WhatsApp dumped its native app for Windows in favor of a web wrapper earlier this year. The new version of WhatsApp uses a tremendous amount of RAM and does not perform as well as its predecessor.

The move to a web wrapper allows the developers of WhatsApp to maintain a single code base across platforms. That should — at least in theory — result in an up-to-date and feature-rich application.

While the new WhatsApp uses more RAM, it also has some features the native version lacked. For example, the Status and Community sections of WhatsApp are more robust and fleshed out on the web wrapper version.

With RAM prices so high, I'd prefer to use an app that's light on system resources, but you could argue that the increased RAM usage is worth it if you get the latest features more quickly.

So, imagine my disappointment when WhatsApp rolled out an update that added support for Group Member Tags and Text Stickers, only for me to realize the features are currently exclusive to mobile devices.

Here's what's new in WhatsApp, at least on the mobile side of things:

• Member tags: We all wear different hats, and sometimes you want to give that more context in a group chat. Now you can give yourself a tag that tells the group what your role is, and can be customized for each group you’re in. So you can be “Anna's Dad” in one group, and “Goalkeeper” in another.
• Text stickers: For the messages you want to really stand out, you can now turn any word into a sticker by typing your text into Sticker Search. You can also add newly created stickers directly to your sticker packs instead of having to send them in a chat first.
• Event reminders: Now when you create and send an event in your group chat you can set custom early reminders for your invitees. This helps everyone remember to commute to the party you’re hosting or hop on the call at the right time, depending on the event type.

I'm in a bunch of group chats — too many, really. In addition to chats with family, I am in several group chats for the various American football teams I'm involved with.

In one chat, I'm there as a head coach. In another, I'm an assistant. In a third, I'm a former player there for banter. Member tags are a feature I could see myself using frequently.

As far as I can tell, the features that rolled out to mobile devices have not made their way to any of the desktop versions of WhatsApp. So, it's not like WhatsApp has left out its Windows app specifically.

Interestingly, setting a member tag on a mobile device results in that tag appearing in group chats viewed on WhatsApp Desktop and WhatsApp Web. It's just the ability to set member tags that's missing on the desktop.

I can't say the same for text stickers when it comes to partial support on the desktop. That feature remains exclusive to the mobile versions of WhatsApp.

Hopefully, the WhatsApp feature gap will close soon. If a messaging app is going to use over 400MB of RAM, which is what the app is using on my PC right now, I'd at least like to be able to use all of WhatsApp's features.

Do you message from you PC? If so, which apps do you use? Let us know in the comments!

WhatsApp just took another step toward pushing PC users to its new web app. If you open WhatsApp for Windows, you'll see a vague warning message that mentions "changes are coming to WhatsApp for Windows."

What that message fails to mention is that WhatsApp is shifting back to a wrapped web app. WhatsApp started testing its new web wrapper back in July. The move makes development easier for WhatsApp, but the change comes at the cost of system resources for users.

The warning message mentions the update starting on December 9, but it appears to be rolling out gradually.

The new version of WhatsApp can use an astronomical amount of RAM. Windows Latest performed testing earlier this month and saw the WhatsApp web wrapper consume up to seven times more RAM than its native counterpart.

I haven't seen spikes quite that high, but RAM usage can vary depending on how many active conversations you have.

The new WhatsApp is powered by WebView2, which is a factor in why it uses more RAM.

By WhatsApp's own admission, its native app is better than its web wrapper. The company used to have a support document that said (emphasis added):

"To improve the WhatsApp experience for desktop users, we've developed native apps for Windows and Mac operating systems. The Windows and Mac apps provide increased performance and reliability, more ways to collaborate, and features to improve your productivity."

That document has since been updated and no longer explains why a native app is better than a web app. Instead, WhatsApp simply explains the general benefits of WhatsApp for Windows, such as being able to share photos, send messages, and join Communities.

The main drawback of the new WhatsApp is that it's a wrapped web app, which means it uses more RAM than a native application. While it's perfectly fine to use RAM — unused memory is wasted memory — your experience can worsen if your PC is at its limit.

If many of your apps are inefficient or you want to use a more demanding app while also having WhatsApp open, it would be better if your messaging app used fewer system resources.

Considering the price of RAM these days, upgrading a PC with more memory is not a viable solution to WhatsApp switching to a web wrapper.

There are some improvements that come with the new version of WhatsApp, such as an improved Community experience. We'll have to wait until more people use the latest version of WhatsApp to properly gauge people's feelings about the update.

Let us know in the comments what you think of Meta's latest move for Windows users and what you think of the new webapp WhatsApp!

WhatsApp appears set to drop its native Windows app to shift to a web wrapper. The latest version of WhatsApp Beta looks significantly different from the app currently available to everyday users.

The new version of WhatsApp places the web interface of the communication app inside a web wrapper.

Whether it's right to call it “enshittification” — a term popularized to describe the gradual degradation of digital services — or simplification is a matter of debate. The shift to a web app makes it easier for WhatsApp to maintain a single code base that extends across platforms.

I suspect some WhatsApp users will focus more on the negatives, including the fact that the web app uses more RAM than the native version of WhatsApp. WhatsApp also looks out of place on Windows 11, since it no longer uses the same design language as the operating system or well-designed apps that adopt the same UI elements.

Notifications will also work differently with the WhatsApp web wrapper.

Moving to a web app adds some functionality, though. The current beta version of WhatsApp has more options for the Status and Communities section of the app.

It's not just me that claims the wrapped web app is worse than a native Windows app, an official WhatsApp support document says as much (albeit implicitly):

"To improve the WhatsApp experience for desktop users, we've developed native apps for Windows and Mac operating systems. The Windows and Mac apps provide increased performance and reliability, more ways to collaborate, and features to improve your productivity."

The native Windows app mentioned in that document is the one that is being replaced by the web app, assuming the new version of WhatsApp makes it out of beta.

The same document lists several features that were once exclusive to the native version of WhatsApp, but I believe some of those items have since made their way to the web version of the app. For example, I just used WhatsApp Beta on my PC to make a call.

Some of the features listed were never exclusive to the native version of WhatsApp, such as being more productive because you can type on a larger keyboard.

WhatsApp reiterates the performance and reliability of a native app, stating that version of WhatsApp is "Designed and optimized for your computer’s operating system."

The change was first spotted by Neowin, which found that the new WhatsApp used 30% more RAM than the native version of the app.

The timing of the switch is particularly odd, given that WhatsApp started testing a native iPad app in May of this year. Notably, the iPad version of WhatsApp entered public testing roughly 16 years after WhatsApp launched for iPhone.

I'm curious to see how people react to the change. Many developers and app enthusiasts are purists who prefer native apps. My guess is that many people would only care about the change if it caused significantly worse performance or took away features they use regularly.

What are your thoughts on WhatsApp switching from a native app to a web wrapper? Let us know in the comments below.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is improving the share experience for Windows 11 users by making it easier to share URLs to apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn directly from the Windows share window.
• The company made significant improvements and changes across the OS, including integrating AI into Notepad and a new feature that will auto-launch Copilot on PCs with wide screens.
• Microsoft is getting ready to ship the next Windows 11 feature drop in February.

Microsoft is kicking off the year in high gear, seemingly doubling down on its efforts to enhance Windows 11's user experience with many new features. The company has already started testing some features via the Windows Insider Program, including the Copilot auto boot feature for Windows 11 PCs with wide screens, integrating AI into the Notepad experience, and more. 

The Redmond giant is also working toward enhancing the sharing experience on Windows 11. Users will be able to share URLs to apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn directly from the Windows share window.

According to Microsoft, this feature will streamline the sharing process further for users as they'll now be able to share URLs across these platforms directly from Microsoft Edge and other browsers. 

Windows 11's Moment 5 feature drop is coming

According to our Windows sleuth, Zac Bowden, Microsoft is getting ready to ship Windows 11's next big feature drop next month. The update is expected to ship with a ton of quality-of-life improvements, including upgrades to some of Windows 11's built-in accessibility features, improvements to the Windows 365 cloud PC integration, and the option to remove news from the Widgets Board.

Microsoft is also incorporating a new feature that will let users ink directly into text boxes across the OS. This feature isn't exactly new, as it has been available on the platforms for some time now, but it is still a neat addition (especially for PCs with a digital pen).

We're also likely to see changes inspired by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) across the OS, especially after Microsoft was listed as a gatekeeper last year by the EU Commission and given six months to comply. Failure to comply could cause the company to attract hefty fines.

What you need to know

• The ability to share content to WhatsApp through the Windows share button recently rolled out to Beta Channel Insiders.
• Very few apps support the share button on Windows.
• In contrast, a large number of apps on iOS and Android integrate with similar functionality on those operating systems.

A recent Insider build of Windows 11 flags up the sad state of developer relationships with Microsoft. Windows 11 Build 22635.2850 recently shipped to Insiders in the Beta Channel, and it includes the option to share content to WhatsApp through the share button on Windows. The feature lets you share a website or other content to some apps with a couple of clicks, but very few apps support it.

Some Microsoft apps, such as Skype, Outlook, and LinkedIn work with the share button. Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) support the feature as well. But quite a few apps lack integration with the share button, including Telegram and even the Drop feature in Microsoft Edge.

The feature is officially referred to as the "Share using" section by Microsoft in its blog post about the addition of WhatsApp support and Build 22635.2850.

Microsoft's struggles with developers

Microsoft made it possible for apps to integrate with the share button years ago. It's not like the company just rolled out the feature. The support document outlining how to add the feature shows that the process is rather simple. So why has it taken so long to start testing WhatsApp support through the share button? Ask Meta. It's on developers to add the necessary code to their apps.

The fact that share button support is only in testing now is saddening. Similar functionality has been available on iOS and Android for ages. You can blame Microsoft for not being as convincing as Apple and Google or blame Meta and other companies for not adopting new Windows features, but the reality is the same. Developers do not work to take advantage of Windows 11 features to anywhere near the same level as they do for iOS and Android.

Windows 11 Build 22635.2850, which introduced the option to share through WhatsApp, shipped to Beta Channel Insiders on December 8, 2023. The addition sparked a conversation on Reddit regarding the share button in Windows.

"Why is the share button so useless?" asked Reddit user Beautiful_Car8681. They added that "there are so many other programs (Telegram, Discord) that are not available with the share feature, and even basic features like Bluetooth or Drop (the latter share files between Desktop and Android)."

They raise a good question, especially when it comes to Microsoft's own features. Why should Meta and other companies care about integrating with the share button when some Microsoft apps fail to support it?

What you need to know

• WhatsApp now supports sending and receiving HD photos on iOS, Android, and the web.
• The functionality is rolling out gradually, so you may not see it on your device right away.
• HD photos sent on the platform will have a resolution of up to 4096 x 2692, though users will still have the option to save images in standard quality (1600 x 1052).

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, but it has been far behind its competitors when it comes to image quality. Up until now, photos sent through WhatsApp have been limited to standard quality. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that WhatsApp now supports sending HD images.

The new option is rolling out over the coming weeks, so you may have to wait a bit to try it. When it is available, you'll see an HD icon within WhatsApp when you go to send a photo. As many would expect, and hope, HD images are still end-to-end encrypted.

WABetaInfo tested sending HD images when the feature was in beta earlier this summer. The outlet's reporting confirmed the resolution options for HD and standard quality images. It appears WhatsApp will support photos up to a resolution of 4096 x 2692.

If you're trying to limit your data usage or save storage space on your device, you can still choose to receive an image in standard quality (1600 x 1052). There are plenty of pictures that don't need to be in 4K, at least in my experience. For example, you could choose to send a meme in lower resolution but switch to higher quality when sending an image of a friend or family member.

While the company did not share a release windows, support for HD videos is on the way to WhatsApp as well.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp started rolling out screen sharing recently.
• The feature works on WhatsApp for Windows, iOS, and Android.
• Screen sharing support is rolling out gradually, so not all users have access to it at this point.

WhatsApp is one of the most used communication apps on the planet, but until recently it lacked a key feature provided by its competitors. Up until last week, WhatsApp did not give users an option to share screens during a video call. That's changed, however, with the release of a recent WhatsApp update. The new feature is rolling out gradually, according to TechCruch, so you may not have the option to share your screen just yet.

Mark Zuckerburg, the CEO of Meta, announced the addition to WhatsApp last week. Screen sharing will work on iOS, Android, and Windows, bringing video calls in the app to feature parity with competitors in an important area.

While almost 2 billion people use WhatsApp each month, they have to hop over to another app if they want to share their screens. That drives people away from WhatsApp and over to Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms when they need to share content from a screen.

When Zuckerberg discussed the ability to share a screen, he showed a screenshot of the feature in action. The image also shows off what a WhatsApp call looks like in landscape mode rather than portrait mode. The main video feed of the call is featured in a wide aspect ratio and then meeting participants are shown in smaller squares on the side.

WhatsApp started testing screen sharing in beta with select users back in June 2023.

What you need to know

• The latest WhatsApp Beta update brings the up to version 2.2322.1.0.
• WhatsApp Beta will let you share your screen with other users while on a video call.
• Experimental features like screen sharing and dark mode are first shipped to WhatsApp Beta for testing before they are rolled out to more users.

WhatsApp has incorporated several new features for testers to try out in the past couple of months, including a dark mode that's persistent throughout the app. A new version of WhatsApp Beta just dropped, bringing it to version 2.2322.1.0.

The update ships with screen-sharing support. You can now share your screen with other users on a video call. This will allow the platform to compete with other platforms like Skype and Slack on an even playing field.

Microsoft Teams also ships with the Live Share feature designed to allow users to collaborate in real-time during meetings. It's also possible to share an app window directly into a Microsoft Teams meeting via the Taskbar in Windows 11.

The screen-sharing feature will be available to limited users on WhatsApp Beta initially, but it should roll out to more users in the next few days. If it's available, the option will be at the bottom of your screen every time you're on a video call.

The feature was shipped to the Android beta channel last month, bringing it to version 2.23.11.19. It should be noted that the number of people in the video call and the type of device used can limit screen-sharing support. However, it seems that there won't be the same limitations for Windows users.

While using the feature on Windows, you can either share a specific window or your entire screen. Users joining the video call using mobile phones will also be able to view the content you are sharing.

You can download the latest update from the Microsoft Store for free on Windows 10 or Windows 11 and check out whether you can access the feature. As is the case with most beta apps, you might encounter some issues or bugs. 

Alternatively, you can download WhatsApp Desktop, it's now a native app on Windows with a new UI and enhanced performance. You'll also be able to send and receive messages even if your phone is offline.

What you need to know

• Meta just launched a new WhatsApp app for Windows.
• The app supports video calls with up to eight people, audio calls with up to 32 people, and is faster than previous WhatsApp experiences on Windows.
• WhatsApp also received an update this week that added new controls for admins of communities and a new way to see which groups you have in common with people.

WhatsApp has a new app on Windows 11 and Windows 10. Meta just announced the application, which is available for download. In addition to being faster than previous iterations of WhatsApp on Windows, the new app supports video calls of up to eight people and audio calls with up to 32 participants.

Multi-device capabilities rolled out to WhatsApp in 2021, allowing users to sync messages across devices even if their phone was off or offline. That functionality raised the profile of WhatsApp for the web and WhatsApp on Windows.

While WhatsApp has been usable on PCs for years in some format, such as the web, the new Windows app feels like a concerted effort to bring WhatsApp on Windows to parity with the app on other platforms.

Alongside the new WhatsApp app for Windows, Meta shipped some changes to WhatsApp that extend across platforms. Here's what's new:

New controls for admins

As more people join communities, we want to give group admins more control over their group privacy, so we’ve built a simple tool that gives admins the ability to decide who is able to join a group.When an admin chooses to share their group’s invite link, or make their group joinable in a community, they now have more control over who can join. Groups are where people have some of their most intimate conversations and it’s important that admins are able to easily decide who can and cannot come in.

Easily see groups in common

With the growth of Communities and their larger groups, we want to make it easy to know which groups you have in common with someone. Whether you’re trying to remember the name of a group you know you share with someone or you want to see the groups you’re both in, you can now easily search a contact’s name to see your groups in common.

These features will start rolling out globally over the coming weeks, as we continue to build new tools to make groups the best experience for admins and members alike.

Microsoft recently announced that it will retire the current free version of Teams on April 12, 2023. A new version of Teams will be available after that date, but I won't be using it, and neither will my American football team. The awkward transition between free versions and Microsoft's push to get organizations to pay to keep data made me look for other options.

To keep the data from the current free version of Teams, you'll have to pay for a subscription. There are several options available, but they already require some form of monthly payment. There is no option to move chats and certain other types of content to the new free version of Teams.

In March 2020, I wrote about how Microsoft Teams changed my football team during the pandemic. We used the platform for virtual classrooms and communication for years. I have since migrated my team to WhatsApp Communities, in part due to Microsoft's sloppy transition from one free version to another.

Microsoft won't even support mixing paid and free users. That means if I wanted my American football team to transition, I'd have to choose between losing our chats and having to manually transfer all saved files to the new free version or paying for every single member of my team. Neither of those are tenable.

To be clear, the new free version of Teams would be fine if I planned to start using it in April, and it will be fine for some organizations. But my team has already used the soon-to-be-retired free version of Teams. That means there are years of messages, meetings, and files stored there. When Microsoft Teams Free (classic) is retired, all of our data goes away.

It's possible to download files ahead of the retirement and then upload them to the new free version of Teams, but with years of spreadsheets, presentations, videos, and photos to go through, it would require work to migrate. And that effort hardly seems worth it when other content, such as messages, won't move to the new free version of Teams. As far as I can tell, the Teams Export API that lets you bulk export messages requires a paid license.

To be honest, even if it was possible to bulk export all of my data and then import it into the new version of Teams, I'd probably choose to switch to another platform. Microsoft clearly has the technical capabilities to keep the data. It's doing just that for anyone that pays to upgrade to a paid license. The company's decision-makers have just decided that free users don't get that privilege.

The obvious question is if I'm going to lose our data anyway, why not just swap to the new free version of Teams from scratch? I suppose I could, but I'm nervous about what will happen in the future. If I start with this new version of Teams, will Microsoft pull a similar move in the future? While WhatsApp isn't perfect, it has a track record of adding features for free users, not taking them away.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp Desktop is now a native app on Windows.
• Previously, WhatsApp on Windows was a web-based desktop application.
• With the switch to a native experience, WhatsApp Desktop should deliver better performance, a cleaner interface, and be able to send and receive messages even when a user's phone is offline.

WhatsApp just got a big update on Windows that improves performance, cleans up the app's look, and allows people to send and receive messages when their phone is offline. The update to WhatsApp Desktop swaps it from a web-based desktop app to a native app for Windows. WhatsApp has tested its new app in beta for quite some time, but the new version is now generally available.

The biggest change is that WhatsApp Desktop can receive notifications and messages without requiring syncing through a phone. WhatsApp can connect to four devices without needing a phone that's online. The feature maintains end-to-end encryption as well, which is an important distinction between WhatsApp and some of the best WhatsApp alternatives.

WhatsApp outlines the changes to its desktop application on an FAQ page.

WhatsApp Desktop experience changelog

WhatsApp Desktop users have been using our web-based desktop app (WhatsApp Desktop) or our browser-based app (WhatsApp Web). As we're always trying to improve the WhatsApp experience for our users, we're developing apps native to Windows and Mac operating systems.

Advantages of native apps:

• Increased reliability and speed
• Designed and optimized for your desktop operating system
• Continue to receive notifications and messages even when your phone is offline

In addition to working without a phone needing to be online, WhatsApp Desktop has a cleaner look. It's also faster and more reliable, according to WhatsApp. Twitter user and Windows developer Daniel spotted the new WhatsApp (via The Verge).

A native Mac version of WhatsApp is in the works as well.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp Beta for Windows now supports reacting to messages with emojis.
• The same functionality was already available on the iOS and Android versions of WhatsApp.
• With the feature, users can select between one of five emojis, but they cannot customize which ones are presented as options.

The Windows version of WhatsApp Beta is catching up to its Android and iOS counterparts, at least when it comes to one feature. The latest build of the app supports reacting to messages with emojis. The option is not part of a controlled rollout. Instead, it is available to all people using WhatsApp Beta version 2.2223.11.0, according to Neowin.

Emoji reactions aren't new to social media apps. In addition to WhatsApp supporting them on Android and iOS, they're also available on a long list of other platforms, such as Microsoft Teams.

WhatsApp's implementation is a bit limited when compared to its competitors. Users can only choose between one of five emojis for a reaction on WhatsApp. There doesn't appear to be any way to customize which five emojis appear as options either.

The five emojis that are available as reactions are: thumbs up, heart, crying, shock, sadness, and prayer hands. Those convey a range of emotions, but it would be nice to be able to select a different set of five.

Earlier this year, WhatsApp released a different emoji-related feature. Back in April, the company added an emoji shortcut feature that shows relevant emojis when typing messages. Users can make the shortcuts appear by typing a colon followed by a word, such as ":hello" to see a waving hand. That feature was also previously available for other versions of WhatsApp but later made its way to the UWP edition.

What you need to know

• The latest WhatsApp beta UWP release is getting archived chats.
• You can view archived chats as well as archive and unarchive them, though there is the risk of bugs (this is a beta, after all).
• The feature is rolling out now, so as long as you have WhatsApp beta for Windows 2.2213.3.0, keep your eyes peeled.

For those of you who've been following the WhatsApp beta UWP release's progress, get ready for another milestone: Archived chats and their associated functionalities are rolling out now, so long as you're on WhatsApp beta for Windows 2.2213.3.0.

The update was spotted by WABetaInfo, the site keeping tabs on all things WhatsApp beta-related.

It's not just possible to view archived chats with the new beta update. You can also manually archive existing chats and unarchive them, though WABetaInfo notes there's a chance you'll encounter bugs along the way, including unarchiving a chat not refreshing the chat list. But that's what betas are for: To test things, expose bugs, and eventually address them.

Between this, emoji shortcuts, dark mode, and all the other key features arriving within the WhatsApp beta release, the UWP version of the communications tool is coming together. With that said, if you don't want an incomplete (Whats)app, you can always sit on the sidelines until all the features have arrived and bugs are ironed out (there's no telling how long you'll be waiting in that case, though).

What you need to know

• WhatsApp is trying out an increased file transfer limit of 2GB with some beta testers.
• The current file size limit for WhatsApp is 100MB, which is relatively small compared to some competing platforms.
• As smartphone cameras improve, the file sizes of photos and videos generally trend upward.

WhatsApp is testing out an increased file size limit for select beta testers. According to WABetainfo, a small handful of WhatsApp Beta users are able to send files up to 2GB in size. The increased limit appears to be restricted to certain testers in Argentina, but it could be a sign of things to come for WhatsApp.

WhatsApp's current file size limit is 100MB. That cap is generally enough for any photo or short video but may not meet the demands of certain people. As smartphone cameras improve, the size of videos and photos increases, at least generally speaking. Videos that are around a minute long can easily be over 100MB with certain camera settings.

In addition to the limit restricting which content can be sent through WhatsApp, the cap is lower than that of some of the best WhatsApp alternatives. For example, Telegram supports files up to 2GB.

While WhatsApp trails behind some social media platforms, it is far ahead of Discord, which limits messages to 8MB unless users have Nitro, which allows for larger file transfers.

At the moment, only some users in Argentina have the option to send larger files through WhatsApp. The new option may roll out to a wider set of users in the future.

What you need to know

• The latest WhatsApp beta release is here, bringing the app to version 2.2206.1.0.
• The app now features emoji shortcuts so when you type certain words, you'll have speedier access to their corresponding emoji.
• Dark mode was also added in a recent update.

The WhatsApp beta UWP releases keep getting richer and richer with features. Now that dark mode has been added, the developers have turned their attention to emoji shortcuts.

As reported by WABetaInfo, version 2.2206.1.0 of the WhatsApp beta includes the emoji shortcut feature, which will enable you to more quickly access relevant emoji when you type certain keywords with a colon beforehand.

Though this feature's existed in WhatsApp before, it's new to the beta UWP release.

It's been a hectic time for emoji in the larger tech sphere thanks to the scandal surrounding Windows 11, so this news offers a change of pace. Unless you're of the mindset that anything involving Meta is equally distressing, in which case, thank you for reading this far.

If you want to catch up on other WhatsApp beta UWP news, don't forget about the recently added dark mode feature, or the fact that you can download the beta from the Microsoft Store right this very moment. That last point sparks a question: What are you still doing here? Go enjoy WhatsApp. Experience speedy emoji access thanks to the new shortcut feature. Continue to share important communications with friends and family under the watchful eyes of Meta.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp Beta now has a dark mode available for testing.
• Dark mode is available starting with version 2.2205.2.0 of WhatsApp Beta.
• WhatsApp Beta allows people to test out upcoming and experimental features, such as the multi-device experience that lets you sync multiple pieces of hardware to a WhatsApp account.

WhatsApp Beta just received dark mode in its latest update. Version 2.2205.2.0 adds a stylish dark mode to the app that testers can now try out. The addition is not noted on the Microsoft Store listing for WhatsApp Beta on the Microsoft Store, but we've been able to enable dark mode in our testing.

Dark mode persists throughout the app, including the settings page, chat background, and title bar.

WhatsApp Beta lets people test out experimental and upcoming features for WhatsApp. For example, the app supports the new multi-device feature that lets users sync WhatsApp from multiple pieces of hardware. When using the multi-device feature, people can stay connected to WhatsApp even if their phone is offline.

You can also use ink in WhatsApp Beta, which adds another way to communicate with your friends and family members.

As with all beta versions of applications, you may run into some performance issues or bugs when using WhatsApp Beta. If you'd like to try it out, you can grab it for free through the Microsoft Store. WhatsApp Beta is avaialble on both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

What you need to know

• Cryptocurrency has been extending its reach into the daily lives of average people over the past few years.
• Recently, it managed to gain mainstream appeal with the likes of AMC Theatres.
• Now, crypto payments are being piloted within WhatsApp for certain app users.

Everywhere you look, there's crypto. The big guys like Mark Cuban and Elon Musk have already weighed in on it, and every day, it seeps into more parts of life even for non-enthusiasts. Take, for example, crypto's fresh infiltration of WhatsApp.

Via Novi, users can exchange crypto within WhatsApp. It's in pilot, so not everyone's going to get to start sending their digital currency to friends with ease through the Meta app. Plus, the wallet's pilot is only going on in the U.S. and Guatemala, and even then, not all U.S. states are in on the fun. In other words, check your WhatsApp to see if you're invited to get sending and receiving, but don't be disappointed if that's not an option yet.

Novi's move is just the latest in the mainstream embrace of crypto. El Salvador, on a country level, has opened its arms wide to the notion of digital currency and is committed to building a literal Bitcoin City. Meanwhile, AMC Theatres announced crypto tolerance is coming to its chain, meaning you should be able to buy your Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie tickets with a bit of Litecoin.

If you're not in the digital currency circuit already and want to learn how to mine crypto, we have you covered. Furthermore, don't worry about doing the research on what hardware you need to get in the game: Here are the best GPUs for crypto mining.

What you need to know

• The UWP version of WhatsApp Beta is now available through the Microsoft Store.
• Leakers recently shared images of the WhatsApp Beta UWP app.
• The app supports inking, toast notifications, and WhatsApp's new multi-device functionality that lets you stay connected without your phone being online.

WhatsApp is working on a new app for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Leaks showed of the app earlier this week, and it's now available to download in its beta form through the Microsoft Store. Well-known leaker WalkingCat shared a link to the WhatsApp Beta listing on November 15, 2021.

The new WhatsApp app has a new design that looks a bit more at home on Windows. It supports inking and traditional toast notifications. The WhatsApp Beta app also works with the new multi-device feature for the service. This allows users to stay connected to WhatsApp even when their phones are not connected to the internet. Note that you have to enroll your phone in the multi-device beta to use this feature.

Here's the description of the app from its Microsoft Store listing:

We've downloaded WhatsApp Beta and will run it through its paces to see how it compares to using WhatsApp as a PWA and the older version of WhatsApp from the Microsoft Store.

What you need to know

• Twitter, home to many leaks and scoops, has bestowed upon Whatsapp and Windows fans a new treat.
• It's a fresh look at the Whatsapp Beta UWP app heading to a Windows operating system near you.
• The new app retains the look of what web Whatsapp users are already familiar with.

Aggiornamenti Lumia occasionally drops nuggets of cool, not-yet-seen info that may interest Windows users. Today is one of those days, as the site has provided us all with a sneak peek at the new Whatsapp Beta UWP app.

If you're sick and tired of web Whatsapp for whatever reason, this could be good news for you. An app such as this one has been wanted by many. And better yet, though it'll be its own entity, it carries a design that's quite similar to web Whatsapp so you won't have to learn any newfangled, complex interfaces.

The leaks also confirms support for inking, which is an excellent addition for those using touchscreen PCs, as well as traditional toast notifications (even when the app is closed).

Everyone loves a good UWP app, so this Whatsapp news may come as a pleasant surprise for many. After all, there are entire UWP communities built around the idea, keeping new apps coming via nothing but passion and some good old-fashioned coding.

However, not everyone is a fan of Whatsapp, so for many, this news may very well be a nonstarter. Plenty of people hate Facebook (Meta) to the core and aren't happy with what the company has done to the service, hence the rise of the best Whatsapp alternatives. Disregard this news altogether if you're not a fan of hearing about Meta's activities, be they related to Whatsapp or the burgeoning metaverse.

What you need to know

• Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are all down right now.
• The outages started around 11:30 AM EST.
• This is a developing story, and we will update it as more details become available.

Update, October 5, 2021 (7:55 ET): Facebook services are recovering from outage. Facebook explained that the outage was caused by a single issue.

Just in time for people's lunch breaks on the east coast of the United States, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are all down. The popular web services started experiencing outages around 11:30 AM EST.

While the top four sites on DownDetector are owned by Facebook, outage reports are quickly appearing for other services. DownDetector shows a severe spike in outage reports for Snapchat, Twitter, Xbox Live, and several other services.

YouTube, Google, and Pokemon Go are also among the sites affected by current outages.

Several mobile carriers are also seeing outages, including T-Mobile, Verizon, and at&t.

This is a developing story. We will update it with more information as it becomes available. Please refresh the page for the latest updates.

What you need to know

• Emoji reactions appear to be on the way to WhatsApp.
• Screenshots of the feature in action were recently shared online.
• Support for emoji reactions is reportedly on the way to both iOS and Android.

WhatsApp will soon support emoji reactions, according to a recent leak from WABetaInfo. A previously leak from the same outlet showed that emoji reactions were on the way to WhatsApp, but we now have a screenshot of the feature. Emoji reactions are said to be on the way to the iOS and Android versions of WhatsApp in the future. You should be able to sync them over to your PC with WhatsApp Desktop.

The feature looks like you'd expect. With it, people can add any emoji they'd like as a reaction to a message. WABetaInfo states that WhatsApp will support an infinite amount of reactions, but if there are more than 999, people will see "999+" on the message.

WhatsApp is a bit late to the party when it comes to emoji reactions. Many popular messaging services already support the feature, including Twitter, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Skype. Facebook already supports emoji reactions in Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs. Soon, the feature should work within the popular WhatsApp as well.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp faces a €225 million fine for violating GDPR laws.
• It's the largest fine that Ireland's Data Protection Commission has ever issued.
• Facebook is appealing the fine and claims that it has been transparent and comprehensive regarding data use.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined Facebook-owned WhatsApp €225 million (approximately $267 million) for violating GDPR privacy laws. It's the largest fine that Ireland's DPC has ever issued. The fine follows an investigation that began on 10 December 2018.

The DPC's investigation examined if WhatsApp was transparent in how it handled the data of WhatsApp users and non-users. Part of the investigation looked at how data was processed between WhatsApp and other companies owned by Facebook.

The investigation was lengthy, looking into how WhatsApp collects, stores, and shares user data. It also looked into if WhatsApp's policies regarding data are clearly communicated. The final decision breaking down the results (PDF) of the investigation is over 260 pages.

On top of fining WhatsApp, the DPC reprimanded the company:

Facebook disagrees with the decision of the DPC. "We have worked to ensure the information we provide is transparent and comprehensive and will continue to do so," said a WhatsApp spokesperson. "We disagree with the decision today regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018 and the penalties are entirely disproportionate" (via PCMag).

The DPC initially sought a €50 million fine, but separate European data regulators pushed Ireland's regulators to raise the fine.

What you need to know

• The Federal Trade Commission filed an amended antitrust complaint against Facebook on Thursday, August 19, 2021.
• The complaint claims that Facebook used "an illegal buy-or-bury scheme to maintain its dominance" in the social media space.
• The amended filing centers around Facebook purchasing WhatsApp and Instagram and accusations of stifling competition.

The Federal Trade Commission filed an amended antitrust complaint against Facebook to the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia on August 19, 2021. The complaint alleges that Facebook used buy-or-bury tactics to build and maintain a monopoly in the social media space.

The FTC filed a complaint against Facebook on June 28, 2021, but a Judge dismissed it. At the time, the judge gave the FTC a chance to amend its filing. The new complaint is 80 pages, which is 27 pages longer than the initial filing. Facebook has until October 4, 2021 to respond to the amended filing. While the new filing is more defined, its central argument remains the same.

The core of the filing is that Facebook allegedly purchased or limited competing social media services, including WhatsApp and Facebook. In essence, it claims that Facebook failed to transition to the mobile space and bought up other companies rather than innovating.

Holly Vedova, FTC Bureau of Competition acting director, said, "Facebook lacked the business acumen and technical talent to survive the transition to mobile. After failing to compete with new innovators, Facebook illegally bought or buried them when their popularity became an existential threat."

Vedova continued to relate Facebook's strategy to antitrust legislation, "This conduct is no less anticompetitive than if Facebook had bribed emerging app competitors not to compete. The antitrust laws were enacted to prevent precisely this type of illegal activity by monopolists."

Facebook purchased Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. A press release on the filing states:

The filing also accuses Facebook of "bait and switch" tactics. It claims that the Facebook Platform started as an open space for third-party developers but that the company quickly made developers agree to conditions that prevented threats against Facebook from being created.

Facebook responded to the new complaint, stating, "The FTC's claims are an effort to rewrite antitrust laws and upend settled expectations of merger review, declaring to the business community that no sale is ever final" (via CNBC).

Parts of the new filing are currently redacted, so more information is expected in the future.

The whole "First!" spiel didn't sell well for Telegram in 2017. While I made the conscious decision to switch from WhatsApp and Messenger to primarily using Telegram, I was the only person within my circle of friends and family to do so. I had but four or five contacts loaded on the app, but there simply wasn't a draw to Facebook's eco-system anymore.

I don't enjoy sharing with the world exactly what I'm doing, especially when not at home. I always found the checking in business a little sketchy. Why would I want to inform the world that I'm not at home? I'm also acutely aware of how we're the product with free services like Facebook, and since the company owns both Messenger and WhatsApp, it was time for me to depart both apps.

Leaving WhatsApp and Facebook behind

Going from more than a hundred contacts to a number I can count on a single hand isn't an excellent messaging experience. Still, I wasn't in a hurry to return to Facebook and waited out for people to eventually switch. To begin with, I managed to get my partner to install Telegram so that she could use the app to message me.

Both of us continued to have WhatsApp and Messenger installed, but from then on, I was the one who barely launched either of them. 2018 saw the Cambridge Analytica scandal hit headlines worldwide, which didn't surprise me at all. Much like the grand days of Windows Phone, I thought, "Now this will be the drive for everyone to start switching platforms," but alas, it was not.

Friends continued to use Facebook more than ever before, especially Instagram. Telegram continued to be an afterthought. "Why would I switch to an app that no one I know uses?" would be the inevitable response. Again, this took me back to the Windows Phone days of "Why would I switch to a phone ecosystem that has non of my favorite apps?"

It was tough to resist the temptation of firing up Messenger. I was part of a few active groups, and while notifications were turned off, it was that gut feeling of missing out on the conversation. I did pop in every now and then to catch up on what I had missed and to check on everyone to make sure all is well, but using SMS when not losing the battle of will wasn't ideal.

Think about your own privacy

I've asked people only a handful of times to at least give Telegram a go or what their thoughts are about Facebook and their data. The responses, as you'd expect, weren't encouraging. Most simply don't care that Facebook collects so much data, which is backed by the colossal amount of media uploaded to Instagram daily.

If people don't care about images and video, they sure as hell aren't going to give much of a damn about messages. And this was the issue Telegram had. It couldn't bank on people's fear, but it also couldn't rely on word of mouth either. You're not going to switch to an app no one uses, but then no one uses it so that you won't switch to the app.

Telegram is a little different. While founder Pavel Durov was also responsible for bringing VK (Russia's Facebook) into existence, he has been footing the bill for Telegram personally. Plans are in place to introduce monetization into Telegram for 2021. Expect to see ideas ranging from providing premium features to power users, sticker packs from artists, etc.

"We are not going to sell the company like the founders of Whatsapp," wrote Pavel Durov in a Telegram message celebrating 500 million users. "The world needs Telegram to stay independent as a place where users are respected, and high-quality service is ensured. [...] And, as the sad examples of our predecessor's show, that is impossible if you become part of a corporation."

Let's be honest: you wouldn't shower with a large window open for everyone to see, right?

Everyone just joined Telegram!

Things started to change in 2019. Telegram started to make more headlines, and security was once again becoming the hot topic. WhatsApp offers some degree of encryption, like Telegram, but is owned by a big corporate giant. People finally started to wake up and take the red pill.

2020 was a good year for Telegram with the circle of people I know. I've lost count of the number of "This person just joined Telegram!" notifications I've received. After using (and enjoying) Telegram for around four years now, it's good to see it finally start to gain some serious momentum.

I really cannot thank Facebook enough for continuing to be utterly oblivious to the privacy and security of its customer base. I say "customer" as that's still what we all are. While it may be a free service, Facebook makes billions of dollars annually off the data collected from those using its platforms.

The entire situation around its current spat with Apple is yet another nail in the coffin. To argue that a company releasing a feature that will protect its own customers against all the data you need to collect to make money is detrimental to your bottom line shows how big this issue is and how okay these social media giants believe it to be to hoard massive amounts of user data.

Then you have WhatsApp, everyone's favorite messaging app, which now requires you to share data with Facebook. Telegram is like that bastion of hope, not just for messaging apps but for tech companies as a whole. I wish it would also serve as a wake-up call for many of the younger audience.

Thankfully, this Telegram tale has a far better ending than Windows Phone. I look forward to where the platform goes in 2021 and beyond.

Messaging apps are everywhere. Get more out of yours with these thoughts, tips, and guides.

• Telegram on PC
• Microsoft's Skype snafu
• Instagram's bigger than you think
• Microsoft's messaging failures and successes
• Do Slack and Teams count as "messaging"?
• RCS vs. SMS vs. iMessage
• Google's messaging failures
• How to switch your family to a new service
• Guilded is the Discord alternative you didn't know you needed
• Telegram vs. Signal vs. WhatsApp

Updated March 19, 2021 at 2:25 pm: Facebook apps and services appear to be working once more, and WhatsApp has noted the downtime is over. We'll continue to monitor their status and provide further updates if necessary. The original story follows below.

What you need to know

• Facebook apps and services appear to be down right now.
• People are reporting outages of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
• Outage reports began around 12 PM ET.

Several Facebook apps and services appear to be down right now. According to DownDetector, Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger are all down. Reports of outages started spiking around 12 PM ET.

Ironically, the outages of these popular services have pushed people to Twitter to find out more about them. At the moment, there don't seem to be any official details about the outages at this time.

If you're looking to stay in touch with your friends but mostly use services owned by Facebook, you may want to check out the best WhatsApp alternatives.

Our senior editor recently wrote about how Microsoft mishandling Skype means that most of the people leaving WhatsApp aren't looking at Skype as a viable alternative. Microsoft may want people to use Teams for everyday use, but our executive editor Daniel Rubino recently wrote about why that isn't happening.

While we wait for more details, please enjoy some of the funniest tweets we spot about the outage.

This is a developing story, and we will update it as more information becomes available.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp can now make voice and video calls through its desktop app.
• Previously, the desktop client only supported sending messages.
• The desktop client still doesn't support group calls.

After what seems like an eternity of waiting, WhatsApp is rolling out support for voice and video calls through its desktop app. The makers of WhatsApp beta tested voice and video calling for some time, but it is now rolling out to desktops, including Windows 10 PCs (via TechCrunch).

The WhatsApp desktop app now supports both voice and video calls, but only for one-on-one communication. At this time, you can't use the desktop app for group calls. In the future, WhatsApp will update the desktop app to support group calls.

You can use video calls in either portrait or landscape mode. When you're on a call on your PC, the call is "set to be always on top so you never lose your video chats in a browser tab or stack of open windows," according to WhatsApp.

Notably, voice and video calls are not coming to WhatsApp Web at this time. That means you have to download the WhatsApp Desktop app, not just pin the WhatsApp web interface. Luckily, the app is free and easy to use.

Over 2 billion people use WhatsApp (via TechCrunch). During the current global pandemic, many people have had to mix and match services to communicate through all of their devices. With support for voice and video calls on desktops, quite a few people shouldn't have to jump around between apps as much to stay in touch.

What you need to know

• You can now import chats into Telegram from WhatsApp.
• The process can import text messages and shared media.
• You can import content into Telegram on iOS or Android.

Following recent controversies surrounding WhatsApp's privacy policies, many people are looking for the best WhatsApp alternatives. Unsurprisingly, Telegram wants people to swap over to its own communication app. Telegram shared that over 100 million people joined Telegram this January. The messaging app maker has a new trick up its sleeve to tempt even more people. Starting today, you can easily import messages and shared media from WhatsApp into Telegram.

Losing old messages is a major drawback that prevents many people from switching communication apps. Telegram is easing that switch with support for important content. The feature works on iOS and Android and can be used to move both text messages and media, such as videos and pictures.

WhatsApp supported exporting a chat already, but now you can choose a specific conversation within Telegram as a share destination. The process is a bit different on iOS and Android, but it's essentially selecting to export a chat within WhatsApp and then selecting Telegram in the Share menu.

The move isn't completely seamless, however. We've tried it out on Android and when moving a chat into Telegram, all of the text messages appeared as a text file. That's not nearly as seamless as content appearing as native messages within Telegram that you can easily search.

Based on Telegram's blog post explaining the feature, it appears much more native on iOS. In the video shared in the blog post, the messages from WhatsApp appear as actual messages within Telegram, which is much more convenient.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp is rolling out support for fingerprint and face unlock for WhatsApp web and desktop.
• The feature will work with both iOS and Android.
• WhatsApp does not have access to biometrics stored on your device.

WhatsApp is rolling out face and fingerprint unlock for its web and desktop clients. The feature helps improve the security of WhatsApp when syncing it to the web or a computer. The new security feature works with both iOS and Android.

It's important to note that WhatsApp does not gain access to biometrics stored on your device. Authentication is handled by the operating system of devices, and any face or fingerprint data is not available to WhatsApp. This is how authentication works in general, but it's important to emphasis this as some have wrongly accused WhatsApp of wanting people's biometrics.

WhatsApp also emphasizes this in its FAQ page about the new security feature:

That same FAQ page also walks through the steps of setting up WhatsApp web or desktop with your iOS or Android device.

The move comes after scrutiny regarding WhatsApp's policies surrounding data. That sage left many people looking for the best WhatsApp alternatives and asking how to delete a WhatsApp account.

WhatsApp web and desktop are still popular ways to communicate from a Windows 10 PC. They allow you to sync WhatsApp from your phone and send messages from your computer, though your phone has to be on and connected to the web to work. Since they bring WhatsApp to your PC, it's much easier to type longer messages and to share media.

What you need to know

• The Telegram client Unigram received an update just before the holidays.
• The update includes support for voice chats and several other features.
• Many people are looking for an alternative to WhatsApp today following the app's privacy policy change.

Following a policy change by WhatsApp, many people are looking at alternative messaging options. The new WhatsApp policy requires people to share data with Facebook and associated companies. We already broke down the complete timeline of the change and how it goes against what the WhatsApp co-founder said would happen with Facebook acquiring WhatsApp, but the end result is that some people want to use alternatives to WhatsApp.

One such alternative is Telegram, another web-based messaging and communication app. The app is available across all major platforms and has many of the same features that people enjoy on WhatsApp, including messaging, voice calls, video calls, and easily adding people with a phone number. While Telegram has a first-party desktop app that works on Windows, there are also third-party clients for the service. We've reviewed Unigram in the past, and continued to cover it as its received updates.

Back in June 2020, Unigram received a major upgrade to version 4.0. Since then, the app has received several updates, including one that rolled out just before the holidays. That recent update brings support for voice chats in groups, sticker outlines, and more.

Unigram is updated regularly, and its developers actively try to find ways to improve the app and make it work with Windows. If you're looking at Telegram as an alternative to WhatsApp, it might be worth checking out Unigram for Windows.

Facebook is finally taking full control of WhatsApp, with plans to merge the information you put into the app with its broader human tracking systems. WhatsApp will effectively become an extension of Instagram, Facebook, and Facebook Messenger, with the privacy-shy company free to merge all of your data into a single tracking profile for advertisers, and who knows what else.

The new WhatsApp policy comes into force in February, giving people a few weeks to switch to another platform if they don't fancy contributing to Zuckerberg's global tracking ambitions. Telegram is an open-source alternative with lots of great features, end-to-end encryption chat options, and a surprisingly good Microsoft Store app.

Set up Telegram

Convincing friends and family to shift over from tried-and-tested WhatsApp might not be as easy as simply installing the app. Still, with more of us becoming privacy-conscious in our increasingly digital world, it's at least worth considering. Here's how to easily switch from WhatsApp to Telegram.

1. Download Telegram from the Microsoft Store, Android, iOS, or Mac OS store.
2. Sign up using your telephone number. Depending on your platform, your interface might look slightly different from the below screenshot.

3. You'll receive a code to verify ownership of your number. Enter it in.
4. Swipe left or open the menu, then go to settings to set up your profile. You can add a profile picture, name, alter privacy settings, and much more.
5. I strongly urge that you open Privacy and Security then set up Two-Step Verification for added security.
6. If you're using Telegram on a phone, you can go to Contacts from the side menu to find everyone on your contact list that already has Telegram or invite them using a link.

Delete WhatsApp

If you want to fully leave the Zuckerberg life behind, you'll need to completely erase your WhatsApp account. Thanks to privacy laws, doing so is a relatively easy process.

1. Open up WhatsApp.
2. Go to Settings via the three dots menu at the top, then Account, then select Delete My Account.
3. Enter your phone number, and once again select Delete My Account.
4. Deleting WhatsApp removes your account, erases all your messaging history, deletes you from all WhatsApp Groups, and erases any messaging backups.

Facebook says that it may take up to 90 days for your information to be fully deleted from WhatsApp, and it may even still retain some of your data for "legal reasons," presumably as part of any on-going investigations.

In any case, these steps will help decentralize your digital footprint away from Zuckerberg's data harvesting empire.

Facebook acquired WhatsApp back in February 2014 for a staggering $19 billion. At that time, the service had 500 million users; it now boasts over 2 billion users today.

Facebook tried a lot of methods to monetize WhatsApp over the years, introducing business accounts to allow brands to chat with customers and even turning the platform into an e-commerce destination. That said, the app was left as its own entity, and Facebook didn't meddle too much into the core service itself.

That's changing now. WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy, and the new terms requires users to share data with Facebook as well as its associated companies, including Facebook Payments, Onavo (a web analytics service and controversial VPN), and CrowdTangle (a social analytics tool). The data that will be shared with Facebook and its companies as part of the new terms includes the following:

• Profile name
• Profile picture
• IP address
• Your phone number and contacts list
• App logs
• Status messages

From WhatsApp:

This is the exact move that WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum said the service wouldn't make following news of the Facebook acquisition:

But that stance changed in 2016, when WhatsApp started sharing data with Facebook. Users could opt out of doing so at the time, but that is no longer an option. If you're a WhatsApp user and don't agree to the new terms, you won't be able to use the app after February 8. For what it's worth, Koum left Facebook in 2018 following disagreements around data gathering and privacy.

So why is WhatsApp changing its policy now? The answer is simple: ads. Facebook is intent on turning WhatsApp into an e-commerce service, and it is running trials in India with Jio for the same.

The new privacy policy allows Facebook and its partners to tailor ads based on your interactions with businesses on the platform. The fact that there's no way to opt out of the data sharing is unfortunate, and it means you'll have to look for an alternative service. WhatsApp gained momentum because of its end-to-end encryption and exhaustive feature-set, and it is sad to see the service go down this route.

I use WhatsApp every single day to talk to friends and family, interact with PR folks, get updates from my bank, new show alerts from Netflix, and so much more. WhatsApp is so intertwined into the fabric of the internet in countries like India that it's not possible to dissociate from the service. Facebook knows this very well, and that may have been one of the main motivators behind the policy shift.

If you're in a position to switch away from WhatsApp, now is the time to do so. Signal is a great alternative, and it uses the same encryption protocol as WhatsApp. There's also Telegram if you need a more feature-rich platform. Check out the best WhatsApp alternatives if you're looking to jump ship from Facebook's data collection.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp is testing video and voice calling through WhatsApp Web.
• The features have recently appeared for some beta testers.
• When you're on a call on WhatsApp Web, you'll see a pop-out with call controls and information.

WhatsApp is one of the world's most popular communication apps. It allows you to message, call, and video call people around the world for free. It has over one billion users, but some of its best features are limited to users on the phone. While WhatsApp Web allows you to message people from a computer, you couldn't use it to make calls or video calls; at least not until recently. WhatsApp is currently testing voice and video calls through WhatsApp web.

The folks over at WABetaInfo were the first to spot the new features for WhatsApp Web and XDA Developers followed up with more context.

For beta testers that have access to the features, WhatsApp Web shows voice and video calling buttons along the top of the screen. If you receive a call, you'll see a pop-up with call controls and information about the person on the other end of the call.

When you make a call through WhatsApp Web right now, you see a different pop-out window, but it shares much of the same functionality as if you were on the receiving end.

The new functionality is in beta testing and even among beta testers appears to be limited to a subset of people. WhatsApp hasn't announced a release date for call and video call support on WhatsApp web, but with it in testing, it might not be that far off from rolling out to more people.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp is beta testing a new audio and video calls feature for its desktop and web clients.
• The new feature has been rolled out randomly to some beta testers.

WhatsApp is rolling out beta testing of a new audio and video calls feature for its desktop and web clients.

According to WABetaInfo on Wednesday:

As the report notes, this feature has reportedly been in the works for about two years. It will allow users to answer voice and video calls on the WhatsApp desktop/web client in a separate window.

The report states that this feature has been rolled out randomly to some specific beta users, and is reportedly only available for "very few people" at this stage. WABetaInfo says the feature is slowly rolling out, and that it will be available to everyone within the next few weeks.

Earlier this year WhatsApp added group video calling to its mobile platform as demand for such services skyrocketed during the pandemic. WhatsApp on mobile supports video calls of up to eight people, it's unclear, however, whether this group function will be extended to the desktop/web client, or whether it will only support individual calls initially.

A whole lot of people are spending a lot of time inside during the current global health crisis, which means we're all relying on messaging and video calling apps more than usual. We asked you to chime in with how you were staying in touch with friends and family while stuck inside this week. While there were a lot of different apps to pick from, there were two clear winners: Skype and WhatsApp.

In total, our (admittedly casual) poll garnered 526 responses, with Skype and WhatsApp netting 110 (20.91 percent) and 103 (19.58 percent) votes, respectively. Following those up were phone calls and Facebook Messenger, which received 80 (15.21 percent) and 59 (11.22 percent) votes. The rest of the field was made up of the generic "other" category, FaceTime, Zoom, Houseparty, and Google Hangouts / Duo.

Because you're reading this on a Windows site, it's not too surprising to see a bit of a bias towards Skype in the results. Likewise, WhatsApp is one of the top communication apps around the globe, so its high share makes sense.

The numbers cited above represent the poll's responses as of writing this. You can still cast your vote if you missed the poll earlier this week.

Are there any entries that surprised you? Anything you would have like to see on the list? Let us know in the comments.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp dropped support for all Windows Phones today.
• This comes after Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 Mobile earlier this month.
• WhatsApp initially announced the December 31 end-of-support date earlier in 2019.

As 2019 reaches its end, WhatsApp is also coming to an end on Windows phones. WhatsApp officially dropped support for its Windows phone app today — a move that was initially announced earlier this year. This also comes just a few weeks after Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 Mobile.

"Because we will no longer actively develop for these platforms, some features may stop functioning at any time," WhatsApp said in a May 7 blog post. While WhatsApp may continue to work for some, it's likely you'll encounter bugs as time wears on. Additionally, it will no longer be possible to download WhatsApp for Windows phones from the Microsoft Store.

WhatsApp was one of the last major platforms to still support Windows phones. Facebook, WhatsApp's parent company, already dropped support for the Facebook and Instagram apps on Windows phones some time ago. And with Windows 10 Mobile already in the grave, Microsoft has shifted its mobile efforts to a robust set of app offerings across iOS and Android.

WhatsApp users can continue to use the app on iOS and Android devices, as well as through the WhatsApp desktop app for Windows 10.

In yet another reminder of how fragile our internet ecosystem can be, it appears Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp are all experiencing outages around the globe. According to Downdetector, the areas experiencing the most trouble are users on the East Coast of the U.S. and Europe.

The Independent reports that WhatsApp users are experiencing issues when trying to send photos, videos, and voice messages. However, text messages seem to be unaffected because they require less bandwidth.

So far, the reason for the outage is unknown, but Facebook has confirmed the outages to Mashable with this statement from a Facebook spokesperson:

Are you having trouble with Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp? If so, let us know in the comments, and we'll keep you posted on when everything has been restored to normal.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp might be removed from the Microsoft Store after July 1, 2019.
• Windows Phone is losing support for WhatsApp at the end of 2019.
• Other older operating systems are also losing support.

WhatsApp might not be available from the Microsoft Store after July 1, 2019. An update appeared on the WhatsApp FAQ page (via OnMSFT) that includes new information about Windows Phone:

This phrasing is a bit vague since it uses the word "might," but it seems likely that WhatsApp will be removed from the Microsoft Store sometime in the relatively near future.

It was already known that the Windows Phone version of WhatsApp is losing support by the end of 2019. In addition to the Windows Phone version losing support, Android versions 2.3.7 and older and iOS 7 and older are also losing support, though those are supported until February 1, 2020.

Once a version of WhatsApp is no longer supported, features might stop working since it's no longer being developed. If you already have WhatsApp on your Windows Phone, it might work for some time after support is ended, but could stop functioning at any moment.

Affordable accessories that'll pair perfectly with your PC

Every one of these awesome PC accessories will enhance your everyday experience — and none cost more than $30.

KLIM Aim RGB gaming mouse ($30 at Amazon)

Whether you're a gamer or not, this is an absurdly good mouse for the price. It's ambidextrous, has a responsive sensor, a braided cable, tank-like build quality, and, yes, it has RGB lighting, though you can turn it off if that's not your thing.

AmazonBasics USB speakers ($16 at Amazon)

These neat little speakers may only pack 2.4W of total power, but don't let that fool you. For something so small you get a well-rounded sound and a stylish design. And they only cost $16.

Razer mouse bungee ($20 at Amazon)

Use a wired mouse? You need a mouse bungee to keep your cable tidy and free of snags. You get no drag on the cable, and this one has subtle styling, a rust-resistant spring and a weighted base, all for $20.

WhatsApp is preparing to fully drop support for Windows phones by the end of 2019. In an update to a blog post that revealed the end of support for older operating systems in 2016, WhatsApp now says it will drop support for all Windows phone operating systems, including Windows 10 Mobile, on December 31, 2019 (via MSPU).

In addition to all Windows phone versions, WhatsApp added expiration dates of February 1, 2020, for Android versions 2.3.7 and older, as well as iOS 7 and older.

"Because we will no longer actively develop for these platforms, some features may stop functioning at any time," WhatsApp says. While the app may initially continue to work, you'll likely start encountering major bugs as WhatsApp continues to make changes on its end and Windows phone grows stale.

Windows 10 Mobile itself is set to lose support from Microsoft in December, so it's not entirely surprising to see another app abandoning the platform. You will, however, be able to continue using the WhatsApp desktop app going forward.

See at Microsoft

Cheap PC accessories we love

Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.

Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)

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Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)

This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.

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This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.

If something happens and you can't social it, did it really occur? That's the Zen koan everyone is mulling right now as Facebook services from Messenger to Instagram to WhatsApp are failing to send, receive, or function in any meaningful way.

No word yet on what's wrong, what bug or problem happened, what issue or failure is persisting, just that people who want to chat or post can't chat or post. (Twitter is still up, so in grand internet fashion, you can at least watch people complain about everything else being down.)

It may not be everywhere. It may not be for everyone. But enough people are complaining that, if you were worried it was just you, rest easy. You're not alone in your social frustrations right now.

If your favorite social service is down, let us know which one. And, when it starts working again for you, well, let us know that too.

Meanwhile, hold to hope, and go talk to someone IRL if you absolutely have to.

WhatsApp for Windows Phone is one of the few apps on Windows 10 Mobile today that continues to receive frequent updates from its developer. Unfortunately, the app itself is one based on Silverlight, which is what apps built for Windows Phone 8.1 used back in 2014. This means the app isn't a Universal Windows Platform app (UWP,) and as such doesn't run across all the different Windows 10 platforms and devices available today.

That means that if Microsoft's rumored Andromeda device ever does happen, the WhatsApp app available right now won't run on it, because the version of Windows 10 that runs on Andromeda doesn't support old apps based on Silverlight. On a device like Andromeda, an app like WhatsApp is a must-have. Luckily, it appears that Microsoft may be working closely with WhatsApp in bringing its Silverlight app to UWP, along with updating its UI with a refreshed interface that features Fluent Design.

Concept art of this work recently popped up on Behance by a designer hired by Microsoft who appears to be working on the project. Unfortunately, the Behance listing was pulled after we approached the designer for comment. While the project on Behance didn't tell us much outside of what the app may look like, it does give us our first hint towards an apparent partnership between Microsoft and WhatsApp. The only context surrounding this work is a paragraph on what the project is about:

Working together?

Based on the project description, it sounds like Microsoft and WhatsApp are working closely together in updating WhatsApp for the Universal Windows Platform, which will enable it to run across different Windows 10 devices universally. Of course, while these concept images don't give us definitive proof that a UWP app of WhatsApp is in the works, it does serve as confirmation that WhatsApp and Microsoft are at least brainstorming such an idea.

Judging by the concept images, a WhatsApp UWP app would combine the functionality of both the Windows Phone app and the Windows 10 desktop app available today. On desktops, the UWP app would simply act as a "relay" application allowing users who use WhatsApp on their iOS or Android device and send and receive WhatsApp content directly on their PC via WhatsApp Web syncing.

The app would also act as a native client for Windows 10 devices that have telephony capabilities, which is why this app is crucial for something like Andromeda and is probably a big part of why Microsoft is talking with WhatsApp Inc. about building a true UWP app of WhatsApp in the first place. We asked Microsoft for comment, and they responded with the following statement: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors and speculation." So, take that as you will.

It would be super awesome if later this year, Microsoft announces a brand new, beautiful WhatsApp app for Windows 10 that works across a wide variety of Windows 10 devices, including Andromeda. Of course, since these are only concepts, even though they were designed under Microsoft it doesn't mean such an app will ever see light of day. But, at least they appear to be talking about it.

When you share a YouTube video in WhatsApp for iOS, tapping on the link allows you to watch that video right within your conversation thread without having to leave it and open the full YouTube app. Today, similar functionality is now available for Instagram and Facebook videos.

As part of the latest 2.18.51 update for the iOS version of WhatsApp, tapping on a link to an Instagram or Facebook video will now allow you to watch it right from WhatsApp – all in-line with your current conversation.

The feature appears to still be rolling out to everyone, and while it's not currently available on Android, I'd expect to see it made available soon.

Additionally, the 2.18.51 update also adds further support for group chats, including the ability to add/revoke admin privileges from other users and active admins can edit the description, icon, and subject of an ongoing chat.

Download: WhatsApp for iOS

Jan Koum, the Co-Founder and CEO of WhatsApp, is officially leaving the company, reportedly as a result of various clashes and disagreements with Facebook.

The Washington Post:

Encryption was also said to be an issue:

It also sounds like the problems extend beyond Koum:

Koum posted on his personal Facebook confirming his departure, but not stating any reasons other than it being time to move on:

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg commented on Koum's post:

It's unclear who will be replacing Koum's shoes as CEO of WhatsApp, and over the coming months, it'll be interesting to see if his absence has any impact on WhatsApp's features or policies.

If you're a WhatsApp user, what are your thoughts on this?

• See WhatsApp Desktop at Microsoft
• See WhatsApp for Android at Google
• See WhatsApp for iOS at iTunes

WhatsApp has been working on bringing its desktop app to the Microsoft Store for some time, with the first hints of a store listing having popped up early last year. After quite a wait, the app is now available on the Microsoft Store for everyone to download. But if you were hoping for something taking advantage on Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP), this doesn't look to be it.

The WhatsApp Desktop app on the Microsoft Store appears to be a conversion of the existing desktop app for Windows. Still, all of your chats are accessible as you'd expect and, importantly, this gives Windows 10 S users a way to install WhatsApp. For other versions of Windows 10, the only benefit to installing the Store version would be offloading automatic updates to the Store.

In any case, if you're interested in giving WhatsApp Desktop a shot, the Microsoft Store version is available now. Alternatively, you can grab the Win32 version directly from WhatsApp.

See at Microsoft Store

A lot of talk went down yesterday about a new way to exploit WhatsApp and bypass the end-to-end encryption the company likes to mention that it has. I've seen tweets and comments that run the gamut from "it's FUD" to talking about some backdoor that Facebook had installed.

The good news is that it's neither. In fact, you don't need to be concerned about it, and instead, it is one of those things that make you wonder how it ever happened in the first place. But don't worry — it will be fixed long before anything happens.

What it is

Researchers Paul Rösler, Christian Mainka, and Jörg Schwenk at Ruhr-Universität in Bochum, Germany released a research paper that found a peculiar flaw in WhatsApp's group chat administration. WhatsApp offers the same end-to-end encryption for group chats that it does for individual chats, and that usually means we should be able to feel safe in knowing that the things we say won't be read by anyone who shouldn't be reading it.

Apparently, it's theoretically possible for a stranger to add themselves to a group chat on WhatsApp.

In a WhatsApp group chat one or more of the original members is an administrator. From the server's point of view, that means that these people are able to add and remove people from the group. Everything is good so far, even though the way it works — an administrator sends a signal to every member of the group with his or her signing keys and in return, each member sends a return message with their signing keys then the originator of the message notifies each member that there is now a new person in the group — is a bit of a kludge in order to create a good user interface. If you're not an administrator, the only thing you know is that you see a message that a new person is now a member of the group. You can either accept that or leave the chat.

The problem is that WhatsApp isn't properly authenticating these group management requests on its own servers. A WhatsApp server needs to properly ID the sender of a message that would add a person to a group chat. The person sends a message that IDs both the group and the member it wishes to add, and the server checks to make sure the person who sent it is actually a chat administrator. These messages aren't end-to-end encrypted, and instead use standard transport encryption — the message coming from a chat administrator and going to a server that requests a user be added to a chat is not signed by the sender with their encryption key.

This means a WhatsApp server can add any user it wants to any group, at any time. The server can, not another user. That's important, and it means any privacy expected in a WhatsApp group chat depends solely on trusting the WhatsApp chat server. That defeats the entire purpose of end-to-end encryption, which is designed so privacy is guaranteed even if a server is compromised because only the sender and recipient can decrypt a message.

This shouldn't be a big deal but still needs fixing

The only way this flaw can be exploited is by someone with access to the server. That means a server gets compromised, or an employee goes rogue, or a three-letter government agency files a warrant. Any of those things could happen, might have happened in the past, and could even be happening right now. But one other thing needs to be considered — you'll know if it happens to your chat.

The first thing that a server does after a member is added is notify every other member of the group that "XXX Person was added to the chat." When a new person arrives at the private chat party, and nobody invited him, that's going to be a sign that something's wrong and nobody should consider anything they are about to type as private. Pack up and move to another chat and maybe even a different service.

So nobody is going to be able to secretly check out your encrypted group chat, but this still undermines end-to-end encryption. It needs to be fixed right away, and maybe even the whole group management method needs to be revamped.

What you need to do

Nothing, really. Appreciate the work done by Rösler, Mainka, and Schwenk in finding this flaw because security researching is a thankless and often mind-numbing job. A method of authenticating the request to add a member to an encrypted group chat will be sorted out by the folks who keep WhatsApp's wheels spinning, and this will change from a flaw that will never be exploited to a flaw that can no longer be exploited at all.

What's important is that you were paying attention, because the next flaw might very well be one that does need action on your part.

Facebook and its related networks, Instagram and Whatsapp, experienced an outage that prevented some users from accessing either the entire service or some functionality within the service.

No word yet on how many users are experiencing issues or for how long, though it does look like the problems have been or are rapidly being resolved.

In a statement to The Verge, Facebook said:

Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram have all been fine for me this morning. If you've been experiencing problems with any of those services, or with Whatsapp, let me know in the comments. Also let me know when they start working for you again.

If you're a WhatsApp user still on Windows Phone 8.0, you may want to start thinking about an upgrade. WhatsApp has announced that it will end support for Windows Phone 8.0 on December 31, 2017 (via Neowin).

Windows Phone 8.0 isn't the only platform that is losing support from WhatsApp at the end of the year; BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10 and Nokia S40 are included as well. WhatsApp simply states that you won't be able to use the app after December 31, but it does caution that "some features may stop functioning at any time" because these apps are no longer being actively developed.

This move is likely to affect only a very small group of people, not least because Windows Phone 8.0 is no longer even supported by Microsoft. Fortunately, the app will continue to be supported on Windows 10 Mobile for some time, and Windows Phone 8.1 continues to enjoy support as well.

Download WhatsApp from the Windows Store

News of high profile apps coming to the Windows Store keeps heating up, with the latest being the potential arrival of WhatsApp Desktop. Initially reported by Aggiornamenti Lumia, a WhatsApp Desktop listing has now appeared in the Windows Store, but you can't quite get your hands on it yet.

The app appears to be a straight conversion of the currently available WhatsApp Desktop app for Windows using the Desktop Bridge. According to Aggiornamenti Lumia, the app stipulates that your PC must be running at least the Anniversary Update, and you will need to connect it to your mobile phone to mirror messages. That said, the converted desktop app isn't available for download just yet, and there's no clear indication on when it may become so.

WhatsApp Desktop's appearance on the Windows Store follows news that Spotify and iTunes will eventually be making their way to the Windows Store. And the timing is no fluke: Windows 10 S, which is restricted to using only apps from the Windows Store, was only just revealed. It's likely we'll see the Windows Store start to beef up its offerings to enhance this student-focused version of Windows 10.

In any case, if you're interested in WhatsApp desktop, you can download the current app from WhatsApp now. We'll bring you more once it's available to download on the Windows Store.

See WhatsApp Desktop on the Windows Store

A fresh update is now available for WhatsApp for Windows Phone, heralding the return of text statuses that WhatsApp promised just last week. The update itself is relatively minor otherwise, but it does contain a slight tweak to the settings menu as well.

For a bit of history, when WhatsApp recently introduced its new Snapchat-like Status feature, it had the unfortunate effect of replacing the app's previous text status. After a bit of backlash from users, WhatsApp has added text statuses back — albeit in a slightly different spot. Now, you can set a status or away message by heading to the "Profile" portion of the settings menu and editing the "About" option.

On top of the return of text statuses, the settings menu has also been tweaked slightly. What was once labeled "About" in the main settings menu is now known as "Help." The same information — the FAQ, support information, and version number — are still there, just under a different heading.

If version numbers are of interest, this update moves the app up from version 2.17.88 to 2.17.114. If you're an avid WhatsApp user, you should be able to grab this update from the Windows Store now.

Thanks for the tip, Amandeep!

Download WhatsApp from the Windows Store

Update: This issue appears to be resolved and notifications for WhatsApp are slowly coming back online for Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile handsets. Original article follows.

If you've been wondering why nobody has messaged you on WhatsApp this morning, they probably already have and you just didn't know. It appears WhatsApp on Windows Phone is suffering from an issue that has stopped all notifications coming in until you open the app, essentially making the platform useless for Windows Phone users on Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile.

It's unclear what's caused the issue, but the issue itself appears to be widespread on both the production WhatsApp and WhatsApp Beta apps, making us believe it may be a server issue. It's also unclear if this is a global issue or regional one. Sending a message to someone using WhatsApp on Windows Phone right now will see that message not get delivered until they open the app, which is why Windows Phone users aren't receiving notifications.

Windows Central has been able to confirm that notifications are not working on Windows 10 Mobile using both WhatsApp and WhatsApp Beta apps in the UK, on both the Anniversary Update and Creators Update. Reinstalling the app does not appear to fix the issue. We've reached out to WhatsApp for comment, and will update this article when we know more or if the issue gets mended. In the meantime, are you still receiving notifications from WhatsApp on Windows Phone?

WhatsApp is gearing up to give Snapchat a run for its money with its latest feature, simply called Status. Essentially, Status boils down to a copy on Snapchat's Stories feature with one of WhatsApp's hallmark attractions: end-to-end encryption.

Rather than sticking with text, WhatsApp says, WhatsApp's Status feature lets you quickly snap a photo or video to share with your friends. You can spice things up by doodling on your creation, or adding things like emoji and text. Once posted, Status updates will disappear after 24 hours.

WhatsApp's Status is just the latest in a series of moves from its parent company Facebook to take on Snapchat. Just last year, Instagram, another Facebook-owned company, launched a similar version of this with its own Instagram Stories. Unlike Instagram's prominent placement of Stories, however, WhatsApp Statuses will live in a separate tab within the app.

Status is in the process of rolling out now on Android, iOS and Windows Phone, so it could take some time to show up for everyone.