WhatsApp desktop is the desktop client for the popular WhatsApp messaging service. It allows you to use WhatsApp on your computer without having to pick up your phone every time you receive a new message. WhatsApp desktop is available for Windows and Mac operating systems. However, it’s not directly available for Linux distros like Kali Linux.
In this article, we will show you how to easily install and use WhatsApp desktop on Kali Linux. We will go over the requirements, installation steps, and usage in detail. Let’s get started!
Requirements
Here are the requirements to install WhatsApp desktop on Kali Linux:
- Kali Linux Operating System
- Active WhatsApp account
- WhatsApp mobile app installed on your phone
- Google Chrome browser installed on Kali Linux
- Webapp Manager extension for Chrome
Make sure to have an active WhatsApp account on your phone with the mobile app installed. WhatsApp desktop needs to connect to the WhatsApp mobile app to function properly. You also need to have the Google Chrome browser installed on your Kali Linux system. We’ll be using Chrome and a special extension to install WhatsApp as a web application.
Step 1 – Install Webapp Manager Extension
The first step is to install an extension for Google Chrome called Webapp Manager. This useful extension allows you to install any website as a standalone application in Chrome. Here are the steps to install it:
- Open Google Chrome on your Kali Linux desktop.
- Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for “Webapp Manager”.
- Find the extension named “Webapp Manager” by editoffers and click on “Add to Chrome”.
- A popup will appear, click on “Add Extension” to install it.
This will install the Webapp Manager extension in Chrome. You should now see a new W icon in the Chrome toolbar which indicates the extension is installed.
Step 2 – Install WhatsApp Web as PWA
Now that we have the Webapp Manager extension, we can install WhatsApp Web as a Progressive Web App (PWA). Here is how to do it:
- Launch WhatsApp Web in your Chrome browser. Simply go to https://web.whatsapp.com.
- You will see a QR code on the screen. Scan it with your WhatsApp mobile app to link the desktop client.
- Once linked, you will see your WhatsApp chats and contacts on the web.
- Click on the W icon in the Chrome toolbar and select “Create Application”.
- Check the options “Open as window” and “Add to desktop”.
- Click on Create to install WhatsApp Web as a PWA.
This will create a standalone WhatsApp desktop application for you. You will see it added to the Chrome apps and also on your Kali Linux desktop for quick access.
Step 3 – Use WhatsApp Desktop
That’s it! WhatsApp should now be fully installed and usable on your Kali Linux desktop. Here is how you can use it:
- To open WhatsApp desktop, simply click on the app icon on the desktop.
- It will open in a separate window outside Chrome.
- You can access all your chats, messages, make voice/video calls etc.
- Notifications from WhatsApp will be shown as desktop notifications.
- Your chats and data will remain in sync with your phone.
- To unlink your phone, simply scan a new QR code from WhatsApp web.
The great thing about using WhatsApp as a PWA is that it works seamlessly like a native desktop application. It has its own icon, notifications, and window. It’s not bound to the browser which gives it a fluid desktop app feel even on Linux.
Troubleshooting
In most cases, WhatsApp desktop should work smoothly on Kali Linux if you follow the installation process properly. However, here are some tips to troubleshoot common problems:
Can’t Scan QR Code
- Make sure your phone has an active internet connection.
- Try manually entering the code displayed on web.
- Restart WhatsApp on your phone if issues persist.
Notifications Not Working
- Check if Chrome has permission to send notifications.
- Make sure WhatsApp notifications are enabled on phone.
- Restart WhatsApp desktop and check again.
App Not Opening
- Try reinstalling the PWA using the creation steps again.
- Clear cache and data for the WhatsApp app.
- Update Chrome browser to the latest version.
Conclusion
Installing WhatsApp desktop on Kali Linux is easy with the Webapp Manager extension in Chrome. It only takes a few steps to set up WhatsApp as a Progressive Web App that works like a native desktop application with its own window and notifications.
The advantage of using WhatsApp as a PWA on Linux is that you get a faster and smoother application without dealing with compatibility issues of traditional desktop clients. You can also easily reinstall it in case of any problems down the line.
WhatsApp desktop allows seamless messaging and call capabilities right from your Kali Linux desktop. We hope this simple guide helped you install it. You can now enjoy native-like WhatsApp access on Linux thanks to Chrome’s powerful PWA capabilities.