How to use WhatsApp on a PC

With more than one billion users, WhatsApp Messenger is the most popular messaging application in the world. It lets you send messages over an internet connection, rather than using your text allowance, saving you money on your phone bill. But you can also use it on your PC.

That means you can send messages from your computer to your friends' phones. All you need is WhatsApp on your phone (here's how to download it), and a PC connected to the internet. We'll show you how here.

How to use WhatsApp on your PC

Using WhatsApp on your PC is called WhatsApp Web. To use it, you'll need WhatsApp on your phone as well.

Here’s what to do depending on your phone type:

Android

1. Open web.whatsapp.com on your computer using the web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari or Edge are compatible)
2. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
3. Open the Chats screen and select Menu and then WhatsApp Web
4. There will be a QR code (looks like a scrambled barcode) on the computer screen. Scan this using your phone
5. WhatsApp will then open in your computer browser and you’ll be able to use it as to send messages as you would on your phone
6. When you’ve finished your session, remember to log out. Click on the three-dot menu above the chats list on the left hand side of the screen
7. Click on Log out at the bottom of the list  

iPhone

1. Open web.whatsapp.com on your computer using the web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari or Edge are compatible)
2. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
3. If you are in a chat, navigate back to the main Chats screen and select Settings from the bottom menu
4. Then select WhatsApp Web
5. There will be a QR code (looks like a scrambled barcode) on the computer screen. Scan this using your phone
6. WhatsApp will then open in your computer browser and you’ll be able to use it as to send messages as you would on your phone
7. When you’ve finished your session, remember to log out. Click on the three-dot menu above the chats list on the left hand side of the screen
8. Click on Log out at the bottom of the list  

[Read more: WhatsApp: What do the ticks mean? Message delivery problems and read receipts explained]

Blackberry

1. Open web.whatsapp.com on your computer using the web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari or Edge are compatible)
2. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
3. Go to Chats, then Menu, then WhatsApp Web
4. There will be a QR code (looks like a scrambled barcode) on the computer screen. Scan this using your phone
5. WhatsApp will then open in your computer browser and you’ll be able to use it as to send messages as you would on your phone
6. When you’ve finished your session, remember to log out. Click on the three-dot menu above the chats list on the left hand side of the screen
7. Click on Log out at the bottom of the list  

Windows Phone

1. Open web.whatsapp.com on your computer using the web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari or Edge are compatible)
2. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
3. Go to Menu, then WhatsApp Web
4. There will be a QR code (looks like a scrambled barcode) on the computer screen. Scan this using your phone
5. WhatsApp will then open in your computer browser and you’ll be able to use it as to send messages as you would on your phone
6. When you’ve finished your session, remember to log out. Click on the three-dot menu above the chats list on the left hand side of the screen
7. Click on Log out at the bottom of the list  

Turning on desktop notifications

After you have launched the WhatsApp interface on your PC for the first time, you will have the option of turning on desktop notifications. This option will be highlighted in blue above your chat list.

If you want to turn on desktop notifications:

1. Click Turn on desktop notifications
2. A box will pop up asking you to allow notifications. Click Allow

Additional way to log out

If you’ve forgotten to log out from your WhatsApp session on your computer, you can also log out from your phone.

Android

1. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
2. Open the Chats screen and select Menu and then WhatsApp Web
3. Here you can view any computers you are logged in on and you can log out from a session of your choice

iPhone

1. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
2. If you are in a chat, navigate back to the main Chats screen and select Settings from the bottom menu
3. Then select WhatsApp Web
4. Here you can view any computers you are logged in on and you can log out from a session of your choice

Blackberry

1. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
2. Go to Chats, then Menu, then WhatsApp Web
3. Here you can view any computers you are logged in on and you can log out from a session of your choice

Windows Phone

1. Open the WhatsApp app on your phone by tapping on it
2. Go to Menu, then WhatsApp Web
3. Here you can view any computers you are logged in on and you can log out from a session of your choice

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