Everything you need to know about WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp is a popular messaging client for mobile devices including Google Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
The developers of the client have enabled WhatsApp Web yesterday which enables you to use the client on the Internet site.
This works by means of synchronization which means that you can only use the web interface if you have authorized it for the session using your phone.
This limits the service significantly and it is not the only limitation in place currently. When you visit the WhatsApp Web site in any browser but Google Chrome you receive the message that only Chrome is supported.
If you don't use Chrome and don't want or can install it on the computer you are working on, you cannot use WhatsApp Web at all.
How it works
Make sure that you are running the latest version of WhatsApp on your mobile device. On Android, WhatsApp Web is included in version 2.11.498 and up for example.
Update: WhatsApp Web is not added in that version but remotely from WhatsApp. This means that it will appear eventually if you cannot find the option right now on your device.
- Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner to display the main menu.
- There you should find the new WhatsApp Web option which you need to tap on.
- A short explanation of the feature is displayed the first time you use it.
- Visit the service website in Google Chrome.
- Use the QR Code scanner on the mobile device to scan the code displayed on the website.
- This syncs the phone's data with the website and displays your groups, chats and conversations on the site.
Use the following options if you are using a different phone operating system:
- BlackBerry: Chats -> Menu-key -> WhatsApp Web.
- Windows Phone, Nokia S60: Menu -> WhatsApp Web
- iOS: not available currently.
A click on a conversation displays it in the main area on the right. There you can browse the message history including all media and post new messages right from the interface.
All controls, including voice messages and adding attachments are available on the web interface as well.
You can turn on desktop notifications in Chrome to receive notifications whenever new messages arrive, configure your profile and status, and create new chats.
WhatsApp on the mobile device displays all computers that you are logged in currently when you select the WhatsApp Web option again from the menu.
There you can also add links to other computer systems with a click on the plus icon.
The page displays information about the computer (last active and operating system), and comes with an option to log out if all computers at once.
Information are only updated on the web interface if your phone is connected to the Internet. You receive an error message on the website when that is not the case.
Phone not connected
Make sure your phone has an active Internet connection.
Information that were retrieved previously on the other hand remain available. When you reload the page, you receive another error message if your phone is not connected to the Internet.
Trying to reach phone
Make sure your phone has an active Internet connection.
The service retries to connect to the phone automatically and provides you with options to retry manually or log out of the session.
This means that you need to log out on the web or using your phone to remove all information on the web interface.
Closing Words
WhatsApp Web is severely limited right now. Not only is it only supporting Google Chrome on desktop systems, it is also not available for iOS and requires the phone to be connected to the Internet to work at all.
The only advantage you get from using it on the web is that you can use the computer's keyboard to write messages, work on a larger screen, and get desktop notifications so that you don't need to pay attention to your phone for that.
Now You: Have you used the new service already? What is your take on it.
I have this version on Android, but this “web” option doesn’t appear.
Hm, that is strange.
Yeah, me too.
Same here. Version 2.11.498 and no updates from the Play store available…
I don’t have it either.
Have 2.11.498.
I am not reinstalling , don’t want to risk losing all chats .
Try to force stop Whatsapp first.
I had the same problem, was also already on .498. Some people reported that forcing the app to stop and starting again did the trick, but not for me; I had to remove and reinstall the app.
Be careful though, I made a backup using WhatsBack but the most recent messages weren’t saved (probably because of the forced stop).
Force stop did the trick for me.
“WhatsApp Web” option is a server side option. Just wait and it will appear.
What about Opera? What about changing your Useragent?
What about both of the above?
Argh, why do they exclude iOS? I’m also still waiting for an iPad WhatsApp..
It sure would be nice if you didn’t need a phone# to use whatsapp…….
hi
for desktop ..Viber ( the best ) :)
You and pin it to the taskbar using Chrome application shortcuts.
Go to the Chrome menu > More tools > Create application shortcuts…
Telegram is way ahead of WhatsApp. It has apps for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web, desktop, etc.), the web version (https://web.telegram.org) works in any browser and doesn’t require the phone to be connected to the Internet.
if we open conversation and we want to back. whats is the key of ‘back’?
When I am trying to load https://web.whatsapp.com I am getting message “Make sure your computer has an active internet connection”. My computer has an active internet connection.
Why I am seeing this message ? What to do next?
I am using whatsapp web of gf whtsapp on my mobile phone. But it logout automatically after some days .
Why ?
Whats the reason behind this.? And i am also sure that she did’t log out manually form her phone .
Please suggest me solution.
is there an option to check that whatsapp of iphone was previously connected to which computers? even if you have loggedout of computers,
I enjoyed using the app but it only worked for some days , and I tried again it worked but after I closed the app , it disconnected asking me to scan again. Please help.
Hi i have my boy friends watsap on chrome.seem to go bk to it. Wen i go to bookmarks. Its not opening the watsap asual. Please help me.
My chrome bounced out from my whats app messages and i cant get in back help!
Can someone read our old messages also when logged in Watsaap web ??
After even logging out can someone have remain with our messages ?
Can someone read our messages after even logging out ??
For anyone reading this and still logged into whatsapp web via firefox 50/52, it will continue working until you log out. The 60+ force upgrade is just a push to make people not use firefox 50/52. I had a system that was logged in and working even after the 60+ requirement and it only stopped working when we lost power and the system rebooted.