WhatsApp for Windows: Desktop Messaging and Calls

WhatsApp for Windows brings your conversations to your PC, so you can reply with a keyboard, share files from your computer, and make calls without switching back and forth to your phone. It is a desktop companion for people who already use WhatsApp and want to handle everyday chats while working or studying.

What you can do on your PC

• Send private and group messages, photos, videos, documents, and voice messages.
• Make voice and video calls. Calls need an internet connection; video calls also need a camera, and calling requires a microphone and audio output device.
• Use notifications and search to keep up with conversations, and drag files into a chat to share them.
• Join group calls and share your screen during a call.

For example, you can answer a message while working at your desk, send a document from a folder on your PC, or join a video call with a headset and webcam. WhatsApp says messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted. This describes protection for their content, not every type of account or device information.

Account and Windows requirements

To use the desktop app, link it to your existing WhatsApp account. WhatsApp’s desktop guidance says messages and notifications can still arrive when your phone is offline, but you need an internet connection on the PC. Windows support is listed for 64-bit Windows 10, version 1903, or later. If your PC does not meet the requirement, WhatsApp Web is an alternative in a browser.

The app is free to install. Calls use an internet connection, so your network or mobile provider may charge for data. To make calls, allow WhatsApp to use the relevant microphone and camera, if needed.

How to download and install

1. Select Download on this page to open WhatsApp in the Microsoft Store.
2. On the store page, check that the app is named WhatsApp and the developer is WhatsApp Inc.
3. Select the store’s install button and follow its prompts. Then link the app to your existing WhatsApp account.

WhatsApp for Windows is a practical choice if you want messaging, file sharing, and calls on a larger screen. Check your Windows version and make sure you have an account to link before installing.