Also called whatsapp desktop, whatsapp windows
A phone-number chat app with a Windows desktop client. The window may show as WhatsApp.exe. The host is often WhatsApp.Root.exe.
What you need to know
WhatsApp is phone-number chat. It is not SMS and not Signal.
The Windows client hosts WhatsApp threads. PhoneExperienceHost.exe is Phone Link. Signal.exe is Signal. A web.whatsapp.com tab is still the browser.
- What is it?
- Chat
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is Meta's phone-number messenger. The Windows desktop app lives under WindowsApps. A browser tab on web.whatsapp.com is still the browser.
If you have never used it
If someone said message me on WhatsApp, this is the phone-number chat app, not SMS and not Signal. The Windows app is optional. web.whatsapp.com in a browser also works. Download the desktop client from whatsapp.com/download. Phone Link is a different Microsoft app.
What is it used for?
Threads live on the WhatsApp account. This is not the Windows Messages SMS app.
Calls in the desktop client. Signal and Telegram are other products with other encryption stories.
The Windows app mirrors the phone account. It does not replace Phone Link notifications.
Who is it for?
- People whose contacts already live on WhatsApp
- Users who want a desktop window instead of only the phone
- Anyone who mixed it up with SMS, Signal, or Phone Link
Current status
WhatsApp (2009) is a current chat from WhatsApp LLC. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.whatsapp.com/download.
How old is it?
WhatsApp launched in 2009 as a phone-number messenger. Facebook acquired it in 2014. The Windows desktop client is newer than the phone app. It is not 1990s SMS and not 2014 Signal.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| WhatsApp.exe | Desktop window. The WindowsApps host is often WhatsApp.Root.exe |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp.Root.exe | Store/WindowsApps host |
Startup components
WhatsApp Desktop can start with Windows from its own setting. That is not the Phone Link startup toggle.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\5319275A.WhatsAppDesktop_*\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
People unlink Phone Link to stop WhatsApp
Wrong app. Phone Link is Microsoft. This host is WhatsApp.
web.whatsapp.com still open in Edge
That is msedge.exe. Closing the website does not quit WhatsApp.Root.exe.
Getting unstuck
Install from whatsapp.com/download
A WhatsApp desktop exe from a search ad is a common junk path.
Pair from the phone QR flow WhatsApp shows
That links the desktop session. It is not a Microsoft account pairing.
Quit the tray icon, not only the window
The root host can stay resident. Phone Link can stay running too.
Alternatives
Signal if you want that encryption product. Telegram if you want cloud chats. SMS in Phone Link is still not WhatsApp.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | www.whatsapp.com/download Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | faq.whatsapp.com/ Vendor support |
| Official site | www.whatsapp.com/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
A working headset matters for calls. RAM follows media cache more than a famous CPU name.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- WhatsApp official site · Vendor product page
- WhatsApp help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
Was this article useful?
A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.
Thanks. That helps us improve this page.