Meta Turns the WhatsApp Windows App into a Web-Based Mess

It has been nearly two years since WhatsApp announced the official Windows application for its messaging app. However, the firm has now planned to scrap the native Windows app of WhatsApp, opting instead for the less useful and uglier web app. This is going to be one of the disappointing moves by the firms in recent times.

WhatsApp Beta for Windows Gets a New Update

WhatsApp recently rolled out a new update for its beta version of WhatsApp for Windows. While everything looks the same at first glance, the update note mentions a big change that’s being done under the hood.

Meta has added in the note that the latest update of WhatsApp for Windows runs on the web version, simply wrapped inside the app. The application no longer runs on native Windows framework or WinUI. WhatsApp App for Windows was originally launched to provide increased performance, reliability, more ways to collaborate, and features to improve productivity. But all that seems to be going down the drain now.

Shift to Web App Means Less Features, More RAM Usage

Due to the shift to Microsoft Edge’s WebView2 technology in the latest app, the user interface will feel different at first. The settings page has been affected too. It now offers fewer options and less control over the app. Because of the integration, the users will now get support for WhatsApp Channels. It carries better functionalities for Status and Community options as well.

This change does not seem to be benefiting the users in any way. Since it runs on the web app, it’s going to eat more RAM and subsequently, more power. You can counter instability in devices with less powerful hardware. However, it’s a different story for the brand. Switching to a web app means they will now have to maintain a single code-base instead of two or three for respective platforms.