WhatsApp messenger is one of the most popular messaging apps used by over 2 billion people worldwide. It allows you to send messages, make voice and video calls, share photos, documents and more for free. While WhatsApp was originally made for smartphones, you can also use WhatsApp on your Windows 10 computer.
Downloading and installing WhatsApp on Windows 10 is quick and easy. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get WhatsApp messenger on your Windows 10 PC:
1. Check System Requirements for WhatsApp on Windows 10
Before downloading WhatsApp for PC, you need to ensure your Windows 10 computer meets the minimum system requirements:
- Windows 10 operating system (updated to the latest version)
- An active internet connection
- Free storage space of at least 100 MB
As long as your Windows 10 PC meets these requirements, you will be able to install and run WhatsApp desktop without any issues.
2. Download WhatsApp Installer
To get WhatsApp on your Windows 10 desktop or laptop, you first need to download the WhatsApp installer file from the official WhatsApp website:
- Open any web browser on your Windows 10 PC and go to https://www.whatsapp.com/download
- Scroll down and click on “WhatsApp for Windows” to download the latest WhatsApp setup file
- The downloaded WhatsApp installer file is named WhatsAppSetup.exe with a size of around 50 MB
- Save the WhatsApp installer to a location on your PC that is easy to access, such as the Downloads folder
The WhatsApp setup file downloads quickly depending on your internet speed. Make sure you have stable internet connectivity when downloading the installer.
3. Install WhatsApp on Windows 10
Once you have the installer file ready on your PC, you can proceed with installing WhatsApp:
- Double click on the WhatsAppSetup.exe file to launch the installer
- Windows may prompt you to allow the app to make changes to your device – click Yes to proceed
- This will start the WhatsApp setup wizard – click Next to continue
- Read and accept the WhatsApp license agreement and click Next
- The installer will now extract and install WhatsApp on your PC
- Click Finish when the installation is complete. WhatsApp icon will be added to your desktop
The entire installation process takes just a few minutes. Make sure you do not close the setup wizard in between.
4. Set Up WhatsApp Account
Once WhatsApp is installed, you need to set up your WhatsApp account:
- Launch WhatsApp by double clicking the desktop icon
- A welcome screen will appear – click Agree and Continue to proceed
- You will now need to verify your phone number to activate WhatsApp
- Enter your country code and phone number and click Next
- WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code via SMS to your phone number
- Enter the received verification code in WhatsApp and click Verify
- After verification, your WhatsApp account will be activated and set up on your Windows PC
Make sure you have access to the phone number you are using to verify WhatsApp. Verification is required for security reasons in order to link your phone number to WhatsApp on PC.
5. Change WhatsApp Notification Settings
By default, WhatsApp for Windows 10 will show notifications for new messages on your desktop. You can customize WhatsApp notification settings:
- Open WhatsApp and click on the Menu button (3 dots at top-right)
- Go to Settings > Notifications
- You can enable or disable Show Notifications to control notifications
- Under When To Notify, choose between Only When WhatsApp is Open or Always
- Toggle sound and window preview settings on or off as needed
Adjust notification settings based on whether you want to be notified of new WhatsApp messages when using other apps or only when WhatsApp is open on your PC.
6. Change Language in WhatsApp
WhatsApp automatically selects the language based on your phone settings. You can change the app language in WhatsApp desktop:
- In WhatsApp, go to Menu > Settings
- Go to Language and tap on it to view available languages
- Select your preferred language from the list
- Click OK to set the chosen language – WhatsApp will restart with selected language
WhatsApp is available in over 40 languages. Choose a language you are comfortable with for the best experience.
7. Set Profile Photo and Name
To complete your WhatsApp profile setup:
- Go to WhatsApp Menu > Settings > Profile
- Click on the profile photo placeholder to choose a profile photo from your PC
- Type your name in the Name field
- Click Save – your profile is now set up with the chosen name and photo
Your profile helps your WhatsApp contacts identify you easily. Use a clear profile photo of yourself and your commonly used name.
8. Use WhatsApp Web on PC
In addition to the desktop app, you can also access WhatsApp on your Windows 10 PC through WhatsApp Web:
- Open the WhatsApp desktop app or web.whatsapp.com in your browser
- Click on WhatsApp Web on the menu bar
- Use your phone to scan the QR code displayed on the screen
- This will link your phone WhatsApp account to WhatsApp Web
- You can now use WhatsApp features like messaging and calling directly in your browser
WhatsApp Web provides a quick way to access your WhatsApp account from a computer browser without needing the desktop app. However, you still need your phone for the initial QR code scan.
9. Use WhatsApp on Windows 10 Without Phone
Normally, WhatsApp requires you to verify your account using a phone number. However, there are some workarounds to use WhatsApp on Windows 10 without a phone:
- Use an online phone verification service to receive the SMS code
- Install WhatsApp on a spare Android phone, verify it, then link it to WhatsApp Web
- Use an Android emulator like Bluestacks to install WhatsApp and verify your account
- Forward WhatsApp verification SMS from your main phone to another phone temporarily
While a phone is recommended for full WhatsApp access, the methods above provide options to get around phone verification during initial setup.
10. Text, Call and Video Chat on WhatsApp
Once set up, you can start using all WhatsApp messaging features on your Windows 10 desktop:
- Text – Send individual and group texts, include emoji, share contacts
- Voice call – Make free WhatsApp audio calls over WiFi or mobile data
- Video call – Make face-to-face video calls to friends and family
- Photos – Send and receive photos and albums
- Documents – Share PDFs, documents up to 100MB in size
- Location – Share a live location or pin a map location to messages
WhatsApp desktop provides the full messaging experience. You can seamlessly switch between your phone and PC while messaging.
11. Troubleshoot WhatsApp Installation Problems
In some cases, you may encounter issues while installing or setting up WhatsApp on your Windows 10 PC. Here is how to troubleshoot the most common problems:
- Unable to install – Temporarily disable antivirus and try installing again
- App not opening – Right click icon, choose Troubleshoot compatibility
- Verification SMS not received – Check if the correct number is entered
- WhatsApp keeps crashing – Update Windows 10 and check for app updates
- Can’t link phone to WhatsApp Web – Ensure phone and PC are on same WiFi network
- Battery draining fast – Close other apps when using WhatsApp desktop
If issues persist, contact WhatsApp support or uninstall and reinstall the app. Keeping Windows and WhatsApp updated can also help avoid problems.
12. Uninstall WhatsApp from Windows 10
To remove WhatsApp from your Windows 10 desktop:
- Open Start menu and go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features
- Search for WhatsApp Messenger Desktop app
- Click the three dots next to it and select Uninstall
- Confirm uninstall in the popup dialog
This will entirely remove WhatsApp and all associated files from your PC. Your WhatsApp account will still remain active on your phone.
Alternatively, you can right click the WhatsApp desktop icon and choose Uninstall to remove the app.
Conclusion
Installing WhatsApp on Windows 10 takes just a few minutes. By following the download, installation and setup steps covered in this guide, you can start using the popular messaging app on your desktop or laptop.
Key highlights include verifying your phone number, customizing notifications, changing language, setting profile photo and name, using WhatsApp Web and taking advantage of texting, calling and video chat features. You can also troubleshoot any installation problems and uninstall WhatsApp when required.
With over 2 billion users globally, WhatsApp for Windows helps you stay seamlessly connected to friends and family right from your PC. Download the app today and join the messaging revolution.