What WhatsApp is used for
WhatsApp is the most-used messaging app in the world, with more than two billion users. It handles text chats, voice notes, voice and video calls, group chats, Status updates, Communities and Channels, and payments in some countries, all over the internet instead of SMS, so messages are free on Wi-Fi or mobile data. Personal messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, which means only you and the person you're talking to can read or hear them.
Installing WhatsApp on Android and iPhone
Install WhatsApp only from Google Play or the App Store; the buttons above go straight to the official listings, published by WhatsApp LLC. When you open it for the first time, you verify your phone number with a 6-digit SMS code or a phone call. WhatsApp accounts are tied to a phone number, so use one you'll keep.
Avoid modified versions such as GB WhatsApp, FM WhatsApp or WhatsApp Plus. They aren't made by WhatsApp, they can read your messages, and WhatsApp temporarily or permanently bans accounts that use them.
How do I use WhatsApp on a PC or Mac?
There are two ways to use WhatsApp on a PC or Mac. The WhatsApp desktop app for Windows (from the Microsoft Store) and Mac (from the Mac App Store) runs as a normal program, supports calls, and keeps working when your phone is off. WhatsApp Web runs in any browser at web.whatsapp.com with nothing to install, which is handy on a work or shared computer.
Both use linked devices: open WhatsApp on your phone, go to Settings → Linked devices → Link a device, and scan the QR code shown on the computer. You can link up to four devices to one account.
How do I move WhatsApp to a new phone?
Your chats live on your phone, not on WhatsApp's servers. Before switching phones, back them up: on Android to Google Drive (Settings → Chats → Chat backup), and on iPhone to iCloud. Install WhatsApp on the new phone, verify the same number, and choose Restore when asked.
Moving between Android and iPhone works with WhatsApp's transfer feature during setup, or with Move to iOS when setting up a new iPhone. Both phones need to be nearby and on the same Wi-Fi.
Common install problems
If WhatsApp won't install or verify, try these:
- Not receiving the verification code: wait for the timer and choose Call me, and check that the number includes the right country code.
- “Your phone date is inaccurate”: set the date and time to automatic in your phone's settings.
- Not enough storage: WhatsApp needs space for media, so clear old videos in Settings → Storage and data → Manage storage.
- Older phones: WhatsApp drops support for very old Android and iOS versions every year. If the store says it's incompatible, the phone's operating system is too old.
WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business?
Regular WhatsApp is for personal use. WhatsApp Business is a separate free app for small businesses, with a business profile, catalogue, quick replies and automatic greeting messages. You can run both on one phone with two different numbers. If you only chat with friends and family, regular WhatsApp is all you need.
Which WhatsApp privacy settings should I turn on?
A few settings make WhatsApp noticeably safer:
- Two-step verification (Settings → Account): adds a PIN, so nobody can register your number on another phone with just an SMS code.
- Who can add me to groups (Settings → Privacy → Groups): set it to My contacts to stop spam groups.
- Silence unknown callers (Settings → Privacy → Calls): sends calls from unknown numbers straight to your call list.
- Disappearing messages: makes new messages in a chat delete themselves after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days.
Saving WhatsApp Status videos and media
Photos and videos sent to you in chats save to your phone's gallery automatically on Android, or when you tap the share icon on iPhone. Statuses from contacts disappear after 24 hours and can't be saved from inside WhatsApp, so if you'd like to keep one, ask the person to send it to you directly.
If a video is too large to send on WhatsApp, Video Compressor shrinks it in your browser first.
Backups and storage
WhatsApp backups to Google Drive and iCloud include your messages and, optionally, videos. Videos make backups much larger and slower, so many people leave them out and keep important clips in Google Photos or iCloud Photos instead. Back up before resetting or replacing your phone; without a backup, chats can't be recovered.