WhatsApp is dropping its native Windows app in favor of an uglier web version

Meta is readying to driblet its autochthonal WhatsApp Windows app successful favour of a web wrapper mentation instead, conscionable months aft introducing a native iPad app. The latest beta mentation of WhatsApp connected Windows includes the large changes, with Meta noting it has “updated however WhatsApp beta looks and works.”

Behind the scenes it’s a large alteration to WhatsApp connected Windows, moving it from a autochthonal Windows and WinUI app to the WhatsApp web mentation simply wrapped successful a web view. That means not lone does the app look different, but the mode notifications enactment has changed and the settings UI is acold much basic. The beta app besides includes WhatsApp Channels and “more functionality” for Status and Communities features.

Meta is utilizing Microsoft’s Edge WebView2 exertion successful the latest WhatsApp beta, allowing it to easy bundle up its web mentation of WhatsApp into a desktop app. Windows Latest points retired that this makes it easier for Meta to support a azygous codification base, alternatively of having to besides support a autochthonal Windows app.

It’s a disappointing alteration if you’re a regular idiosyncratic of WhatsApp connected Windows, particularly arsenic it means the web app won’t look similar it’s portion of Windows 11 anymore and volition usage much RAM than the autochthonal version. Ironically, WhatsApp even notes that autochthonal versions of its Windows and Mac apps “provide accrued show and reliability, much ways to collaborate, and features to amended your productivity.”

WhatsApp primitively launched arsenic a autochthonal app connected Windows conscionable a fewer years ago, and it allowed you to tally the app without having to straight sync to your phone.