WhatsApp on Windows is about to undergo some significant changes, and not all users are going to be thrilled with what’s coming. Currently, there’s a native WhatsApp app available for both laptops and PCs running Windows. It’s feature-rich and performs fairly well. But, in a rather surprising move, Meta seems set to overhaul the app. 
According to recent hints, Meta plans to phase out the native Windows app in favor of a web wrapper. This web app would essentially function as a web-based application, disguised as a native Windows app.
The upcoming changes have already started appearing in the WhatsApp beta. The new version will look quite different, and unfortunately (at least for now), it might not perform as smoothly as the current native version. Users can expect slower performance, potentially higher RAM consumption, and less reliable notifications compared to the native app.
On the flip side, the web-based app could come with new features. The most notable addition could be Channels, which will be accessible on Windows devices through the new version of WhatsApp. Additionally, there are rumors about enhanced functionalities for Status and Communications that could come with this change.
WhatsApp’s native Windows app was first launched in 2022, and the web version seems to be a more maintainable option for Meta. By switching to a web-based platform, Meta would have one less platform to manage, which means fewer bugs and less maintenance overhead. Despite some initial drawbacks like increased RAM usage and slower performance, it’s possible that Meta will optimize these issues before the official release.
At this point, Meta has not revealed exactly when these changes will take place, so all we can do is wait and see how things unfold.