WHATSAPP ON YOUR DESKTOP
Mobile messaging from your Mac
Recently, WhatsApp released the latest version of the desktop app for its immensely popular messaging service.
You can get started by simply using your mobile phone to scan a QR code and load your contacts, conversations and media straight into WhatsApp Desktop.
The advantage of using WhatsApp on your Mac is that you can use a proper keyboard to type, rather than tap away on your phone screen. It’s also much easier to send photos and videos from your computer straight to your contacts, simply by clicking the paper clip icon at the top right. This benefit works both ways – click the pop-up menu at the top right of the window to view info about a contact, including files they’ve shared with you, then save them to your Mac. If you leave WhatsApp Desktop running in the background, macOS will display pop-up notifications for messages.
Connect and converse
WhatsApp Desktop is not a substitute for the mobile app: it communicates directly with your phone, and that device must be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or a mobile data network at all times to use the Mac app.
The app keeps your conversations safe using end-to-end encryption, and it’s worth noting that iPhones are considerably harder to hack than computers. Of course, with the app running, anyone with access to your user account can read the messages on your Mac, but you can reduce this risk by choosing not to stay signed in, instead logging out when you finish working on your Mac.