Install WhatsApp on Windows 10/8.1 and macOS, Chrome Browser

Definitely, most of you know about the WhatsApp messaging app, it is one of the best and most used instant chat apps for business and personal smartphones. It became more famous after Facebook acquired it.  As you are aware that it is built only for smartphone Operating Systems such as iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry OS, officially it will not work on computers. Even installing and making it work on tablets require few additional steps. This simple guide explains to you how to install WhatsApp on Windows 10, Windows 8.1/7 and Mac OS X such as macOS, El Capitan, and Mountain Lion.

Update2: This post has been updated with Windows 10 by using the latest Bluestacks version.
Update1: With the recent changes and updates from WhatsApp, now you can use WhatsApp on Windows 10, 8.1 PC and Mac OS X with Google Chrome browser and Android phone.

Basically, it will be running inside the Google Chrome browser like IMO. It will be the mirror of your smartphone’s WhatsApp app, therefore your smartphone should be online (connected to the internet) to be able to use WhatsApp on the web browser. That means, the smartphone and web app will be paired and the app on the browser will be working through the smartphone.

If you have an Android or other smartphones (except iPhone as of now) with a camera and activated WhatsApp on the same phone, then you are good to go.

How to Use on the Windows 10/8.1 Browser?

Head down to official WhatsApp website and scan the QR code from the WhatsApp app. Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp to get this option. On my Nexus 5 Android 5.2 Lollipop, the option is available as below.

Once you have scanned the QR code through the app by phone (where you have an active and working WhatsApp), then you will be redirected quickly to a neat WhatsApp Messenger app in the Google Chrome browser.

That was a simple and straightforward method to use WhatsApp on Windows 10/8.1/7 with Google Chrome browser.

If you can’t use the above method for any reasons, here is another way by using Android emulator.

You will not find installable exe version for Windows Operating System or DMG version for Mac OS X of WhatsApp program because it’s made only for smartphones till now. We will be using the same distribution which made for smartphones and installs it on Windows and Mac by Android emulator. You can read more about the famous Windows Android emulator, Bluestacks here.

Requirements:

1) Working Bluestacks application on Windows and internet connectivity

2) A mobile phone which can receive international SMS (we will be using this phone to verify and activate WhatsApp on Windows 10/8.1)

Steps to Install WhatsApp on Windows 10, 8.1/7 PC

1) Make sure you have the working Android emulator Bluestacks on your PC. We have successfully installed Bluestacks on Windows 10 and tested.

2) Configure the Bluestacks and setup Google account, so it will allow you to download apps from Google Play.

Search for WhatsApp messenger, download and install it.

3) Accept the app permission dialogue box and continue the installation.

How to Activate WhatsApp on Windows 10 or 8.1/7

4) Now the activation part.  Because of WhatsApp doesn’t support computers and non SIM devices, we need to use the phone which is with us for activation. On the Activation screen, enter the mobile phone number that is with you. Make sure you have an active mobile service to receive international SMS.

As usual, the automatic verification process will not work here because Windows 10 computer can’t receive the verification SMS and get activated automatically. Wait for some time, you will receive the verification SMS on the mobile phone.

Enter the verification code in the next screen. That’s it, WhatsApp will be activated now and ready to use on Windows 10 or 8.1/7 PC.

When you have the best smartphone for business or your personal usage, these type of instant messaging apps become more important to carry with you always even on the PCs and Macs.

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Simple Steps to Install and Use WhatsApp on macOS

As we did on Windows OS, first we need to install Android emulator before installing WhatsApp on Mac OS X.  This method will work on most of the Mac Operating Systems including El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion as long as Bluestacks works on your Mac.  The following demonstration had been done on OS X 10.9 Mavericks with MacBook Pro Retina display.

1) Make sure you have a mobile phone with active service to receive SMS.

2) Install Bluestacks Android emulator on macOS.

3) You can try with default Google play to download and install WhatsApp. Sometimes it will not work. In that case, use ‘Open 1Mobile Market’ and search for the app. Of course, your Mac computer should have internet connectivity to download the app.

4) Installation is as easy as doing it on the smartphone. After completion, open the app and start configuring. Enter the phone number which you have to receive activation SMS.

5) WhatsApp will try to activate via SMS. Since the Bluestacks or Mac OS X can’t receive an SMS, the automatic SMS activation will fail. By the time you would have received the activation code on the mobile phone.

On the next screen enter the verification code.

6) That’s it, now we are ready to use WhatsApp on Mac OS X with MacBook or MacPro. Here is the working WhatsApp on my MacBook retina with Mavericks OS X.

Hope this guide would be useful to install your favourite messaging app on Windows and Mac OS X.