The current WhatsApp available on Microsoft Store is based on WhatsApp Web that uses Electron Framework. Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has released a new UWP App for WhatsApp to store and is available to download for Windows 11 and Windows 10 users.
During the Pandemic, WhatsApp allows living close with friends and relatives without needing a physical presence via video call and chat features. WhatsApp is used daily by most people globally and the app is part of our lives for sure.
Till now, if you’ve used WhatsApp Web on windows, you may not know, it is based on Electron, Meta is updating Whatsapp with Windows 11 UI. The app is now avialable in beta on Microsoft Store for Windows users, here are our hands on it.
WhatsApp UWP app for Windows 11
Highlights:
1. Windows 11 UI
2. Rounded corners.
3. Arcylic material effect
3. Uses Universal Windows Platform (UWP) for the first time
Cons:
Doesn’t support dark mode yet
Getting started
- Download WhatsApp from Microsoft Store
- Open your Smart hone
- Tap on the 3-dot icon and select Linked devices
- Select Add a device
- Scan the QR code presented on your computer with the camera, you’re almost done. Whatsapp on computer download recent messages and opens the App with the new UI.
If you go through the App interface for the first time, you’ll notice Chats on the left sidebar. + icon next to Chats provides options to open “New chat” and a “New group”.
Settings open from the top with an animation. It contains General, Account, Chats, Notifications, Storage, and Help sections.
- The General section lets you control Whatsapp at login and offers a button to “log out” of the app.
- The account shows blocked contacts info and Whatsapp Privacy and security options.
- Chats allow to Archive or clear or delete all chats.
- Notifications allow setting different alerts for Message and Group notifications.
- Storage allows handling which media to automatically download from messages you receive from Photos, audio, videos, and documents.
- There is also a Profile section at the bottom that shows your profile name, about, and phone number. You can edit these details from the Profiles section.
If you’re curious to test new WhatsApp on Windows 11, you can by downloading the beta version from Microsoft Store from here.
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