WhatsApp just launched a desktop app to let you chat at your computer — here's how to get it

WhatsApp has released an official desktop app, letting you use its wildly popular messaging service on your computer.

It's pretty handy if you're stuck staring at a screen all day, and don't want to have to glance down at your smartphone's tiny display to check your messages.

It's available for Windows machines running Windows 8+, and Macs with OS X 10.9 and up.

Here's how to get it, and how it works.

To get it, just head on over to WhatsApp's website and download it for free.


Here's a link to the messaging app's site »

Boot up the app and you'll be greeted with this screen showing a QR code. To sign in, you'll need to scan the QR code using your smartphone app. Select the "WhatsApp Web" setting to do so.

The Facebook-owned messaging app previously offered a similar web-based desktop messaging option — but this is the first time it has released a standalone app.

And just like that, you're in! It has all the same functionality as the mobile app, like group chats and sending media, and also supports desktop notifications so you can be alerted to new messages without checking your phone.