WhatsApp to Retire Native Windows App in Favor of Web-Based Version

Meta plans to phase out its native Windows desktop application in favor of a web-driven Progressive Web App (PWA) wrapped using Microsoft’s Edge WebView2. This change was spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta update for Windows 11 and Windows 10, according to The Verge.
The lead change affects the user interface. Previously built with Windows’ native WinUI toolkit, the app is now essentially the WhatsApp web experience running within a browser engine shell. Windows Latest observed that the new version consumes roughly 30 percent more RAM than the native app and lacks tight integration with Windows notifications and file handling.
Meta’s rationale appears to focus on simplifying development. By consolidating code into a single web-based version, updates can be rolled out faster across all platforms. The beta update introduces WhatsApp Channels, expanded Status and Communities features, and shared audio support, but these come at the expense of desktop optimization.
Windows power users have voiced frustration online. A user on Neowin commented that “web apps are universally disliked among Windows users these days, especially when they arrive as upgrades for native applications”. Another on Reddit post highlighted higher memory usage as a concern.
The transition follows Meta’s earlier move in 2023, when it replaced an Electron-based WhatsApp desktop client with a native UWP version. At the time, the native app delivered better performance and deeper system integration. Meta’s own support documentation noted that native apps “provide increased performance and reliability, more ways to collaborate, and features to improve productivity”.
This strategic shift underscores a trade-off between streamlined development and a polished user experience. Desktop users, especially those who rely on Windows, may feel the change in responsiveness and resource efficiency. As Neowin reports, some remain hopeful that this move could enable feature parity and quicker bug fixes.
While the beta rollout is limited, wider adoption seems likely once Meta moves the change to the stable channel. Absent any official statement from Meta, users may want to trial the beta version first.
Anyone relying on WhatsApp for desktop now may need to prepare for a web-based interface that is functionally rich but heavier on system resources.