WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users worldwide. The app allows you to send and receive messages, make voice and video calls, and share photos, videos, documents and more – all for free (aside from nominal data charges from your cell provider).
While WhatsApp originated as a mobile app, there are also desktop versions available for both Windows and Mac. This gives you the convenience of seamlessly syncing your chats between your phone and computer.
The standard method for installing WhatsApp on Windows is to get it from the Microsoft Store. However, this may not always be ideal or possible. You may want to install WhatsApp on an older version of Windows that doesn’t support the Microsoft Store. Or you may simply prefer to install apps manually outside of the Microsoft ecosystem.
Fortunately, installing WhatsApp on your Windows desktop without the Microsoft Store is easy. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process step-by-step.
Prerequisites
Before installing WhatsApp desktop, you’ll need:
– A Windows PC running Windows 8 or later. WhatsApp does not support Windows 7 or earlier.
– An active WhatsApp account on your phone. You cannot activate a new WhatsApp account on the desktop app – it needs to be tied to an existing mobile account.
– A phone number verified in your WhatsApp account. This is required to activate WhatsApp on another device.
– The WhatsApp mobile app installed on your phone.
– An internet connection on both your phone and computer.
Download the WhatsApp Desktop App
The first step is to download the installer for the official WhatsApp desktop application from the WhatsApp website:
1. Open any web browser on your computer and go to [https://www.whatsapp.com/download](https://www.whatsapp.com/download).
2. Under “WhatsApp Desktop App”, click Download for Windows. This will download the latest version of WhatsAppSetup.exe to your computer.
Official WhatsApp Download Links
Here are the direct download links for the latest versions of WhatsApp desktop for Windows and Mac:
| Windows (64 bit) | [https://www.whatsapp.com/desktop/windows/release/x64/WhatsAppSetup.exe](https://www.whatsapp.com/desktop/windows/release/x64/WhatsAppSetup.exe) |
| Windows (32 bit) | [https://www.whatsapp.com/desktop/windows/release/ia32/WhatsAppSetup.exe](https://www.whatsapp.com/desktop/windows/release/ia32/WhatsAppSetup.exe) |
| Mac | [https://www.whatsapp.com/desktop/mac/files/WhatsApp.dmg](https://www.whatsapp.com/desktop/mac/files/WhatsApp.dmg) |
Install WhatsApp Desktop
Once you have the WhatsAppSetup.exe installer file downloaded, installing it is straightforward:
1. Locate the file in your Downloads folder and double-click on it to launch the installer.
2. Windows may prompt you to allow the app to make changes to your device. Click Yes to permit this.
3. The WhatsApp Setup wizard will launch. Click Next to advance through the setup prompts.
4. On the License Agreement screen, read the terms and click I Agree if you agree to them.
5. Choose the installation location on your computer. The default is C:\Program Files\WhatsApp. Click Install to begin copying files to your PC.
6. Finally, ensure Launch WhatsApp is checked and click Finish. This will complete installation and launch WhatsApp automatically.
The WhatsApp desktop app icon will also be added to your Windows Start Menu for easy access later.
Link WhatsApp Desktop to Your Phone
Once WhatsApp is installed on your computer, you need to link it to your existing WhatsApp account on your phone:
1. Open WhatsApp on your phone. Go to the Menu (3 dot icon) > WhatsApp Web.
2. Point your phone’s camera at the QR code displayed on your computer screen. This will automatically link your WhatsApp desktop app to your account.
3. Click OK to confirm on both devices. Your chats and data will begin syncing between your phone and PC.
That’s it! WhatsApp should now be fully set up and working on your Windows desktop. Your chats, contacts, profile and media will stay synced across devices automatically.
Tips for Using WhatsApp Desktop
Here are some handy tips for making the most of WhatsApp on your desktop:
– Notifications – You can enable desktop notifications for new WhatsApp messages in the Settings.
– Keyboard shortcuts – Press CTRL+Shift+M to mute chats or CTRL+N to start a new chat.
– Media – Drag and drop photos/videos into chats to send media files.
– Privacy – Set chats and media to only download when clicked to save disk space and privacy.
– Dark mode – Enable dark mode for easier viewing at night under Settings > Theme.
– Backups – Regularly back up your chat history under Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
– Multi-device – Use WhatsApp on up to 4 linked devices, including your desktop app.
– Calls – Make and receive WhatsApp calls right on your computer via the desktop app.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Desktop Issues
Here are some common issues and fixes for WhatsApp desktop problems:
WhatsApp Desktop Keeps Disconnecting From Phone
– Make sure your phone and computer are on the same WiFi network or try switching to mobile data on your phone.
– Battery optimization settings on your phone may disconnect WhatsApp desktop. Disable battery optimization for WhatsApp under your phone settings.
– Restart your phone and relink WhatsApp desktop by scanning the QR code again.
WhatsApp Desktop Not Receiving Messages
– Check your network connections on both devices. Connect to a stable internet connection.
– Make sure you aren’t missing notifications on your computer. Check notification settings.
– Restart both the WhatsApp mobile and desktop apps and try re-linking the account.
WhatsApp Crashing or Freezing on Desktop
– Try restarting your computer and relaunching WhatsApp desktop. Update to the latest version if available.
– Disable any antivirus or firewall temporarily to see if that’s the cause. Re-enable after testing.
– Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp desktop to clear out any corrupted files.
– As a last resort, back up chats and do a clean reinstall of Windows if necessary.
Uninstalling WhatsApp Desktop
To remove WhatsApp from your Windows desktop:
1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows.
2. Locate and select WhatsApp Desktop.
3. Click Uninstall.
4. Confirm the uninstall in the popup dialog. Windows will cleanly remove WhatsApp and its associated files/registry entries.
Alternatively, you can uninstall directly from the WhatsApp desktop app:
1. Open WhatsApp desktop and go to the Menu.
2. Select More > Settings > About.
3. Click the Trash icon to uninstall WhatsApp. Confirm the uninstall.
Uninstalling WhatsApp desktop will not delete your account or chat history from your phone. You can reinstall it at any time and re-link to your account by scanning the QR code again.
Conclusion
Installing WhatsApp on your Windows desktop without the Microsoft Store is quick and easy. Simply download the official WhatsApp desktop app from WhatsApp’s website, run the installer, and scan the QR code to link your account.
With WhatsApp desktop linked to your phone, you can seamlessly message on PC or phone while keeping all chats, contacts and data synced. Enjoy the convenience of WhatsApp on your desktop! Let us know if you have any other questions.