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Use WhatsApp in Your Web Browser

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Good news for those you who use WhatsApp. The Facebook-owned chat app is now available in your Web browser.

WhatsApp announced the news Wednesday, confirming recent rumors that it was planning to soon introduce a Web client for in-browser chatting. "Our Web client is simply an extension of your phone: the Web browser mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device — this means all of your messages still live on your phone," WhatsApp founder Jan Koum wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

At this point, however, it only works with Android, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 10, and Windows Phone versions of the app. Koum said the company is not able to provide a Web client for iOS users at this time due to "Apple platform limitations."

To connect WhatsApp to your Web browser, simply open web.whatsapp.com in Chrome. You'll see a QR code — scan that inside of WhatsApp, and voila. Your phone will need to stay connected to the Internet for the Web client to work, Koum said. Also, ensure that you're using the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone.

"We really hope you find Web client useful in your everyday lives," Koum said.

Meanwhile, the new Web client comes after WhatsApp cracked down on third-party app WhatsApp Plus, and punished users who downloaded it. The company has cut off access to the unauthorized WhatsApp Plus app, which provided additional customization options for the SMS service. WhatsApp Plus users who tried to return to WhatsApp are now being locked out for 24 hours for breaking the rules.

For more, see PCMag's review of WhatsApp Messenger for Android and iOS. Also check out What Is WhatsApp? An Explainer.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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