Searching for 'WhatsApp PC download' usually means you want a standalone desktop client, not the browser-based WhatsApp Web. WhatsApp Desktop mirrors your phone's chats after a one-time QR scan, works in its own window separate from your browser tabs, and supports native notifications, voice and video calls, and file drag-and-drop. It requires your phone to stay connected to the internet, since WhatsApp Desktop links to your existing WhatsApp account rather than creating a new one.
WhatsApp Desktop App vs. WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp Desktop and WhatsApp Web both mirror your phone's account, but they behave differently day to day. The desktop app runs as its own installed program, so it keeps working in the background, sends native OS notifications, and does not close when you shut a browser tab.
WhatsApp Web, by contrast, lives inside a browser tab and stops syncing the moment that tab or browser closes. If you keep WhatsApp open all day on a PC, the desktop app is the more reliable choice.
Who ends up using WhatsApp Desktop
People who keep WhatsApp open all day for work or family chats while typing on a full keyboard tend to install the desktop app.
- Remote workers who message clients and coworkers on WhatsApp throughout the workday
- Family members coordinating plans who prefer typing on a keyboard over a phone screen
- Small business owners handling customer inquiries without picking up their phone
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about WhatsApp Desktop before you request the link: it covers Windows and macOS, so grab the build that matches the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, WhatsApp Desktop is free to use outright — there's no paid tier hiding behind it, so what you install is the whole app. It's developed and maintained by Meta.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- macOSa recent macOS release — check the download page for the current minimum version, since Apple Silicon vs Intel builds sometimes differ
It's a lightweight tool, so there's no serious CPU/RAM/storage requirement beyond what its OS already needs to run comfortably.
Quick steps
- Download the WhatsApp Desktop installer for Windows or macOS
- Run the installer and launch WhatsApp Desktop
- Open WhatsApp on your phone, go to Linked Devices, and scan the QR code shown on your PC
WhatsApp Desktop: the honest trade-offs
- Native desktop notifications keep messages visible without checking your phone
- Full keyboard makes typing long messages much faster than on mobile
- Voice and video calls work directly from the PC app
- Requires your phone to stay connected to the internet at all times
- Lacks some newer features that appear on mobile first
This page links directly to Meta's official WhatsApp Desktop distribution, not a third-party repackage, so you get the same build Meta ships from whatsapp.com.
Other Communication downloads people search for
Browse the full Communication category →
Keeping WhatsApp Desktop up to date
WhatsApp Desktop usually has a built-in updater or store-based auto-update (Microsoft Store / Mac App Store / Play Store, depending on platform); if you installed it manually, re-downloading the current build from the official source is the fallback. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main WhatsApp Desktop page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my phone nearby to use WhatsApp on PC?
Yes. WhatsApp Desktop links to your phone's account, so your phone needs an active internet connection for messages to sync, even though it doesn't need to stay unlocked.
Can I use WhatsApp Desktop without installing the app?
Yes, WhatsApp Web at web.whatsapp.com works in a browser tab without installing anything, but it only stays active while that tab is open.
