name, or phone number. You can also search for keywords in a conversation. WhatsApp is interoperable with Google so that you can save a copy of your message history to Google Drive or, if you are not on Google, to your phone’s memory. Should you lose critical messages, you can redownload and reinstall the app to find your lost messages.
Security
WhatsApp has a number of advanced security features. It has end-to-end encryption, just like Apple’s iMessage and Signal. All messages flowing through the platform are secured so that only the sender and the recipient can view them. This means WhatsApp couldn’t read your message even if it wanted to. The app doesn’t store your personal information, and only people you approve as contacts can message you. As with an increasing number of internet services like Google and Facebook, WhatsApp uses two-factor authentication, which has you type in a second passcode sent to your phone via text message to access your account.
Group messages can conflict with some privacy settings, however, in that if you have blocked someone, they can still appear in a group message that you can see.
Global reach versus the competition
WhatsApp says it serves more than 2 billion people in over 180 countries, with over a billion daily active users. WhatsApp Messenger is now the leading mobile messaging app in 169 countries — although perhaps surprisingly, it wasn’t as popular in the U.S., where Messenger was more frequently used. This seems to be changing now, as recent data shows WhatsApp topped the list of the most popular global mobile messaging apps in 2021. Currently, more than 100 billion messages are sent each day on WhatsApp, making it the most active messaging app in the world.
WhatsApp generally takes a broad approach to reach as many people as possible around the world. The app continues to dominate in India, Germany, Russia, and the U.K. However, despite its impressive stats, WhatsApp isn’t the only game in town.
Among the app’s competitors are Signal, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and even Twitter DMs.
WhatsApp Mobile updates
WhatsApp instituted new privacy settings in 2020 that gave users more control over group messages, particularly when it comes to who can add you to groups. Admins can send you a private invite via Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups. The app also added more privacy options for the status function. Now, there are three options available: Everyone, My Contacts, and My Contacts Except. My Contacts are restricted to people you have in your address book, and My Contacts Except offers even more control over which contacts can see your status. You can add or remove users from this My Contacts Except list for every status you update, thus giving you more privacy and control over the information you share on the app.
Additionally, now new call-waiting features let you choose to accept an incoming WhatsApp call while you’re on another call.
However, WhatsApp made a lot of headlines as it updated its privacy policy and terms of use after being acquired by Facebook. It was assumed this update would give WhatsApp the right to read user messages, but Niamh Sweeney, WhatsApp’s director of public policy for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, confirmed there were no changes to the app’s data-sharing policy.
Web version
WhatsApp Web is a desktop version of the mobile app that operates within standard Mac or Windows browsers (except Internet Explorer). But unfortunately, it doesn’t offer all the services available in the mobile app. Everything you do on the web will sync and show up on the iPhone or Android app so all of your chats get synced — and the web version now lets you make video calls, too. A business version lets companies access WhatsApp to interact with customers.
Downsides of WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a deeply useful service for people worldwide. We’ve found that one of the only issues that app users face is that they cannot communicate with friends and family who haven’t downloaded the app yet.
WhatsApp only allows users with an account to chat with others within the platform. To fully benefit from the host of positives this app provides, you’ll have to convince the people in your life to join the WhatsApp circle. Once you’ve convinced everyone to join, you’ll find there are very few problems with the app.
It can be tough to convince others to join, especially if they already prefer messaging through other apps or platforms. If that’s the case, you may need to win them over with some of the other promising features from WhatsApp, like their “stories” and universal messaging. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t have any of the face or photo filters that are popular on competitor apps; that could be a downside for users who like mainstream messaging services.
WhatsApp doesn’t have a designated virtual assistant, either. The app also restricts users to a maximum file limit while messaging — you can’t send files, photos, or videos larger than 100MB and 16MB respectively.
Fortunately, you can call other users for free, but if you are not on Wi-Fi, it can suck up data quickly. To stop those data charges from racking up, try to use WhatsApp only while on Wi-Fi. Finally, WhatsApp is not able to call 911 or any other emergency services. You will need a real cell phone plan for those emergency services.
Top WhatsApp updates
Certain WhatsApp features were finally introduced in other parts of the world in 2021. For instance, flash calls were made available in India. These calls allow users to verify their phone numbers via an automated call, as opposed to using the SMS facility while setting up or reinstalling WhatsApp. WhatsApp made these changes since they believe that it is a much safer option as all the actions are performed from the app itself.
Meanwhile, multidevice support was also introduced to WhatsApp. It essentially permits the usage of WhatsApp on up to four linked devices without linking them to a smartphone. Personal calls and messages will be linked across all devices, and messages can be sent using the WhatsApp desktop app or the web-based app.
The disappearing messages feature has also been updated. The duration for disappearing messages now comes in three options — 24 hours, seven days, and 90 days. Users can turn on this feature for both individual and group chats on WhatsApp. They simply need to turn on the relevant chat, tap on the chat info, and then select Disappearing Messages. After these actions, they can switch on the feature and choose the necessary duration. However, the new feature is optional and does not delete any existing chats.
On August 16, 2021, WhatsApp rolled out a feature that allowed users to migrate their chat history from iOS to Android. Just a day later, another welcome change was introduced by the company on all its platforms. They began testing a large link feature that allows users to view a video preview or a page without clicking on the link. For example, when a friend sends us a YouTube video link, we can simply click on the link, and the video appears in the same WhatsApp chat section instead of taking users to another window.
Additionally, a photo editing option for WhatsApp desktop was also introduced in November by the Meta-owned company. The option is also available for WhatsApp Web. Users are permitted to add text and stickers or crop and rotate their photos from any WhatsApp screen. Sticker suggestions also now appear in the chat, just like emoji suggestions. It encourages users to be more creative in their interactions.
Major redesigns were also introduced to two other aspects of the chat feature — voice notes and chat bubbles. The Meta-owned company was working on a feature that allowed users to see their voice waveforms in chat bubbles. Moreover, in October 2021, they released an updated version for beta users on the iOS platform that allowed users to view redesigned chat bubbles. The users could see rounder and larger chat bubbles when compared to the previous version. Additionally, one can preview their WhatsApp voice recordings. Previously, users could only cancel the recording without any option to preview it.
This change is rather useful, as it can allow users to rehearse and improve their notes rather than testing the quality of their recorded notes but having no evidence to make rectifications.
Besides these changes, WhatsApp has also increased the user limit for video and voice calls from four to eight. These calls would be end-to-end encrypted. The platform is expected to introduce several major updates in 2022, including the introduction of Instagram reels, as well as a Read Later option that could replace the archived chats feature. More details would be shared once these changes are widely available.
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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 ImagesThe 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.
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. WhatsAppOnce 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. WhatsAppIn 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.
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.
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.
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 InsiderNow 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 InsiderOne 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
Associate Producer, The Refresh
Grace is the Associate Producer of Insider's audio news product, The Refresh.
She was previously the Asssociate Editor on Insider's Tech Reference team. 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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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.
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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 WhatsApp Web works, or How to use WhatsApp on a computer
Despite the popularity of WhatsApp, this is a very non-universal messenger. Unlike Telegram, WhatsApp cannot work simultaneously on several devices. Or rather, maybe, but with a number of significant reservations. The reason for this, as it turned out, was a problem in the message synchronization mechanism. That is, WhatsApp is not able to track progress from one device to another if they are both offline at that time. In short, game.
Nevertheless, the messenger has a web version, but it works far from being as obvious as it might seem. nine0003
WhatsApp Web can be run in a browser on any computer
WhatsApp told how to understand that you have been blocked
browser power and is intended exclusively for desktop devices. In other words, for computers. Because running it on a smartphone in normal mode will not work. You can read more about this in this article. nine0003
How to transfer WhatsApp to a computer
Since WhatsApp is able to work on several devices at once only rather conditionally, in order to connect to WhatsApp Web , you will need a smartphone. Even though the developers claim that they have canceled the binding of the web version to the mobile version, technically it is still there. True, now the device is needed not to maintain the messenger on the computer, but for authorization. But what does it change?
- Go to web.whatsapp.
com from your computer; nine0062
You can only connect to WhatsApp Web using your smartphone
- Open WhatsApp on your Android or iOS phone;
- Press "Menu" or "Settings" and open the QR code scanner;
You still won't be able to connect without a smartphone
- Point your phone at the screen and read the QR code;
- Confirm linking the device to your account and scan the QR code on the PC screen again if required.
You definitely believed it! Collected the 10 most popular myths about WhatsApp
If before it was necessary that the smartphone always remain in line of sight from the computer running WhatsApp Web , now it is in the past. WhatsApp from the phone is no longer relayed to the computer, but is needed simply for pairing. It became more convenient. But the authorization procedure will have to be performed every time after logging out of WhatsApp Web .
Since all messages in WhatsApp Web no longer pass through your smartphone, then the traffic will not be consumed, regardless of the amount of data transmitted or received through the desktop version of the messenger. Therefore, it makes no difference how connects to WhatsApp Web : via LTE or Wi-Fi. But keep in mind that when using cellular networks, the load will fall on the mobile Internet, which for most users is not unlimited.
How to disable WhatsApp Web
If you don't want use whatsapp in browser , you can download whatsapp version for computer from this link. It installs like a normal application. But fundamentally, the experience of use will not change this. The desktop version of WhatsApp , just like the browser version, requires pairing with a smartphone for the first access, although it has ceased to serve as a kind of hub.
You also need to disconnect WhatsApp Web from computer correctly.
