How to configure whatsapp web
How to Set up and Use WhatsApp Web or the Desktop App
- You can use WhatsApp Web from your computer's browser by linking your account through a QR code from the WhatsApp mobile app.
- You can also use WhatsApp from your computer by installing the WhatsApp desktop application.
- You can open multiple WhatsApp accounts on your computer as long as you use a different browser window for each one.
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.
You'll need to scan the QR code in your WhatsApp mobile app to log in.
Dave Johnson 2. Start WhatsApp on your phone.
3. Tap Settings. On iPhone, you'll find Settings at the bottom right of the screen, but on Android tap the three-dot menu at the top right and then choose Settings in the drop-down menu.
4. To the right of your account name, tap the QR code icon.
Use the QR code icon to log in to your desktop's WhatsApp. Dave Johnson5.
On the QR code screen, get ready to scan. On iPhone, tap Scan at the bottom of the page; on Android, tap the Scan Code tab at the top.
6. Point your phone's camera at the QR code in WhatsApp on your computer.
7. If this is your first time using WhatsApp on the computer, you will see the Device Login Detected pop-up. Tap Continue and then tap Link a Device.
For a rundown on all the different ways to use WhatsApp, see our guide to the popular messaging app.
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 web replicates the chat conversations from your mobile app. Dave JohnsonWhatsApp 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.
On the other hand, be aware that you always need your phone to log into WhatsApp on the computer — there's no way to use WhatsApp Web without your mobile app.
Dave Johnson
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.
Read moreRead less
Here's how to use WhatsApp web on your PC, laptop or tablet
View WhatsApp messages on a PC, laptop or tablet with WhatsApp Web. Here's how to get the WhatsApp desktop app.
Advertisement
India Today Web Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 7, 2019 15:42 IST
By India Today Web Desk: Still using WhatsApp on your phone? There are ways to get around this on your tablet and on a personal computer.
Whatsapp Web syncs with the mobile app to let you send and receive WhatsApp messages from your computer. Any action you take on the phone will apply to WhatsApp on your computer and vice versa. You can access WhatsApp on both your phone and your computer.
advertisement
You can use WhatsApp on your computer in two ways:
Here's how to view WhatsApp in a web browser:-
Open your PC, laptop or tablet browser and head to web.whatsapp.com
-
On an Android phone open WhatsApp, tap the three dots at the top right and choose WhatsApp web.
-
On an iPhone start WhatsApp, tap the settings icon at the bottom left and choose WhatsApp web/desktop.
-
You'll be prompted to use your smartphone's camera to scan the QR code visible in your computer's web browser.
-
Then point your phone camera at the computer screen to scan the code.
-
Whatsapp web will automatically launch in the browser and will remain active until you log out either from your computer or your phone.
-
You can select this option on your phone by returning to the WhatsApp Web menu and choose to log out from all devices.
-
For logging out from your PC you can do it by tapping the three dots icon at the top of the conversation thread, then choose Log out.
-
Install the WhatsApp web desktop application, available for PC or Mac from whatapp.com/download.
-
Click the green download button to install the WhatsApp application on your computer.
-
Then find that file in your downloads folder and double-click it to install.
-
On a Windows computer, you should follow the steps in the installer' and on a Mac simply drag the WhatsApp icon to your applications folder.
-
Start the WhatsApp desktop application and the process is the same as above.
-
The app will keep you logged into WhatsApp until you choose to log out.
-
Note: Whatsapp can only be installed on your computer if your operating system is Windows 8 (or newer) or Mac OSX 10.9 (or newer).
Read: Here's how you can share your friends' Instagram stories in your own story
advertisement
Also read: Here’s how you can make a video of your screen in iPhone and Android
Edited By:
Harshita Pathak
Published On:
Jun 7, 2019
Advertisement
Also Watch
6:24
Shraddha murder case: Burnt her face to conceal identity, Aaftab tells cops
1:54
More UK visas for Indians: A look at types of visas
58:47
Delhi Police gets court's nod to conduct Aaftab's narcotics test, India assumes G20 presidency
41:47
Cops to look into Aaftab's water bills, BJP releases 'Dilli ke thugs' posters, ED summons Soren
1:20
Bengal TMC MLA’s comment on Bangladeshi immigrants’ voting rights sparks row
Advertisement
Read This
Delhi Police gets 5-day custody of Aaftab Poonawala
Beer, Netflix, and chill: What Aaftab did after chopping Shraddha's body into 35 pieces
Married woman missing for 2 months killed by lover in Haryana's Karnal, say cops
Rahul Gandhi stands firm on Savarkar remarks, Uddhav Thackeray differs
Shraddha murder case: Burnt her face to conceal identity, Aaftab tells cops | Report
Advertisement
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. nine0005
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. nine0005
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 one, 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; nine0024
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 earlier 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 spent, 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 , 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. That is, just close the browser tab and leave will not work. If you do this, the messenger will remain open and anyone who can access this computer - especially if it is not your personal one - will be able to access the contents of your WhatsApp. Therefore, you need to act strictly according to the instructions:
How to send photos and videos to WhatsApp without losing quality
- Open WhatsApp Web in a computer browser;
- Wait for its contents to load;
You no longer need a smartphone to log out of WhatsApp Web
- In the upper left corner, click on the three dots;
- In the drop-down box, click "Exit" and confirm the exit.
Only after that the device will be unlinked from your account, and WhatsApp web version will stop working on the computer.
From now on, if you want to access the messenger on the desktop, will have to connect to WhatsApp Web again, following the instructions above. It may not be as convenient, but it is much more secure.
tricks and benefits from mobile device and computer
WhatsApp Web is the online version of WhatsApp that works through any browser. It offers its users several additional functions and features: which ones, and learning how to use them, is the goal of this guide. nine0005
How to use WhatsApp Web from your smartphone
One of the existing options is to use the web version on your mobile phone. Before you start using WhatsApp on the web from your mobile phone, there is one thing you should keep in mind: you cannot do it with the same account that you are already using on the WhatsApp app installed on the same mobile phone. That is, you will not be able to use the same account in the application and in the web version on the same phone, at least at the initial stage.
nine0005
To synchronize your account on a computer, you need to scan the QR code in the application. Since it is not possible to point the device's camera at the device's screen, synchronization cannot be achieved. However, there are some tricks and shortcuts for this, which we will see below.
Pick up the phone on which you want to use WhatsApp Web, open your browser and go to web.whatsapp.com. The site will detect that you are using a mobile phone and will show you the corresponding version, the APK of which should be downloaded. nine0005
WhatsApp website
However, this does not interest us. If you're using Chrome, click the three vertical dots icon in the right corner of the browser. In any other browser, look for the same general options menu. Select View Desktop Site from the menu. Thanks to this option, we will be able to see the web version available in any PC browser.
Display WhatsApp website in desktop format
You will be taken to the next screen where a QR code will be displayed.
nine0005
QR code to scan
Now take a smartphone with WhatsApp configured, open the application and click on the three dots icon in the upper right corner.
Enter the WhatsApp application menu
From the options menu, select WhatsApp Web .
Select WhatsApp Web
You should see this screen as a tutorial explaining what to do. Click the green button Ok .
Click Ok
The operating system will ask you to grant WhatsApp access to the camera and photos if you have not already done so. After that, scan the QR code that is displayed on the screen of your other smartphone.
Scan the QR code
If everything went well, the Internet will identify you and synchronize your chats on both devices.
WhatsApp Web on an Android smartphone
What if we want to do everything on one mobile phone? Turn on your ingenuity, take a screenshot of a QR code and quickly send it to another screen (PC or other smartphone) from which you can scan it.
Confusing but effective. And by the way, hurry up, because the codes are limited, and if you don't do it in time, you will have to generate a new code. nine0005
How to use WhatsApp Web on desktop PC
To use WhatsApp Web on PC, first open a browser and visit the WhatsApp website. Once on this site, click on WhatsApp Web at the top of the site.
WhatsApp website
At this point, a QR code will appear on the screen.
Scan QR code to use WhatsApp Web on PC
Open the WhatsApp application and access the options menu by tapping the icon with three vertical dots in the upper right corner. nine0005
Enter the WhatsApp application menu
Select WhatsApp Web .
Select WhatsApp Web
This will open your device's camera and a square that acts as a scanner for what you point at.
Point the device's camera at the QR code that appears on the PC screen.
Scan a QR code on a website using a smartphone
At this point the site will recognize your account and you will get all the chats on the screen.
Benefits of using WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp Web is a more limited version than the desktop or smartphone version, but it has various benefits that many users may find useful:
One account on two devices
Using WhatsApp Web is the only way use the same user account on two different devices. You can chat on your mobile phone and, for example, continue the conversation on your computer. nine0005
In any case, keep in mind that for proper operation, both devices must be turned on and close to each other, otherwise the synchronization will be interrupted.
Type faster
Using the web version, especially if you are typing from a computer or device with a physical keyboard, you can take advantage of the keyboard. The speed of typing on a physical keyboard is usually (sorry for tactile typing speeds) faster than on a virtual on-screen keyboard on a mobile device. There is more space, and this directly affects our typing speed. nine0005
Share everything much easier
Since it allows you to quickly share links from the clipboard or files located on your PC, it is very easy and quick to share them with any contact. In addition, the drag-and-drop function makes all these actions easier.
Save battery
It is true that both devices must be turned on, nearby, and connected to the network in order to be able to synchronize the application and the site, but after that the smartphone screen may remain off. This will save you a lot of battery life, and quite a lot, since WhatsApp is usually one of the most used applications and therefore consumes a lot of battery. nine0005
No installation required
WhatsApp Web does not require installation. Thanks to the web version, you don't have to install anything on your computer and therefore won't take up its memory. This also makes it useful no matter what operating system or device you are using: with a browser, you can use WhatsApp Web even on tablets. If the computer is not yours, you can use WhatsApp Web without making changes to the bowels of the system.
Notifications
Because the app and site data are synchronized, each new message or call creates a web notification that you can see right away. You can easily take your eyes off the screen as the website itself offers you notifications.
WhatsApp Web Best Tricks or Tricks
Here are a few tricks to get the most out of WhatsApp Web and get the most out of it:
Keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are an easy way to make using WhatsApp Web easier. With practice, you will master them, and with this you will be able to increase the speed of moving between chats, replying to messages, or using any other supported features. Here is a list of keyboard commands applicable to WhatsApp Web:
- Ctrl + N : create a new chat.
- Ctrl + Shift + ] : Go to the next chat in the left menu. nine0024
- Ctrl + Shift + [ : Return to the chat list.
- Ctrl + E : Use this command to archive a chat.
- Ctrl + Shift + M : Mute the chat so you don't receive sound notifications.
- Ctrl + Backspace : This keyboard shortcut is used to completely delete a conversation.
- Ctrl + Shift + U : Mark messages as unread.
- Ctrl + Shift + N : create a new chat group.
- Ctrl + P : Access your user profile.
- Alt + F4 : close the chat window.
Attach files
One of the biggest benefits you'll get when using WhatsApp Web is the ease it offers for sharing files.
True, when using the web version, some functions, such as sending audio files or locations, disappear, but for everything else, it's a piece of cake. In this sense, you will use Windows Explorer and your knowledge of organizing files and folders on a computer, where there is obviously a lot more space and you store a lot more things, not to mention the number of possibilities that open up through external hard drives. nine0005
Clicking the paperclip icon in the upper right corner will display a list of file types that you can share, such as images from the gallery, photos taken at the exact moment, documents, or contacts.
File attachment menu
The best part is, if the file is supported, you can skip this step and drag files directly into the conversation to share them.
You can drag and drop attachments
Read messages without showing double blue checkmark
Perhaps this is one of the most useful tricks, although it is more the result of chance than a function intended by the creators.
When you receive a new message, instead of clicking on a conversation in the chat list to enter it, hover your mouse over the message for a few seconds: you will be able to see a preview of the text without entering the chat, preventing read receipts from being displayed.
Message preview not showing double blue checkmark nine0005
Multiple accounts in multiple browsers
If you have more than one WhatsApp account with different numbers, there is nothing to stop you from opening them all at the same time. Take advantage of the incognito window or open another browser to configure and access additional WhatsApp accounts.
Transfer files between mobile phone and PC: single group
Above we mentioned the simplicity of WhatsApp Web about file sharing. Following this example, it can be the perfect ally for transferring files between mobile phone and PC. To do this as discreetly as possible, create a WhatsApp group with someone and remove it from the chat after creation.
You will have an all-you group that can serve as a cross-device file sharing box. nine0005
Group with you as the only member
Direct access on smartphone
For those who use the web version on mobile devices, the solution to the problem of constantly opening the messenger website is to create a shortcut on the home screen. Open the web version, and then the options menu of your browser. In this example, we are using Chrome.
Go to browser menu
Select Add to Home screen .
Select Add to Home Screen
There are two ways to do this: if you click the icon and drag it, you can move it to the home screen and place it manually. If you click Add Automatically , the system will do it for you.
Choose how to add an icon to the home screen
As a last step, you can also enter a label name.
Name the label
From now on, you will get a shortcut to the web version on the screen, which you can easily distinguish from normal direct access to the application. nine0005
Dark Mode
The introduction of WhatsApp Dark Mode has kept WhatsApp Web from falling behind, so you can continue to enjoy it. Open the WhatsApp Web options menu by tapping the three vertical dots icon at the top of your chat list. Once there, click on Settings .
Open the options menu and go to Settings
From all the options displayed, select Theme .
Select Theme nine0005
You can switch between two modes: light and normal, or dark with black background and light font. Choose what you need from the drop down menu.
Select the desired theme
Changes will be instantly applied to the interface.
WhatsApp Web with dark mode
Video calls
Video calls can also be made from WhatsApp Web, although this is done through a different platform from Facebook, Facebook Messenger chats. Open the website, click the paperclip icon in the upper right corner, which is usually used to attach files, and tap the video camera icon. nine0005
Access to video calls
A new window will open where you can start setting up your Facebook Messenger chat rooms.
Setting up Facebook Messenger for video calls
Emoticon labels
Emoticons have become an integral part of messages in messaging apps, and WhatsApp makes it easy to add them to text without opening a menu thanks to keyboard shortcuts.
Keyboard shortcuts for adding emoticons nine0005
When you're typing and want to add an emoji, all you have to do is type the characters ":" followed by the word that best defines the emoji you want: there are usually several results, including the emoji you looking for.
For example, type ":sad" to quickly see the icon in sentences and add it to your text.
The most common WhatsApp Web problems and how to solve them
Sometimes you may encounter various problems using the messenger that you want to solve. We will tell you all about the most common problems and, most importantly, what you can do in each case to try to solve them. nine0005
Site won't load
If you're trying to visit a site and can't, check the most obvious thing: whether you have an Internet connection. To do this quickly, try signing into Google. If you can't do that, a quick fix might be to reboot your router, or in the worst case, contact your ISP.
You should also check that you have entered the correct web address. The WhatsApp website address is www.whatsapp.com, but if you want to go directly to WhatsApp Web, visit web.whatsapp.com. nine0005
Unsupported browser
Not all browsers are supported.
To use WhatsApp Web, you must be using Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, or Safari (assuming any Chromium-based browser is also compatible with this version). If one of them doesn't work, try another.
Browsers compatible with WhatsApp Web
If you're using any of these browsers and still can't access, the issue may also be with your browser version. Make sure you have the latest version available by using the settings menu or by visiting the appropriate website. nine0005
QR code does not appear
To configure WhatsApp Web, you need to generate a QR code and scan it with your mobile phone. If this code is not generated when accessing the site, it means that the Internet connection was interrupted. Reload the page to check... And proceed to the usual actions in case of failure; wait a few seconds, restart your router, and contact your ISP if none of the above work. nine0005
Not receiving notifications
The first time you use WhatsApp Web in a browser, it will ask you for permission to display notifications.
If you do not grant these permissions, you will not receive any notification and will not be aware of new messages.
To check the status of permissions, look for the padlock icon next to the web address at the top and click it.
Touch the lock icon
In the popup menu you can check if you have granted permissions, in this example you can see the permission to send notifications is blocked. Click on “x”...
Notification authorization blocked
The website itself will now warn you with a message at the top of your chat list that notifications are blocked a. When you click it, WhatsApp Web will again ask for permission to send notifications.
Click Allow Notifications
If you click on the padlock again to check the situation, you will see that permission to send notifications is now enabled in the browser.
Notifications included
Restricted Wi-Fi networks
If you're on public Wi-Fi and you can't sign in to WhatsApp, it's likely that the organization in charge of the network has blocked access to the page.
In this case, request access permissions from your network administrator to be able to use the web version without problems on such networks.
Cache files
Browsers store the sites we visit so that we can display information faster in the future. However, these files can become corrupted and cause web pages to not display or function correctly. If you think that this might be related to your problems with WhatsApp Web, please check the security and privacy settings of the browser you are using and look for the cache section. Try to erase all data from memory (all browsers support this feature) and try to connect to the service via the Internet again. nine0005
Phone or computer without internet
For WhatsApp Web to work, an internet connection is required. Otherwise, you won't be able to send or receive messages through the web version, no matter where you run it, when it doesn't, the site itself will notify you via a message.
Notification that phone is not connected
Make sure your smartphone is turned on and connected to the Internet. If problems persist, please sign in to the app, it can sometimes get disconnected from the servers when you exit it or when your phone is locked, and this is necessary to sync your data. nine0005
The same happens with a PC: without an Internet connection, it is impossible to view messages and reply to them. The site also warns you if there are problems connecting your computer to the Internet.
Notification that the computer is not connected
WhatsApp is open in another browser
WhatsApp account can only work on mobile phone and browser at the same time. If you try to access the site and get the following message, it means that there is another computer running an account in a different browser, and until you close the session in the first one, you will not be able to start it in the second one.
When you sign in to an account in one browser, you sign out of an account in another. nine0005
WhatsApp Web is already in use in another browser
Click Log Out to log out or Use Here to start using WhatsApp on this computer and log out on another.
If, despite this, the problem is still present, then log out of the account on all computers and restart the configuration. To do this, open the mobile application, enter the options menu and press WhatsApp Web .
Open the WhatsApp Web option from the application menu nine0005
A list will appear with all the devices you have connected from. Click Log out from all devices .
Click Log Out from all devices
Confirm the process and you will close all open sessions, allowing you to reconfigure the web client wherever you are.
Confirm that you want to exit
Media content disappeared
WhatsApp Web shows the same content as your mobile app.
If you are trying to access a file and you see a message like this, then that content is no longer on your mobile phone. In this case, you must ask the person who sent it to resend it. nine0005
Attachments too large
When sharing files, you may encounter an error or an obstacle. Keep in mind that there are limits on both the type of file you can send (WhatsApp is compatible with several widely used formats) and the size of those files. If you exceed the limit, the website will notify you via an on-screen message that it is unable to share the corresponding file. In these cases, you need to find a way to reduce the file size or just use another method to share it. nine0005
Audio file exceeds supported size
Anti-Virus and Firewall
Anti-Virus and Firewall may be the culprit for platform malfunction. Make sure that your antivirus is not restricting access to the page and that the appropriate ports in your firewall are open or properly configured so that WhatsApp Web can send and receive messages.
WhatsApp crashed
Just like any online platform, WhatsApp also has crashes. Sometimes technical issues can affect the operation of the platform and prevent the web client from working properly. If you suspect that this is the cause of the crash, use any of the existing online services to check if a website or service, such as Downdetector, has gone down. There, you can check the current status of the service. nine0005
Downdetector WhatsApp status analysis
Update WhatsApp
Another possible solution to problems while using WhatsApp Web may be the version of the application you are using. Do you have the latest version installed? This is the only way to make sure you have the most stable, secure and feature-rich version available. We have already explained to you how to update WhatsApp for Android. Please check if your version is up to date to make sure that the error related to connecting to the messaging application did not appear for this reason.
