WhatsApp is one of the most popular cross-platform instant messaging app. The WhatsApp had over 800 Million user base and got recently acquired by the social media giant Facebook. It allows you to send instant messages over the internet instantly without any extra data charges.
The app has been popular for its simple to use user interface while not being filled with useless features. WhatsApp is available on almost all the mobile platform including Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Nokia S40 series, iOS and the Symbian to name a few.
However, there are people who want to install WhatsApp on PC. So, is it possible to install WhatsApp on PC? Absolutely. You can install and use WhatsApp on PC.
Install WhatsApp on PC
There are several ways to install WhatsApp on PC. In this post, I will show you how to install WhatsApp on PC with ease.
Method 1: Use WhatsApp Web
Update: WhatsApp has released an official Messenger for PC. Learn how to use whatsApp without an emulator.
- WhatsApp web was released officially by WhatsApp developer after seeing the craze for the app among the app users.
- WhatsApp web doesn’t require any installation on the PC, so you are saved from installing any emulator to run the app.
- WhatsApp web isn’t a standalone app, but an interface where WhatsApp messages from your smartphone will be synched with the PC.
If you receive a WhatsApp message on your phone, the message will also be displayed on your PC. This comes in handy for the people who don’t want to use their phone to check the WhatsApp message all the time.
You can view the message on your PC screen and reply to the same from PC.
The only requirement here is that you need to have your smartphone connected to the internet as well as your PC. Without the internet connection, WhatsApp web can’t sync messages from your phone. Here is how to use WhatsApp web on PC.
Go to https://web.whatsapp.com/ from your PC. Check the box “keep me signed in.”
Open WhatsApp on your phone. Tap on three dots (right side) if you are on Windows Phone. Tap the recent key if you are on Android. If you have any other phone, refer the image below.
Select WhatsApp web from the option.
You will see a Scan code screen. Tap on OK got it button.
Now scan the QR code from WhatsApp web screen on your PC. (don’t scan the image below).
Once the phone successfully scans the QR code, you will see your contacts and incoming messages displayed on your PC screen.
Note that; here you can only view the incoming and outgoing messages after scanning the QR code. So, there is no option to have a look at the previous messages.
Method 2: Install WhatsApp using Bluestacks
Bluestacks is one of the most popular Android emulators as of now. And the emulator is known to run the Android apps very well on Windows and Mac.
You can make use of Bluestacks Android emulator to install WhatsApp on PC. What we will be doing here is that download and install Bluestacks emulator and then install the WhatsApp app from the Google Play Store. So, let’s see how to do it.
Begin with installing Bluestacks from the official website here on your PC. Or download full offline Bluestacks 2 Installer here.
Once downloaded, run the installer and wait till the Bluestacks is completely installed. The Application is large, so it would take several minutes to install. So, have patience.
After installing Bluestacks, you have two options. You can either download WhatsApp APK and install the WhatsApp manually using Bluestacks, or you can download WhatsApp using the Bluestacks’s inbuilt search.
If you want to download the WhatsApp apk, get it from here.
After downloading the apk, right-click on it and select open with Bluestacks. After the Apk installs, open Bluestacks and you should have WhatsApp installed on it.
If you don’t want to use the apk, then open Bluestacks and click on the app search bar. Search for WhatsApp and install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.
Now you need to register on WhatsApp. Open WhatsApp, enter your mobile number, and tap to get the verification code by SMS.
Enter the verification code you receive through SMS and complete the registration. You can also use call feature to get the verification code, in case the SMS verification fails.
How to Add Contacts to WhatsApp?
Since you don’t have your SIM card in your Laptop or PC, you need to export all your contacts from the phone to Bluestacks as a vCard file (vcf). After this, you can add contacts to WhatsApp in PC. Here is how to do it.
Export contacts from your phone as a vCard file (vcf). The contacts may look like yourcontacts.vcf.
Now copy the yourcontacts.Vcf (or whatever you named it as) to the folder where you have stored Bluestacks user data on your PC. You should copy the vCard file to C:ProgramDataBlueStacksUserDataSharedFolder.
Open Bluestacks and click All app button (+ button at the right side).
Click and open Settings (gear icon).
Click and open Manage Contacts.
Now click on the Menu icon (three dots) and select Import/Export.
Select Import from SIM card. Bluestacks will now search for available vCard files on your PC.
Next, select Import one vCard file and click OK. If you want to import multiple vCard files, select the multiple vCard file option.
Select the vCard file that you had copied to the Bluestacks folder from your phone.
Click OK and all your contacts from the vCard will be imported to Bluestacks contact manager.
If you open WhatsApp again on Bluestacks and refresh it, all the contacts will appear in your WhatsApp contact list.
Bluestacks is a great app to run WhatsApp on PC only if the app works fine on your PC. Bluestacks require a powerful PC to work properly without any hanging issues. If you are facing any issues with the Bluestacks, then refer my guide to fix common errors in Bluestacks.
Method 3: Use WhatsApp on PC using AirDroid
This method is similar to WhatsApp web but doesn’t require you to go to WhatsApp web interface. AirDroid is a syncing app that allows you to sync and transfer files between your PC and Android phone over the WiFi.
This would come in handy if you don’t want to use WhatsApp web, but want to use WhatsApp on your PC and phone simultaneously. Follow these steps to know how to do it.
Download and Install AirDroid on your Android phone from the Google Play store ( find the link for the app at the end of the post).
Create a new AirDroid account (skip if you already have one).
Next, tap on Enable button if AirDroid asks to enable real-time notification on your PC.
Next, enable Android notification mirror and phone.
Download and install AirDroid on your Mac / Windows PC.
On your PC, open AirDroid and sign in using the AirDroid account that you use on your Android phone.
That’s it. Now whenever you get a WhatsApp message on your Android phone, the message will also appear on your PC. You can directly reply and read the messages on your PC.
[appbox googleplay com.sand.airdroid]
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